Haplogryllacris bilobulata : Ingrisch 2018

Haplogryllacris bilobulata Ingrish, 2018 (ÃĘṜDzȃ), new record from China

Figures. 2–6

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera.speciesfile.org:TaxonName: 504695

Haplogryllacris bilobulata: Ingrisch, 2018. Zootaxa, 4510(1): 192; Cadena-Castañeda, 2019. Zootaxa, 4605(1): 85.

Type specimen: female; holotype; Type locality: Tak, Ban Mae Salit, Monkrating, Thailand; Location of type specimen: Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Germany.

Material examined. 2♁ 1♀, China, Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Jinghong County,

VII-2021, coll. local villager.

Description. Large species. Head wider than pronotum (Fig. 2D; Fig. 3D). Face ovoid, rather wide, robust, and rough (Fig. 2A; Fig. 3A); subocular furrows distinct, intercept with clypeo-frontal suture (Fig. 2A; Fig. 3A); fastigium verticis 2.5 times as wide as scapus, contains a furrow-like, “v” shaped structure that originates from both upper-inner side of scapus and meet at the midline (Fig. 2A; Fig. 3A); scape about 1.2 times as long as eye; three ocelli distinct when alive (Fig. 5 ABD), median ocellus larger than lateral ocelli (Fig. 2A; Fig. 3 AB); fastigium frontis contains wave-like lateral margins (Fig. 2A; Fig. 3A). Anterior and posterior margin of pronotum nearly straight (Fig. 2D; Fig. 3D); lateral lobes longer than deep, ventral margin straight (Fig. 2B; Fig. 3B). Tegmen surpassing hind knees. Veins of tegmen as in Fig. 4. Second and third abdominal tergites each with two rows of stridulatory pegs (6–7,13–14,10–11,14–19) (Fig. 2C; Fig. 3C).

Fore coxa with a spine at fore margin (Fig. 2B; Fig. 3B). Fore and mid femora unarmed. Fore tibiae ventrally with 4 pairs of internal spines and one pair of smaller spurs; mid tibiae with 4 pairs of internal spines and one pair of smaller spurs, dorsally with an internal apical spur. Hind femora ventrally with 4–6 external and 3–5 internal spinules; hind tibiae dorsally with 6–7 external and 6–8 internal spines, ventrally with a preapical spine and 2 apical spurs on both sides. External margins of hind femora with a long furrow (Fig. 2F; Fig. 3F); internal margins of hind femora with a row of stridulatory denticles (Fig. 2E; Fig. 3E).

Male. Eighth abdominal tergite distinctly prolonged; ninth abdominal tergite globular and smooth (Fig. 2H), at hind margin with a pair of short black spines greatly separated from each other (Fig. 2G). Cerci stout. Subgenital plate three times wider than long; apical margin slightly convex; short styli inserted apico-laterally (Fig. 2G).

Female. Seventh abdominal sternite about square shaped, subapical area narrowest; apical area widening laterally with lobe-like structure; posterior margin downcurved; the overall tissue distinct greatly based on the midline; posterior half hairy and anterior part smooth (Fig. 3G). Subgenital plate overall square in shape (Fig. 3G); sharply decurved on posterior margin (Fig. 3H). Ovipositor elongate, slightly upcurved (Fig. 3H).

Measurements (mm). Body from head to tip of abdomen: 31.4–36.2; body with wings: 44.7–50.1; pronotum: 7.0–8.0; tegmen: 33.8–34.6; fore femur: 10.0–11.6; median femur: 9.6–11.2; hind femur: 16.5–19.5; fore tibia: 10.8–12.5; median tibia: 10.9–12.4; hind tibia: 16.7–19.5; ovipositor: 19.3.

Coloration. General color brownish red; facial color slightly darker, ocelli whiteish yellow, clypeo-frontal structure black, clypeus reddish-brown in base area with white margin, labrum reddish-brown, mandible black; pronotum overall concolor, darker in posterior margin; tegmen hemi-transparent, veins brownish and cross veins darker in color, hind wing semi-transparent, veins and cross veins brownish; spines and spinules on hind legs black; teeth on male’s ninth abdominal tergite black; ovipositor brownish-red.

Habitus. H.bilobulata is univoltine, reaching adulthood in around November to May according to field observation and raising in captivity. Adults that reach adulthood the same year as they were born usually have a smaller number of instars and smaller body size. Eggs develop and undergo a hatching period about 40 days before hatchlings emerge. Individuals in early instars conceal themselves in the shelter made of silk and shield themselves during daytime, and gradually shift to shelters excavated from rotten wood as they develop into later instars. In captivity their shelters usually contain two entrances, the individuals face outwards within the shelter, blocking one of the entrances with their head and mandibles (Fig. 5E). They cover the other one with chewed wood chips, probably serving as an emergency exit (Fig. 5F). Similar behavior has also been observed in the field from other species of this genus on iNaturalist website (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/116533587). Nymphs molt once each three to four weeks by hanging upside-down posture outside their shelters. Larger nymphs and adults demonstrate threat behavior when facing threats. This consists of parts of the labrum retracted underneath clypeus, displaying the jagged mandibles. During copulation, male H. bilobulata produce a white spermatophylax while grasping upon the female's ovipositor. Females consume the spermatophylax soon after copulation. Female adults were observed drilling radial holes in wet phenolic floral foams within which eggs were laid.

Notes. For H. bilobulata described by Ingrish (2018), the number of external spines on hind femora is 6–7, and the hind edge of subgenital plate of female specimen is in arch-shape; in our observation, the number of external spines on hind femora is 4–5 while the hind edge of subgenital plate is nearly truncate with a sharp but shallow decurved. We still place our specimens in this species based on other similarities, but further research is needed to understand specimens from the type locality.

Distribution. Thailand (Tak); China (Yunnan).