Ornebius albipalpus Ingrisch, 2006

Tan, Ming Kai & Ingrisch, Sigfrid, 2013, New taxa and notes of some described species of scaly crickets (Orthoptera: Mogoplistidae: Mogoplistinae) from Singapore, Zootaxa 3637 (1), pp. 17-28 : 21-24

Ornebius albipalpus Ingrisch, 2006

( Fig. 2 )

Ornebius albipalpus Ingrisch, 2006: 144

Material examined. Singapore, 1 male, MacRitchie Catchment Area, along Sime Track, secondary forest, coll. M.K. Tan, M.R.B. Ismail & T.M. Leong, 26 November 2010; 1 male, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, along Belukar Track, secondary forest, coll. M.K. Tan, R.W.J. Ngiam & Y.F. Chung, 10 September 2012 (all ZRC).

Diagnosis. Similar to Ornebius aureus Ingrisch, 2006 , Ornebius nigrifrons Chopard, 1969 and Ornebius nigrirostris Chopard, 1969 with face and frontal rostrum black. But differs from Ornebius aureus by the absence of two spots of short hairs standing together as in a brush; lateral area of tegmen without black band above and white below; absence of angulated transient zone and divided basal and apical parts of external sclerites of phallic complex. Differs from Ornebius nigrifrons by tegmen not covered by pronotum from base of mirror backwards. Differs from Ornebius nigrirostris by antennae black at base; maxillary palps with fourth segment shorter than third; and pronotum longer than wide and with lateral lobes not white.

Description. Habitus of male as shown in Fig. 2 A. Frontal rostrum similar to description by Ingrisch (2006). Maxillary palps with three apical segments of subequal length, fourth segment shorter than third; similar to description by Ingrisch (2006) ( Fig. 2 B). Pronotum in male about 1.3 times (m = 1.3, n = 2) longer than wide with anterior dorsal margin slightly convex; lateral margins widening posteriorly; posterior margin convex, not covering tegmen to base of mirror. Tegmen 1.1–1.2 times (m = 1.1, n = 2) wider than posterior area of pronotum. Fore tibiae with internal tympanum, large and rounded-oval; without external tympanum. Hind femora 1.0–1.2 times (m = 1.1, n = 2) longer than hind tibiae; hind tibiae 2.9–3.8 times (m = 3.4, n = 2) longer than postmetatarsi.

Male. Supra-anal plate with last abdominal tergite and epiproct fused; supra-anal plate faintly depressed in middle, with apical margin truncated and setose ( Fig. 2 C). Paraproct hooks of medium length, narrow, gently curved, setose, apex obtusely rounded ( Fig. 2 D). Subgenital plate distinctly wider than long; apical margin obtusely rounded. Epiphallus and ventral lobe of phallic complex membranous. Sclerotised part of male genitalia as in Figs. 2 E, 2F. External sclerite of lateral valves well developed, narrow and elongated, curved inwards with apices of both sides nearly touching corresponding apex, with apex obtusely truncated. Internal sclerite of medial valve elongated and slightly sigmoidal, gently curved at base in lateral view; slightly convex in middle, flattened in dorsal view.

Colouration. Similar to description by Ingrisch (2006). Yellow brown in fresh specimens. Scapus black, covered with pale scales; eyes black. Pronotum with a distinct pale hind margin as in Ornebius nigrirostris , which extends to the rear of lateral lobes; otherwise, lateral lobes of similar colour as disk of pronotum. Tegmina in males yellow, apex with broad black margin ( Fig. 2 A). Abdominal tergites yellow brown, epiproct yellow, with two dark patches laterally ( Fig. 2 C). Subgenital plate black, similar to Ornebius aureus and Ornebius nigrirostris .

Measurements. See Table 2 .

Discussion. This species described from Singapore was only known from the female holotype (Ingrisch, 2006). It is characterised by light coloured head with black frons, shared with two other species from Perak and Kedah, Malay Peninsula: Ornebius nigrifrons and Ornebius nigrirostris . New material enabled the first description of the male.

BL PL PW TL TW HFL HTL HML Material examined. Holotype (male): Singapore, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, along BTNR main road, secondary forest, coll. M. K. Tan & J. J. Y. Chan, 29 June 2011 (ZRC).

Paratypes: Singapore, 1 male, 1 female, same locality as holotype, coll. M. K. Tan, 3 November 2012 (all ZRC).

