[Entomology • 2024] Itara mindanao & I. tenompok • New Species of Itara (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Itarinae) and Descriptions of Calling Songs from Mindanao and Sabah

 Itara (Bornitara) tenompok Tan, Japir & Chung,

in Tan, Grumo, Gono, Bahoy, Rivera, Nuñeza, Japir et Chung, 2024. 

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5424.1.3

 facebook.com: Arthur Chung

 

Abstract

A new species of Itara (Phormincter) is described from Mindanao in the Philippines: Itara (Phormincter) mindanao Tan, Grumo, Gono & Bahoy, sp. nov. This represents the first record of this subgenus in the Philippines, having previously known only from Borneo, Java, Malay Peninsula and Sumatra; as well as only the second species of Itara known from the Philippines and the first from Mindanao Island. The male calling song of the holotype was also recorded and is described here. Additionally, the male calling song of another congener, Itara (Singitara) singularis Gorochov, 1997 from Sabah, is described here. A new species of Itara (Bornitara) is also described from Sabah in Borneo: Itara (Bornitara) tenompok Tan, Japir & Chung, sp. nov.

 Orthoptera, acoustics, Borneo, East Malaysia, Gryllidae, Philippines

Ming Kai Tan, Kim C. Grumo, Alfredo III A. Gono, Daphne Cayle M. Bahoy, Rodrin R. Rivera, Olga Macas Nuñeza, Razy Japir and Arthur Y.C. Chung. 2024. New Species of Itara (Orthoptera: Grylloidea: Itarinae) and Descriptions of Calling Songs from Mindanao and Sabah.  Zootaxa. 5424(1); 61-79. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5424.1.3

 facebook.com/100004187887445/posts/2758664220949814

[Entomology • 2024] Odontogryllodes magnus & O. undatus • A Taxonomic Review of Odontogryllodes Chopard, 1969 (Arthropoda: Gryllidae: Landrevinae)

Odontogryllodes magnus Tan, Japir & Chung,

in Tan, Muhammad, Abdullah, Japir et Chung, 2024.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5410.2.7 

 facebook.com: Arthur Chung

 

Abstract

The taxonomy of the crickets from the genus Odontogryllodes Chopard, 1969 is reviewed. Two species new to science are described here, one from Peninsular Malaysia (part of Malay Peninsula) and another from East Malaysia (part of Borneo): Odontogryllodes undatus Tan, Muhammad & Abdullah sp. nov. from Panti Forest Reserve and Odontogryllodes magnus Tan, Japir & Chung sp. nov. from Tenompok Forest Reserve, respectively. We also present an updated key to the species of Odontogryllodes. In total, nine species are currently known.

Orthoptera, Borneo, key, Malay Peninsula, new species, Southeast Asia, taxonomy

Ming Kai Tan, Amira Aqilah Muhammad, Nurul Ashikin Abdullah, Razy Japir and Arthur Y.C. Chung. 2024. A Taxonomic Review of Odontogryllodes Chopard, 1969 (Gryllidae: Landrevinae). Zootaxa. 5410(2); 267-279. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5410.2.7

  facebook.com/100004187887445/posts/2739583902857846

[Entomology • 2024] Pendleburyella eremita & P. nimba • New Species of the elusive crickets from the Genus Pendleburyella Chopard, 1969 (Arthropoda: Gryllidae: Pentacentrinae) from Sabah, Borneo

Pendleburyella eremita

Tan, Japir & Chung, 2024

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5397.2.7 

 facebook.com: Arthur Chung

 

Abstract

Only one species of Pendleburyella Chopard, 1969 (Gryllidae, Pentacentrinae) was previously known to occur in Borneo: Pendleburyella eirmosa Tan, Muhammad & Wahab, 2023 from Brunei Darussalam. Here, two additional new species of crickets from the genus Pendleburyella are described from the highlands of Sabah, Borneo: Pendleburyella eremita sp. nov. from Bukit Hampuan and Pendleburyella nimba sp. nov. from Mount Trus Madi. In total, six species of Pendleburyella are currently known, three from Borneo and three from Malay Peninsula. It is likely that many more species are awaiting discovery owing to its cryptic morphology and elusive nature.

