Aclogryllus crybelos (Nischk & Otte, 2000) n. comb.

(Figs. 1, 2)

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:501200

Paragryllus crybelos Nischk & Otte, 2000: 242; figs. 10, 34–37; table 7.

Paragryllus (Aclogryllus) crybelos; Gorochov, 2009: 575; figs. 4(4–6), 5(4); Cigliano et al. (2017) (online database).

Additional information to the original description. Male genitalia (Fig. 2): median epiphallic bridge (ep.b) short, four times wider than longer and with median portion of posterior margin showing a central notch (Fig. 2A, D). Hind lateral lobe of median epiphallic bridge (ep.l) with one thin projection, in dorsal and ventral views (Fig. 2A, B, D, E: *ph), and sub-rounded in lateral view (Fig. 2C: *ph). Guiding rod (g) with rounded apex, in dorsal and ventral views (Fig. 2A, B, D, E). Lateral epiphallic arm (ep.a) with external margin inward curved in its posterior third, in ventral and dorsal views (Fig. 2A, B, D, E); presence of one finger-shaped projection posteriorly directed in apex of lateral epiphallic arm (Fig. 2A–F: *ap = apical projection of the lateral epiphallic arm); subapical projection (*sp) triangular-shaped with acuminate apex at the inner margin of the lateral epiphallic arm (ep.a), in ventral view (Fig. 2B, E: *sp). Endoparameral apodeme (en.a) dorsally curved, in lateral view (Fig. 2C, F).

Geographic records. Ecuador: San Pablo de Kantesiya, Province Sucumbíos (0°15’S, 76°27’W) (Nischk & Otte, 2000) and Eastern Plain, near the Lake “Lago Grande” on the river “Rio Cuyabeno” (Gorochov, 2009).

Comments. Species of Paragryllus and Aclogryllus present very similar habitat and habitus. In both genera, the specimens are inhabitants of tree trunks and are rarely found in the ground (Desutter-Grandcolas, 1992; Nischk & Otte, 2000; Gorochov, 2007). These characteristics were observed in all Paragryllina genera: Aclogryllus n. stat.; Benoistella Uvarov, 1939; Bolivacla Gorochov, 2014; Paragryllus Desutter, 1988; Rumea Desutter, 1988 and Silvastella Desutter-Grandcolas, 1992 (Desutter-Grandcolas, 1992; Nischk & Otte, 2000; Gorochov, 2014). With the exception of Benoistella and Bolivacla, all other genera of Paragryllina are found in Manaus municipality, A. manauensis n. sp. type locality.

Paragryllina comprise 24 species, of which only Aclogryllus crybelos (Nischk & Otte, 2000) n. comb. and Silvastella epiplatys (Nischk & Otte, 2000) have had their calling songs described. Two factors make it difficult to record the calling songs of Paragryllina species. The first is related to the tree stratum occupied during stridulation, which is usually> 3m above the ground and sometimes in treetops (Nischk & Otte, 2000; personal observation of second author). The second refers to the difficulty of obtaining stridulations from these individuals in the laboratory, which may be associated to conditions intrinsic to their stridulatory habitat that are difficult to simulate in captivity (personal observation of second author).

In this work we proposed to raise Aclogryllus to genus status based on characteristics of external morphology and male genitalia. Aclogryllus n. stat. has a simple supra-anal plate, without evident specializations (Fig. 4H), while Paragryllus presents one pair of fine structures surpassing the tip of abdomen (see Desutter-Grandcolas, 1992: fig. 68). This structure is characterized as “appendices abdominaux” by Guérin-Méneville (1844), “lamelles dorsales” in Desutter-Grandcolas (1992) and “thin and long processes” by Gorochov (2007; 2009). Another useful external characteristic for distinguishing these genera is the condition of first internal apical spur of tibia III. In Aclogryllus n. stat., this spur is rather narrow (Fig. 1F and 4G, black arrow), being strongly swollen in Paragryllus (see Desutter-Grandcolas, 1992: fig. 69; Gorochov, 2009).

Other conspicuous differences are found in the male genitalia. Aclogryllus n. stat. has a very long guiding rod and lateral epiphallic arms, as well as short endoparameral apodemes. Additionally, the endoparameral apodemes are shorter than the lateral epiphallic arms and in Paragryllus the reverse occurs.