Diagnosis. Similar to Ornebius pendleburyi Chopard, 1969 from Fraser’s Hill (Pahang, Malay Peninsula) but differs by tegmina with black apical margin broad and distinct. Very similar to Ornebius flori Ingrisch, 1998 and Ornebius citrus Ingrisch, 2006 by yellow or orange tegmina with black apical margin but differs in phallic complex: lateral valve forming a dorsally open tube; and medial valve not curved at base to form a semi-circle as in Ornebius flori and Ornebius citrus .

Description. Habitus of male as shown in Fig. 3 A. Frontal rostrum as wide as, or slightly narrower than scapus; with transverse furrow and a less distinct medial furrow. Maxillary palps with three apical segments of subequal length, apical segment strongly widened, third segment slightly longer than fourth and fifth segments ( Fig. 3 B). Pronotum in male about 1.3 times (m = 1.3, n = 2) longer than wide with anterior dorsal margin slightly convex; lateral margins widening posteriorly; posterior margin convex, not covering tegmen to base of mirror. Tegmen about 1.3 times (n = 1) wider than posterior area of pronotum; posterior margin convex; mirror roughly triangular, about as long as wide. Fore tibiae with internal tympanum round; without external tympanum. Hind femora 1.3–1.4 times (m = 1.4, n = 2) longer than hind tibiae; hind tibiae 3.3–4.0 times (m = 3.5, n = 2) longer than postmetatarsi.

Male. Supra-anal plate with last abdominal tergite and epiproct distinctly separated by a transverse suture; last abdominal tergite with long baso-lateral bristles, apex truncated and faintly emarginated in middle; epiproct truncated ( Fig. 3 C). Paraproct hooks long and narrow, tapering to acute apices ( Fig. 3 C). Epiphallus and ventral lobe of phallic complex membranous. Sclerotised part of male genitalia as in Fig. 3 D. External sclerite of lateral valves bent ventrad apically, with both sides forming together a dorsally open tube. Internal sclerite of medial valve elongated and straight, bent dorsad at base in lateral view.

Female. Ninth abdominal tergite with apical margin straight. Supra-anal plate in basal half wide, with lateral area bulging and carrying a few long and thick bristles, separated by a medial furrow; apical half longer than wide, with two small medial rounded depressions in middle; apex roundly truncated, carrying a few long and thick bristles ( Fig. 3 E). Paraprocts long and wide, apex obtusely rounded. Subgenital plate wider than long, apical margin roundly truncated, barely emarginated in middle. Ovipositor of medium length; apical valves with margins smooth; ventral margin of dorsal valves with 4–5 bristles (n = 1) ( Fig. 3 F).

Colouration. Yellow brown in fresh specimens. Head, frons and antennae uniformly yellow brown. Maxillary and labial palps yellow brown. Pronotum yellow brown, apical margin with white scales. Tegmina in males yellow, apex with broad dark brown margin ( Fig. 3 A). Legs generally light to yellow brown; hind femora white, in dorsal region light brown. Abdomen dorsally brown, apex slightly darker; ventrally nearly white; subgenital plate black. Cerci light brown.

Measurements. See Table 3 .

Etymology. The name refers to the engraved depressions on the female supra-anal plate; from Latin insculpta = engraved, feminine.

Discussion. Based on a single male specimen, this species was previously identified as Ornebius species 1 in Tan (2012). The collection of more male and female specimens allowed further examination.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Ornebius albipalpus Ingrisch male: habitus of freshly euthanized specimen in dorsal view (A); maxillary palps in lateral view (B); abdominal apex in dorsal view (C); paraproct in lateral view (D); phallic complex after washing in KOH in dorsal (E) and lateral (F) views. Scale bars: 5 mm (A); 1 mm (B – F).

FIGURE 3. Ornebius insculpta sp. n. holotype (A, B) and paratypes (C – F): male habitus in dorsal view (A); maxillary palps in lateral view (B); male abdominal apex in dorsal view (C); male phallic complex after washing in KOH in lateral view (D); female abdominal apex in dorsal view (E); apical area of ovipositor in lateral view (F). Scale bars: 5 mm (A); 1 mm (B – F).

Tables

TABLE 2. Measurements of Ornebius albipalpus (in mm, mean values in brackets).

Male 8.0 3.5 (26 Nov.2010)	2.6	3.4	3.1	5.2	5.0	1.3
Male 8.2 3.6 (10 Sep.2012)	2.8	3.4	3.1	5.3	4.3	1.5
Males (n = 2) 8.0–8.2 (8.1) 3.5–3.6 (3.6)	2.6–2.8 (2.7)	3.4 (3.4)	3.1 (3.1)	5.2–5.3 (5.3)	4.3–5.0 (4.7)	1.3–1.5 (1.4)
Ornebius insculpta , new species (Fig. 3)