Bobilla Otte & Alexander, 1983

Hegg, Danilo, 2024, Small crickets of New Zealand (Orthoptera: Grylloidea: Trigonidiidae and Mogoplistidae), with the description of two new genera and species, European Journal of Taxonomy 955 (1), pp. 1-87 : 23-24

Genus Bobilla Otte & Alexander, 1983

Bobilla Otte & Alexander, 1983: 180 , table 11.

Bobilla – Otte et al. 1987: 399, fig. 15a–b. — Su & Rentz 2000: 8, figs 2–4, tables 1–2. — Desutter-Grandcolas et al. 2016: 418. — Rentz & Su 2019: 320.

Type species

Bobilla bivittata ( Walker, 1869) by original designation.

Etymology

From Bobo, ‘grass’, and the locative suffix ‘ -illa ’, (‘found’) in grass. From one of “several small dictionaries covering a number of languages spread across Australia ” (D. Otte pers. com. 2023). Bobilla species live in grasslands. The name Bobilla is female gender.

Diagnosis (after Otte & Alexander 1983; Rentz & Su 2019)

Medium- to large-sized Nemobiinae , body length typically between 6 and 9 mm; coloration variegated grey to black. Forewings fully developed in both sexes. Eighty to ninety percent of females with short forewings ( Fig. 16B, E ); 10% to 20% with long forewings ( Fig. 16F ). Hindwings occasionally present in either sex but rarely so ( Fig. 16D ). Stridulatory apparatus complete. Tympana present on posterior side of Tibia I. Tibia III with three inner and three outer subapical spurs in both sexes, alternate. Tibia III ventral apical spurs subequal in length. Length of Tarsomere III-1 outer apical spur approx. 60% of inner apical spur.

Measurements

See Table 2 . Sexual dimorphism in body length, with females being larger than males by 10% to 20%.

For a detailed description of this genus, see Otte & Alexander (1983: 180); Desutter-Grandcolas et al. (2016: 418); Rentz & Su (2019: 320).

Habitat and ecology

Primarily diurnal singers, may sing through the night on warm nights only. Active at temperatures below 10°C on sunny days. Found exclusively in grasslands, both in short and long vegetation, from sea level to 1800 m a.s.l.

Distribution

All of New Zealand, including Chatham Islands, except for Rakiura /Stewart Island and subantarctic islands. Overseas also in Australia (11 species) and in New Caledonia (1 species).

Figures

Fig. 16. Live Bobilla Otte & Alexander, 1983. A–B. Bobilla nigrova (Swan, 1972). A. Adult ♂, Hurunui Hut, Kaimai Range. B. Adult ♀. Earnscleugh Tailings, Alexandra, Central Otago. C–F. Bobilla bigelowi (Swan, 1972). C. Adult ♂, Poulter River, Arthur’s Pass National Park. D. Fully winged adult ♂, Lake Ōhau. E. Adult ♀ with short forewings. Kaikōura. F. Adult ♀ with long forewings. Leitchs Clearing, Herangi Range. Note: only B is photographed in its natural environment. All other specimens are posed on unnatural backgrounds in captivity.