Orthoptera, key, leaf litter fauna, Southeast Asia, taxonomy

Ming Kai Tan, Razy Japir and Arthur Y.C. Chung. 2024. New Species of the elusive crickets from the Genus Pendleburyella Chopard, 1969 (Gryllidae, Pentacentrinae) from Sabah, Borneo.  Zootaxa. 5397(2); 264-272.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5397.2.7

  facebook.com/100004187887445/posts/2709032735912963

[Entomology • 2024] Miripella & Arrakis gen. nov. • Museomics, Molecular Phylogeny and Systematic Revision of the Eurepini Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Eneopterinae), with Description of Two New Genera

Arrakis Robillard, Tan & Su gen. nov. 

in He, Su, Tan, Zwick, Warren et Robillard, 2024. 

DOI: 10.1111/syen.12622 

twitter.com/TonyRobillar

 

Abstract

Natural history collections worldwide house billions of specimens, representing one of the most globally important biobanks. In recent years, the advent of next-generation sequencing has significantly reduced the challenges of obtaining considerable genetic information from historical museum specimens. Crickets in the Australian tribe Eurepini Robillard are a good example of a taxon in which such museomic data have particularly strong potential to advance systematic knowledge, because comprehensive sampling requires decades of work over a very wide area. The tribe currently comprises 64 described species in five genera. Previous studies conflict in the generic relationships inferred for this tribe, all of which are poorly resolved, being based on limited data and sampling. In addition, there has so far been no systematic research for this tribe with extensive taxon sampling, and therefore, the consequence for genus boundaries remains to be investigated. To investigate phylogenetic relationships within Eurepini, we first applied the genome skimming approach to obtain molecular data from a comprehensive sample of Eurepini museum specimens. Of the 69 specimens sampled representing 61 described species, mainly including holotype specimens, we obtained 50 complete and 11 partially complete mitogenomes. Three nuclear genes (H3, 18S, and 28S) were also partially recovered for nearly all of these specimens. Phylogenetic analyses performed with mitogenomes plus three nuclear genes using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference generated well-supported and highly congruent topologies. Eurepini was strongly recovered monophyletic with eight well-defined groups. These groups are used to revise the systematics of the tribe based on a combination of molecular phylogenetics and morphology. The phylogenetic results support the current definition of three genera (Eurepa Walker, Arilpa Otte & Alexander and Eurepella Otte & Alexander), lead us to redefine three genera (Salmanites Chopard, Napieria Baehr and Piestodactylus Saussure), and define and describe two new genera: Miripella Robillard, Tan & Su gen. nov. and Arrakis Robillard, Tan & Su gen. nov. Our results reinforce the importance of natural history collections as a repository for information on biodiversity and genetics, and provide the first comprehensive and robust phylogenetic framework for future systematic and evolutionary studies of Eurepini.

Keywords: Australia, genome skimming, mitogenomes, natural history collections, Orthoptera, taxonomy, type materials

 

Shilin He, You Ning Su, Ming Kai Tan, Andreas Zwick, Ben H. Warren and Tony Robillard. 2024. Museomics, Molecular Phylogeny and Systematic Revision of the Eurepini Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Eneopterinae), with Description of Two New Genera. Systematic Entomology. DOI: 10.1111/syen.12622

 twitter.com/TonyRobillar/status/1752720326222319937

[Entomology • 2022] Indigryllus sagani • A New Species of Indigryllus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Eneopterinae: Xenogryllini) from Kerala, India, with First Data on Acoustics and Natural Habitat

Indigryllus sagani

Jaiswara, Sreebin, Monaal & Robillard, 2022

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5205.6.2

 twitter.com/TonyRobillar

 

Abstract

In India, the cricket subfamily Eneopterinae is represented by two known genera, Xenogryllus Bolívar, 1890 and Indigryllus Robillard & Jaiswara, 2019. The latter was recently described and is known from a single species I. kudremu Robillard & Jaiswara, 2019 from Karnataka, India. The species was known exclusively from its morphological features and there existed no information on its biology and acoustic features. The present study is a step ahead in understanding the natural history and acoustic signalling in the genus. Based on a collaboration initiated by citizen science observations on the website iNaturalist, we describe a new species, Indigryllus sagani sp. nov. from Kerala, India, with details on its habitat and acoustic signals.

Keywords: Orthoptera, calling song, Citizen science, courtship, taxonomy, Western Ghats 

 Indigryllus sagani sp. nov.

