Mistshenkoana higaonon Tan, 2023

Tan, Ming Kai, Salvador, Jewel Anne G., Sabang, Aira Mae M., Bahoy, Daphne Cayle M., Nuñeza, Olga Macas & Robillard, Tony, 2023, Taxonomy and bioacoustics of little-known Grylloidea crickets (Orthoptera, Ensifera) from Mindanao, Philippines, Zootaxa 5323 (3), pp. 301-348 : 330-333

Mistshenkoana higaonon Tan & Salvador, sp. nov.

( Figs 26 , 27 )

Specimens examined. Holotype: PHILIPPINES • ♁; Mindanao, Misamis Oriental, Gingoog City, Barangay Lunotan , near Mt Sumagaya ; N8.70115, E125.01004, 1206.0±7.0 m.a.s.l.; 16 February 2023, 20h09; coll. J.A.G. Salvador; MIN.23.67 ( PNM)

Diagnosis. The new species differs from the aforementioned species and Philippines congeners by similar characters mentioned in Mistshenkoana lunotan sp. nov., but it also differs by the head and pronotum having more dark-brown spots; the FW dorsal field with three large distinct white oblique and elongated spots and the FIIIs with mottled dark patterns.

From Mistshenkoana lunotan sp. nov., the male genitalia of this new species also differ by the pseudepiphallic lophi, in profile view, having dorsal margin somewhat straight throughout but ventral margin at middle bent, and basal half tapering more than apical half (instead of simply triangular); and by the pseudepiphallic parameres, in ventral view, with posterior half having a small spine-like process and in profile view, ventral lobe broader than dorsal lobe (instead of about as broad as each other).

Etymology. The species is named after the Higaonon tribe of Iligan which the species coexists with; noun in apposition. Higaonon is also derived from the native words higa (living), goan (mountains).

Description. Habitus typical of the genus, medium sized, cream-coloured to yellow brown with dark-brown mottled patterns ( Figs 26A, 26B ). Head with dorsum dark brown mottled, pubescent. Rostrum finely pubescent, dark coloured, about 0.9 times as wide as scapes ( Fig. 26A ). Scapes yellow brown with brown patterns. Eyes view distinctly taller than long ( Fig. 26C ). Median ocellus oval; lateral ocelli located near eyes. Maxillary palpi cream-coloured; with apical segment longest, dorso-posteriorly dark-coloured, flattened and somewhat rectangular, with obliquely-truncated apex; with subapical segment shorter and faintly expanding apically; third segment longer than subapical segment, cylindrical and slightly expanding apically ( Fig. 26D ). Face in anterior view as tall as wide; mostly cream-coloured except between scapes ( Fig. 26E ). Gena cream-coloured, posterior of eye with two dark brown bands ( Fig. 26C ). Pronotal disk brown with dense dark-brown mottled patterns; 1.4 times as wide as long, widening posteriorly (posterior margin 1.6 times as wide as anterior margin); densely and finely pubescent, with a row of setae along posterior and anterior margins; anterior margin of disk straight; posterior margin of disk broadly convex in middle ( Fig. 26A ). Pronotal lateral lobe 1.2 times as long as high, cream-coloured with some dark-brown mottled patterns ( Fig. 26C ). Metanotal gland absent. TI swollen; with inner tympanum open and having very large elongate, oblong tympanal membrane; with outer tympanum obscure (nearly distinguishable). TIII with 5 inner and 4 outer long subapical spurs, 3 larger inner and 3 small outer apical spurs; before most proximal subapical spurs and between subapical spurs with small spines. Legs generally cream-coloured with irregular and sparse dark spots; Fs with more dark spots in the apical half; Ts generally with more dark spots. FIII with a dark brown mottled patterns on inner and outer parts; in dorsal view with three oblique bands, apical band thickest, followed by basal and middle bands. TIII in dorsal view with dark patches and spots. TaIII basal segment cream-coloured with basal and apical parts dark coloured. Thoracic and abdominal segments cream-coloured; abdominal tergite with some dark colouration.

Male. FW ( Figs 26F, 26G ) covering abdomen and surpassing apex of FIII. Colouration: cells generally yellow brown, veins brown; cross-veins at basal half typically cream-coloured, at apical half with faint black patch around cross-veins. Along M with three elongated white/ cream-coloured spots: at the basal third (smallest), in the middle (largest) and near apical third. Lateral field with intercalary triangle transparent, otherwise yellow brown with brown veins and cream-coloured cross-veins ( Fig. 26G ). Venation: without stridulatory organs, with longitudinal veins parallel; lateral field with R and M narrowly spaced apart, mostly parallel and with cross-veins cream-coloured; with R and Sc spaced apart, parallel and with cross-veins (especially in the basal half); branches of Sc generally parallel. Hind wings clearly surpassing FWs ( Figs 26A, 26B ).

Subgenital plate typical of genus, elongated and tapering apically; cream-coloured. Male genitalia as shown in Fig. 27 : pseudepiphallus [epiphallus] not so elongated, tapering slightly posteriorly; at posterior end divided into two parts and roundly and very narrowly excised; posterior end produced into pseudepiphallic lophi [apical epiphallic lobe]. Pseudepiphallic lophi [apical epiphallic lobe], in dorsal and ventral views, long and slender and pointing posterior-externally with apex obtuse; inner margins with a few setae. In profile view, dorsal margin somewhat straight throughout, ventral margin at middle bent; basal half tapering more than apical half; apical half slender triangular; apex subacute; ventral margin with a few setae. Pseudepiphallic paramere [ectoparamere], in ventral view, elongated and slender; with anterior half (also the ventral lobe) rhombic, at middle folded, with posterior half (also the dorsal lobe) with rounded apex and a small spine-like process at the inner-apical part. In profile view, ventral lobe (vl) broader than dorsal lobe (dl), between the lobes rounded emarginated. Ectophallic fold [rachis] small, slender and straight, taper posteriorly with apex obtuse.

Female. Unknown.

Measurements (in mm). BL = 11.3; BWL = 18.9; HL = 0.8; PronL = 1.6; PronW = 2.2; FWL = 12.3; FWW = 2.3; HWT = 4.5; FIIIL = 8.1; TIIIL = 8.4.

Ecology. Unknown.

Type locality. PHILIPPINES, Mindanao Island, Misamis Oriental, Gingoog City, Barangay Lunotan

Distribution. PHILIPPINES (Mindanao Island: Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental)

Calling song. This species is mute.

Figures

FIGURE 26. Mistshenkoana higaonon sp. nov.: dorsal (A) and lateral (B) habitus; head and pronotum in lateral view (C); maxillary palps in lateral view (D); face in anterior view (E); FWs in dorsal (F) and lateral (G) views. Scale bars: 5 mm (A, B), 2 mm (F, G), 1 mm (C–E).

FIGURE 27. Mistshenkoana higaonon sp. nov. ♁ genitalia in dorsal (A), ventral (B) and lateral (C) views. Scale bar: 1 mm.