Gryllotalpa cameroonensis Simeu-Noutchom & Kekeunou, 2024

Simeu-Noutchom, Alain, Kekeunou, Sevilor, Wandji, Alain Christel, Nzike, Marcelle Mbadjoun & Nkwala, Alfiery Laurel Djomnang, 2024, Description of two new species of mole crickets from the genus Gryllotalpa (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) in Cameroon, with a key to the Afrotropical parva group species, Zootaxa 5432 (3), pp. 425-435 : 427-428

Gryllotalpa cameroonensis Simeu-Noutchom & Kekeunou sp. nov. ( Fig. 2a–f )

Material examined. Holotype: 1 ♂, type locality: Bafoussam , 05° 28' S, 10° 30’ E, Mar. 2017; crop fields; coll. Alain SIMEU-NOUTCHOM, Marcelle MBADJOUN NZIKE, and Sévilor KEKEUNOU; Pit fall trap; Depository: "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History: 182526 . Paratype: 12 ♀, 9 ♂, type locality: Babété 04° 45'S, 009° 39’E, Bafoussam 05° 28’S, 10° 30’E; crop fields, agro-forest, herbaceous fallows, March. 2016, Jun. 2016, Jun 2017, Aug. 2017; coll. Alain SIMEU-NOUTCHOM, Marcelle MBADJOUN NZIKE, and Sévilor KEKEUNOU; Pitfall trap; Depository: "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History: 182527 .

Etymology. The specific name cameroonensis is derived from the name of the country Cameroon in which the species was collected. The Latinization of the specific epithet is done according to the prescriptions of the Fourth Edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

Diagnosis. Forewings reaching the fifth abdominal segment ( Fig. 2c ), with an average length of 7.24± 0.75 mm; stridulatory file with 63±8.38 teeth on average, fairly spaced, averaging 44.13±6.22 per millimeter, presence of cell c 1 and cell c 2 having almost equal size, hindwing extending beyond forewing's tip, not reaching the tip of the abdomen. Ectophallus' internal process quite long and cross, with thick transverse sclerite ( Fig. 2e, f ).

Description. Body fairly uniform in colour, light to dark brown, covered with numerous fine setae, 21.07±1.57 (18.25–23.33) mm long ( Fig. 2a ). Head quite black, elongated and prognathous, 1.5 times longer than wide; antenna multi-articulated, as long as the pronotum, with numerous setae; compound eyes rounded, black color, IOD about 1.71±0.41 (0.86–2.35) mm; ocelli quite clear. Pronotum developed, 1.4 times longer than broad, concave and broad at its anterior margin and convex and narrower at its posterior margin, and ventrally carrying foreleg. Foreleg bears four strongly sclerotized dactyls, slightly curved and covering three dactyl-tarsals of different sizes, smaller one bearing two spines. Forewings brachypterous, reaching the fifth abdominal segment ( Fig. 2a, c ), average length of 7.11±0.39 (6.53–7.8) mm, anal end rounded pin ( Fig. 2b ); subcostal vein with 8 branches: Sc1, Sc2, Sc3, Sc4, Sc5, Sc6, Sc7, Sc8; stridulatory file (Cu2) with 69.5±22.97(50–130) teeth on average, fairly spaced, averaging 44.2±6.73(37–60) teeth per millimeter; hindwing extending well beyond the tip of forewing, not reaching the tip of abdomen, average length of 7.4±1.07(6–9) mm. Cerci as long as antennal length. Ectophallus' internal process quite long and cross, with thick transverse sclerite.

Distribution. Gryllotalpa cameroonensis sp. nov. is distributed in Bafoussam and Babété, in the West region of Cameroon. This new species was found underground in crop fields, agroforests, and fallows.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Morphology of Gryllotalpa cameroonensis sp. nov.: (a) general morphology, (b) male fore wing structure, (c) male hind wing, (d) stridulatory file, (e) ventral view of phallic complex, (f) dorsal view of phallic complex. Scale bars 1 mm.