 

Ranjana Jaiswara, S. Sreebin, Monaal and Tony Robillard. 2022. A New Species of Indigryllus (Orthoptera, Gryllidae, Eneopterinae, Xenogryllini) from Kerala, India, with First Data on Acoustics and Natural Habitat. Zootaxa. 5205(6); 532-546. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5205.6.2

 twitter.com/TonyRobillar/status/1592187390495711233

[Entomology • 2022] Oecanthus beameri • A New Species of Tree Cricket (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Oecanthinae) from Chihuahuan Desert Gypsum Dunes in the United States and A Key to the nigricornis Species Group

Oecanthus beameri  

Collins & Lightfoot, 2022

DOI: 10.3897/jor.31.79036

Abstract

A new species of tree crickets, Oecanthus beameri sp. nov., is described from the gypsum dunes of White Sands National Park in New Mexico, United States. The new species is currently known only from the type locality, where it appears to be specific to the gypsophile plant hoary rosemary mint (Poliomintha incana). This new species has the narrowed tegmina and calling song that are found in the nigricornis species group. Although it has morphological similarities to O. quadripunctatus and O. celerinictus, there are differences in the subgenital plates, tegminal measurements, coloring, tibial markings, song frequency, and song pulse rate. This new species has been given the common name White Sands tree cricket. We provide a key to all species in the nigricornis group. Video and song recordings are available online as Suppl. materials 1–8.

Keywords: bioacoustic, biodiversity, gypsophile, Oecanthus, Poliomintha incana, White Sands National Park

Family Gryllidae Laicharting, 1781

Subfamily Oecanthinae Blanchard, 1845

Tribe Oecanthini Blanchard, 1845

Genus Oecanthus Serville, 1831

Oecanthus beameri sp. nov.
A. Male habitus, dorsal view; B. Front view of a singing male; C. Antennal markings. Photo credit James Bailey, iNaturalist; D. Ventral abdomen color of adult male. Photo credit Jared Shorma, iNaturalist; E. Ventral abdomen color of adult female; F. Faint horizontal lines on proximal portion of hind femora. Photo credit James Bailey, iNaturalist.

 Oecanthus beameri sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis.— The antennal markings of O. beameri sp. nov. can total two, three, or four, with the medial mark on the scape usually broken into two pieces (Figs 3C, 4), while O. quadripunctatus has either two or four marks with the medial mark on the scape being a solid post, and O. celerinictus always has a solid medial mark on the scape and never lacks the upper outer mark on the scape and is never round. The two antennal marks on the pedicel of O. walkeri (Collins and Symes 2012) touch, and those of O. argentinus touch or nearly touch, while the marks on O. beameri sp. nov. do not.

 

Etymology.— Specific epithet in recognition of Raymond Beamer who collected the specimens in 1932 that were discovered in the ANSDU collection in 2019. The common name, White Sands tree cricket, is for the location where this species was discovered with high potential for endemism.

Nancy Collins and David C. Lightfoot. 2022. A New Species of Tree Cricket (Orthoptera, Gryllidae, Oecanthinae) from Chihuahuan Desert Gypsum Dunes in the United States and A Key to the nigricornis Species Group. Journal of Orthoptera Research. 31(2): 181-189. DOI: 10.3897/jor.31.79036

[Entomology • 2022] Rugabinthus gen. nov. • A New Genus of Lebinthina (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Eneopterinae) from New Guinea

B. Female Rugabinthus species in their natural habitats in Acemo, South Manokwari (inaturalist.org) and C. Malagufuk (inaturalist.org). 

in Tan & Robillard, 2022. 

DOI: 10.3897/jor.31.73800

Photos: Benoît Segerer.

  twitter.com/TonyRobillar

Abstract

Brachypterous crickets from the monophyletic group of Lebinthina were traditionally grouped under the genus Lebinthus. However, the morphology and calling song are highly diversified, prompting the erection of numerous genera to reclassify the species. Based on the strong characteristic fold carrying the diagonal vein of the male forewing, a new genus of cricket from the subtribe Lebinthina is described: Rugabinthus gen. nov. This brachypterous genus is endemic to the island of New Guinea and nearby islands. We redescribe the type species Rugabinthus leopoldi (Chopard, 1931) comb. nov. and describe 12 new species, R. manokwari sp. nov., R. kencana sp. nov., R. maoke sp. nov., R. nabire sp. nov., R. albatros sp. nov., R. karimui sp. nov., R. yayukae sp. nov., R. biakis sp. nov., R. mamberamo sp. nov., R. tariku sp. nov., R. faowi sp. nov., and R. baduri sp. nov. We also transferred R. newguineae (Bhowmik, 1981) comb. nov. and provide a key to all known species of Rugabinthus gen. nov.

Keywords: Grylloidea, Lebinthini, new species, Papua, Southeast Asia, taxonomy

Taxonomy

Family Gryllidae Laicharting, 1781

Subfamily Eneopterinae Saussure, 1874

Tribe Lebinthini Robillard, 2004

Subtribe Lebinthina Robillard & Tan, 2021

Genus Rugabinthus Robillard & Tan, gen. nov.

 

Type species.— Lebinthus leopoldi Chopard, 1931

Diagnosis.— Among the Lebinthina genera, Rugabinthus species are average to large sized and stocky with a dark brown coloration. General shape close to that of Macrobinthus, also from New Guinea, from which it differs by male FWs with a narrow triangular harp (shield shaped in Macrobinthus) occupying half of FW width, with a characteristic and strong diagonal fold carrying the diagonal vein and cell c1, and separating FWs in two distinct areas; file vein area also characterized by a strong bean-shaped sclerotization; harp with a strong transverse oblique vein, bi- or poly-furcated anteriorly; venation posterior to diagonal fold usually faint and reticulated, longitudinal veins only strong at apex. Eyes prominent and large as in Macrobinthus compared to Agnotecous and Centuriarus; face as high as wide (higher than wide in Macrobinthus), close to that of Lebinthus. Microptery in both sexes, FWs not reaching mid-length of abdomen. Mirror not differentiated (slightly differentiated in Macrobinthus). CuA almost straight (clearly curved inwards in Macrobinthus). Male genitalia with pseudepiphallus usually elongate, its posterior apex highly variable in size and shape, rami short; pseudepiphallic parameres made of two main lobes variable in shape and orientation; endophallic sclerite very long, trifid posteriorly. Female: FWs shorter than in males, very slightly overlapping, generally rounded posteriorly. Ovipositor rather long, its apex slightly denticulate on dorsal edge. Female copulatory papilla usually rounded, with a C-shaped basal sclerite; apex rounded, generally folded ventrally.

A. Map of New Guinea island showing the distribution of Rugabinthus species;
B. Female Rugabinthus species in their natural habitats in Acemo, South Manokwari (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73044465) and
C. Malagufuk (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/72638321).

Photo credit: Benoît Segerer.

Etymology.— Genus named after the Latin word “Ruga” for wrinkle or fold, referring to the characteristic fold on the male FW carrying the diagonal vein.

Distribution.— Island of New Guinea: Indonesia (West Papua) and Papua New Guinea (Fig. 3).

 Ming Kai Tan and Tony Robillard. 2022. Rugabinthus, A New Genus of Lebinthina (Orthoptera, Gryllidae, Eneopterinae) from New Guinea. Journal of Orthoptera Research. 31(1): 9-40. DOI: 10.3897/jor.31.73800

  twitter.com/TonyRobillar/status/1496464015614164997

[Entomology • 2020] Taxonomic Study of Lebinthus Stål, 1877 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Eneopterinae) with Description of Six New Species in the Philippines

Lebinthus bitaeniatus Stål, 1877

in Baroga-Barbecho, Tan, et al., 2020.

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4816.4.1

 twitter.com/ISYEBsp

Abstract

The genus Lebinthus Stål, 1877 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Eneopterinae: Lebinthini) in the Philippines is studied. New locality records are provided for L. bitaeniatus Stål, L. sanchezi Bolívar, L. polillensis Baroga, Yap & Robillard, L. puyos Robillard, and L. luae Robillard & Tan. Six new species are described from Mt. Porras, Sibalom (L. dannybaletei sp. nov.), Mt. Balatukan, Misamis Oriental (L. parvus sp. nov.), Mt. Empagatao, Misamis Oriental (L. palaceus sp. nov.), Tarumpitao, Palawan (L. hamus sp. nov.), Mt. Malinao, Albay (i sp. nov.), and Boracay, Aklan (L. boracay sp. nov.). A distribution map, a taxonomic key, and an updated checklist of the genus in the Philippines are also provided.

 Keywords: Orthoptera, checklist, distribution, key, Lebinthini, redescription, Southeast Asia, taxonomy

 Lebinthus sanchezi male adult in its natural environment in Paete (Luzon).

Lebinthus bitaeniatus male and female adults in pre-copulatory mode in their natural environment in Mount Makiling (Luzon).

Lebinthus dannybaletei Baroga-Barbecho & Robillard sp. nov.

Etymology. The name of the species is dedicated to the late Mr. Danilo “Danny” S. Balete, a well-known Filipino Mammalogist and conservationist, for his contribution to science and Philippine conservation. He was the mentor of JBB in the mentoring program of the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines during its Annual Scientific Conference in 2010. 

Lebinthus parvus Baroga-Barbecho & Robillard sp. nov. 

Etymology. The name comes from the Latin word “parvus” which means “small” referring to the size of the species, which is the smallest Lebinthus among Mindanao species.

Lebinthus palaceus Baroga-Barbecho & Robillard sp. nov. 

Etymology. The name palaceus is an adjective which means “spade-shaped”, referring to the shape of the pseudepiphallic paramere of the male genitalia.

Lebinthus hamus Baroga-Barbecho & Robillard sp. nov. 

Etymology. The name comes from a Latin word “hamo” which means “hook” referring to the shape of the pseudepiphallic parameres and sclerites in ectophallic arc of male genitalia.

Lebinthus magayon Baroga-Barbecho & Robillard sp. nov.

Etymology. The name comes from the word “magayon” of the Bicol language, which is a term used to appreciate the beauty of a woman, relating it to the type material used to describe the species.

Lebinthus boracay Baroga-Barbecho, Yap & Robillard sp. nov. 

Etymology. The species is named after the type locality. 

Jessica B. Baroga-Barbecho, Ming Kai Tan, Sheryl A. Yap and Tony Robillard. 2020. Taxonomic Study of Lebinthus Stål, 1877 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Eneopterinae) with Description of Six New Species in the Philippines. Zootaxa. 4816(4); 401–438. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4816.4.1

 twitter.com/ISYEBsp/status/1286272226589892608

[Entomology • 2020] Veredatrypa gen. nov. • New Brazilian Tafaliscina increase the Diversity of this ­Neotropical Cricket Clade (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Oecanthinae)

Veredatrypa Campos

Veredatrypa rosai Campos, Souza-Dias & Nihei, 2020.

 sciencepress.mnhn.fr

Tafaliscina Desutter, 1988 (Grylloidea Laicharting, 1781, Gryllidae Laicharting, 1781, Oecanthinae Blanchard, 1845, Paroecanthini Gorochov, 1986) are a Neotropical cricket clade with a remarkable morphological diversity. We study here their Brazilian representatives. We describe one new genus (Veredatrypa Campos n. gen.) and three new species from Cerrado and Caatinga, i.e., Veredatrypa rosai n. gen.,  n. sp., V. seca n. gen., n. sp. and V. fusca n. gen., n. sp., and two new species of Tafalisca Walker, 1869 from Amazon Forest, i.e., T. duckeana n. sp. and T. vestigialis n. sp. The new genus and the new ­species are mainly characterized by their male phallic complexes and forewings. An ­identification key of Tafaliscina Brazilian genera is provided, and the diversity of the subtribe is discussed in relation to the life habits and communication modalities of Tafaliscina genera.

KEYWORDS: Crickets, morphology, forewings, phallic complex, biodiversity, new genus, new species

Veredatrypa rosai n. gen., n. sp. adult female.

SYSTEMATICS

Order OTHOPTERA Olivier, 1789

Superfamily Grylloidea Laicharting, 1781

Family Gryllidae Laicharting, 1781

Subfamily Oecanthinae Blancard, 1845

Tribe Paroecanthini Gorochov, 1986

Subtribe Tafaliscina Desutter, 1988

Veredatrypa Campos n. gen.

Type species. — Veredatrypa rosai n. gen, n. sp. 

Species included. — Veredatrypa rosai n. gen., n. sp.; Veredatrypa seca n. gen., n. sp.; Veredatrypa fusca n. gen., n. sp. 

Etymology. — Named after “Grande Sertão: Veredas”, a novel written by the Brazilian novelist João Guimarães Rosa. Grande Sertão: Veredas (in English, translated as The Devil to Pay in the Backlands) is one of the masterpieces of Brazilian literature and one of the most important novels in Portuguese language literature due to its style and complexity. Grande Sertão: Veredas is also a Brazilian National Park that protects a large fragment of Brazilian Cerrado, including wetlands areas known as “veredas”. That Park is located in the same area where the novel happened and is the type-locality of this new genus. 

Distribution. — This genus is recorded for Brazilian open forests as the Cerrado and Caatinga, in States of Minas Gerais, Goiás and Ceará. 

Diagnosis. — The genus is separated from the other genera of Tafaliscina by the following characters: median ocelli very reduced, almost no discernible; DD with longitudinal lateral bands from cephalic to caudal margin. Male: metanotum with two pairs of projections, with cluster of bristles (absent in V. seca n. gen., n. sp.). FWs with anal vein area slightly bulged dorsally, stridulatory file surrounded by strong sclerotization, hv anterior region strongly sclerotized. Male genitalia: MLophi triangular, with a pointed apex; LLophi very short or absent; EctF strongly sclerotized, wide anteriorly, thin posteriorly, going along MLophi, apex folding dorsally, connecting to the apex of MLophi; endophallic apodeme bifid. Female: ovipositor short than cerci, with two lateral protuberances in dorsal and ventral views. Female genitalia: copulatory papilla distal half constricted, without furrow ventrally. 

Veredatrypa rosai n. gen., n. sp.

Etymology. — Name after the Brazilian novelist João Guimarães Rosa, author of the novel “Grande Sertão: Veredas”.

Veredatrypa seca n. gen., n. sp. 

Etymology. — The word “seca” means “dry” in Portuguese, referring to the climatic conditions of the region where this species was collected. The name is a noun in apposition.

Veredatrypa fusca n. gen., n. sp. 

Etymology. — From Latin, “fusca” means “dark”. This species is darker than the other species of the genus.

Tafalisca duckeana n. sp. 

Etymology. — Referring to “Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke”, a forest area managed by the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), where this species was discovered.

Tafalisca vestigialis n. sp. 

Etymology.— From Latin, “vestigialis” means “vestigial”, referring to the vestigial stridulatory file of this species. 

Lucas Denadai de Campos, Pedro G. B. Souza-Dias and Silvio Shigueo Nihei. 2020. New Brazilian Tafaliscina increase the Diversity of this ­Neotropical Cricket Clade (Orthoptera: Grylloidea: Gryllidae: Oecanthinae: Paroecanthini). ZOOSYSTEMA. 42(19); 331-353. DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2020v42a19

sciencepress.mnhn.fr/en/periodiques/zoosystema/42/19

twitter.com/Publi_MNHN/status/1283771079857770498

[Entomology • 2020] Pseudolebinthus lunipterus • A Striking Deaf and Mute New Cricket (Orthoptera, Gryllidae, Eneopterinae) from Malawi

Pseudolebinthus lunipterus 

 Salazar, Murphy, Guillaume, Nattier & Robillard, 2020 

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8204 

Abstract

This article presents an intriguing new cricket species of the tribe Xenogryllini discovered in Northern Malawi. This is the first case of mute and deaf species in the subfamily Eneopterinae; it shows no stridulatory apparatus on short male forewings and no tympana on either side of fore tibiae in both sexes. We introduce the new species and its complete mitogenome and assess phylogenetic relationships based on molecular data obtained from next-generation sequencing genome skimming method. Phylogenetic analyses place the new species within the genus Pseudolebinthus in Xenogryllini, as the sister species of Pseudolebinthus gorochovi Robillard. We describe Pseudolebinthus lunipterus sp. nov., provide illustrations of main morphology, male and female genitalia, photographs of living specimens and information about habitat and update the identification key for species of genus Pseudolebinthus. We discuss the differences between the new species and related taxa and the striking loss of acoustic communication in this cricket.

Taxonomy

Insecta Linnaeus, 1758

Orthoptera Olivier, 1789

Gryllidae Laicharting, 1781

Eneopterinae Saussure, 1874

Xenogryllini Robillard, 2004

Genus Pseudolebinthus Robillard, 2006

Type species: Pseudolebinthus africanus Robillard, 2006

Figure 1: Pseudolebinthus lunipterus sp. nov.
 (A) Male habitus on low vegetation at night; (B) natural habitat indicated by a green arrow (left) and location of Malawi on simplified map of Africa (left); (C) type locality in Malawi. Photo Tony Robillard.

Pseudolebinthus lunipterus sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Size small, mostly dark brown with pale wings (Figs. 1, 3 and 4). Among Eneopterinae genera, the new species presents the characteristics of Pseudolebinthus: large lateral eyes (Figs. 5A–5C); brachypterous FWs barely reaching quarter of abdomen length in males (Figs. 4 and 6), shorter in females where it forms pale narrow crescents (Figs. 4 and 5D); male genitalia with long sclerotized lophi, close to that of P. gorochovi (Figs. 8 and 9); female ovipositor little differentiated but less pointed and thicker than in P. gorochovi (Fig. 10A). The new species is characterized by complete absence of tympana (unique feature among eneopterines) (Figs. 7A and 7B), absence of stridulatory apparatus on male FWs (Fig. 6), abdomen ventrally yellow with a wide black stripe (Fig. 5F), thick and short female ovipositor (Fig. 4D), and differences in male genitalia, including shape of pseudepiphallic parameres, shape of sclerite in ectophallic fold and endophallic apodeme with anterior lateral expansions.

Type locality. North Malawi, Mount Uzumara, ..., 1,941 m.

Distribution. The species is only known from the type locality in Northern Malawi (Fig. 1C).

Etymology. The species name refers to the whitish wings, rounded in males and crescent-shaped in females, which look like tiny moons on the back of the dark body of these crickets when encountered at night.

Habitat and life history. Pseudolebinthus lunipterus lives on low vegetation in herbaceous areas near forest hedge or in open areas along trails in forest (Figs. 1A and 1B). Adults and juveniles have been found active at night on top of vegetation, but can also be found lower within vegetation during the day. Remarkably, the species lives in syntopy with P. gorochovi in the type locality, where adults and juveniles of both species are quite abundant. One juvenile specimen of P. lunipterus has been observed eating a dead insect on a low leaf on vegetation (Fig. 11B).

Females maintained in controlled laboratory conditions (20–22 °C, 14–10 day–night cycle) with a single male produced 46–50 offspring (n = 2) during their life; first hatchings started 42–49 days after first mating and occurred on a period of 35–66 days.

Figure 11: Live photos of Pseudolebinthus lunipterus sp. nov.
(A) Female on vegetation; (B) subadult male eating a dead insect on a leaf at night; (C) first instar juvenile. Photos (A and B) Tony Robillard and (C) Karen Salazar.

Conclusion: Crickets of Malawi

The diversity of crickets in Eastern Africa in general, and Malawi in particular, has been underestimated, understudied and undersampled. This is at least the case for the members of the tribe Xenogryllini which were recently revised (Jaiswara, Dong & Robillard, 2018, 2019; Jaiswara et al., 2019). Despite the large amount of data considered in these systematic studies (several hundreds of specimens studied across the study of the largest natural history museum collections), they gathered very little information about the species of Pseudolebinthus, known by a few specimens each.

A single recent field trip in Malawi allowed us to re-discover two of the previously described species of the genus, which are in fact common species, and it allowed documenting the acoustic features of their calling songs and their ecology (T. Robillard et al., 2020, in prep.). Interestingly, these findings allowed us to discover P. lunipterus, a completely different new species belonging to the Xenogryllini lineage, but with strikingly new morphological features. This finding reveals that more taxa probably remain unrecorded in the whole Eastern African region, as suggested by the large amount of new species and genera recently discovered in this region for other clades of orthopteran insects (Hemp et al., 2018; Hemp & Heller, 2019). More taxonomic surveys with appropriate collecting methods in regions where there is zero record about these crickets, such as other regions of Malawi, but also Zimbabwe, Zambia, Western Mozambique and Northern South Africa, are thus necessary to explore this part of African biodiversity.

Karen Salazar, Raymond J. Murphy, Marion Guillaume, Romain Nattier and Tony Robillard​. 2020. 

Pseudolebinthus lunipterus sp. nov.: A Striking Deaf and Mute New Cricket from Malawi (Orthoptera, Gryllidae, Eneopterinae). PeerJ. 8:e8204. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8204

[Entomology • 2019] Endodrelanva siargaoensis • A New Species of Landrevinae (Orthoptera) from the Philippines, with Notes on Endodrelanva and Endolandrevus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae; Gryllinae; Landrevini)

Endodrelanva siargaoensis 

 Kai, Gorochov, Baroga-Barbecho & Yap, 2019

   DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4544.2.8

Abstract
Owing to the cryptic behavior and morphology of many Southeast Asian Landrevinae, new species are still being discovered in unexplored parts of the region. Here, we describe a new species: Endodrelanva siargaoensis sp. nov. We also recorded and describe the calling song of the new species. Owing to the morphological similarities between species of Endodrelanva Gorochov, 2000 and Endolandrevus Saussure, 1877, we also provide a short review of the two genera and list their characters for comparison.

Keywords: Orthoptera, bioacoustics, biogeography, Grylloidea, Southeast Asia, taxonomy

FIGURE 2. A male Endodrelanva siargaoensis sp. nov. calling in the hole of a coconut tree trunk.

Endodrelanva siargaoensis, new species

Etymology. The species is named after the type locality, Siargao Island, which also represents the first record of the genus in the Philippines.


Tan Ming Kai, Andrej V. Gorochov, Jessica B. Baroga-Barbecho and Sheryl A. Yap. 2019. A New Species of Landrevinae (Orthoptera) from the Philippines, with Notes on Endodrelanva and Endolandrevus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae; Gryllinae; Landrevini). Zootaxa. 4544(2); 285–295.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4544.2.8

[Entomology • 2018] Scapsipedus icipe • A New Edible Cricket Species of the Genus Scapsipedus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) from Kenya, Africa

 Scapsipedus icipe Hugel & Tanga, 2018

 in Tanga, Magara, Ayieko, et al., 2018. 

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4486.3.9 

icipe.org/news

Abstract
A new cricket of the genus Scapsipedus is described from Kenya. The distribution, acoustic behavior, including call and courtship song, mitochondrial sequences, and data on the biology of that new species are given. This edible cricket is a very promising species for mass production for food and feed.

Keywords: Orthoptera, new species, bioacoustics, insect farming

Scapsipedus icipe Hugel & Tanga, n. sp.

Etymology. This new cricket is named after the type locality, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Duduville Campus, Nairobi, Kenya.


 Chrysantus M. Tanga, Henlay J. O. Magara, Monica A. Ayieko, Robert S. Copeland, Fathiya M. Khamis, Samira A. Mohamed, Fidelis L. O. Ombura, Saliou Niassy, Sevgan Subramanian, Komi K. M. Fiaboe, Nanna Roos, Sunday Ekesi and Sylvain Hugel. 2018. A New Edible Cricket Species from Africa of the Genus Scapsipedus. Zootaxa. 4486(3): 383–392.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4486.3.9

New edible cricket species discovered in Kenya  www.icipe.org/news/new-edible-cricket-species-discovered-kenya 

[Entomology • 2018] A New Status for Aclogryllus Gorochov, 2009 (Phalangopsidae; Phalangopsinae) with A New Species, Aclogryllus manauensis, from Brazilian Amazon

Aclogryllus manauensis da Silva & Martins

in da Silva, Martins, Pereira & Henriques, 2018

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4433.1.5 

Abstract 

In this work, we propose to raise the subgenus Aclogryllus to generic status based on characteristics of external morphology and male genitalia. A new Amazonian species of Aclogryllus is also described. Photographs of nomenotypic species and the new Amazonian species are provided along with the description of morphological characteristics, diagnosis and photographs of male genitalia and female copulatory papilla. 

Key words: Crickets, Paragryllus, Paragryllina, Reserva Ducke, Amazon Forest, Brazil

Order Orthoptera Oliver, 1789

Suborder Ensifera Chopard, 1921

Superfamily Grylloidea Laicharding, 1781

Family Gryllidae Laicharting, 1781

Subfamily Phalangopsinae Blanchard, 1845

Tribe Paragryllini Desutter, 1987

Subtribe Paragryllina Desutter, 1987

Aclogryllus Gorochov, 2009 n. stat.

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

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

FIGURE 3. Aclogryllus manauensis n. sp., male habitus, dorsal view.

Aclogryllus manauensis da Silva & Martins n. sp. 

Etymology. The specific name refers to type locality, the municipality of Manaus.

 Lúciene Gimaque da Silva, Luciano De Pinho Martins, Marcelo Ribeiro Pereira and Augusto Loureiro Henriques. 2018. A New Status for Aclogryllus Gorochov, 2009 (Phalangopsidae; Phalangopsinae; Paragryllini) with A New Species from Brazilian Amazon. Zootaxa. 4433(1); 101–110.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4433.1.5

Resumo: Neste trabalho é proposto elevar o subgênero Aclogryllus para o status de gênero baseado em características da morfologia externa e genitália do macho. Também foi descrita uma nova espécie amazônica para Aclogryllus. Fotografias da espécie nominotípica e da nova espécie são apresentadas juntamente com a descrição das características morfológicas, diagnoses e fotografias da genitália masculina e da papila copulatória da fêmea. 

Palavras-chave: Grilos, Paragryllus, Paragryllina, Reserva Ducke, Floresta Amazônica, Brasil