Scapteriscus zeuneri Rodríguez & Heads, 2012

Rodríguez, Fernando & Heads, Sam W., 2012, New mole crickets of the genus Scapteriscus Scudder from Colombia (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae; Scapteriscinae), Zootaxa 3282, pp. 61-68 : 65-66

Scapteriscus zeuneri Rodríguez & Heads , sp. nov.

Figures 3 – 4 .

Type material. Holotype male COLOMBIA: Vichada, Puerto Carreño, 58m, sep-2004, Torres V. [ CEUD 591]. Paratype male, COLOMBIA: Meta, Villavicencio. 4º09'00''N 73º39'30''W, 467m, may-2004, J. Escalarte J. [ UNAB 000]

Etymology. The specific epithet is patronymic and honours Dr Frederick Eberhard Zeuner (1905–1963) in recognition of his great insight into the taxonimic relationships of mole crickets. The gender is masculine.

Diagnosis. Medium-sized species (~41.0 mm) with very large ocelli ~ 0.95 mm in diameter and comparatively short interocellar distance ~ 0.85 mm, producing an ocellar length to interocellar distance ratio (OL:IOD) of>1.0; interdactyl distance ~ 0.36 mm; protrochanteral blade ~ 2.44 mm long. Scapteriscus zeuneri appears most similar to S. macrocellus but is readily distinguished from the latter by an OL:IOD>1.0 which is unknown in other species of Scapteriscus .

Description. Head: General color yellowish tan with a large dark patch covering the entire front and extending to the occiput in obtuse angle with ocelli. Ocelli very large and elongated (? 0.9mm). Clypeus not pigmented. Antennae short and do not exceed the posterior margin of pronotum ( Fig. 3 a, 4a).

Thorax: Pronotum oval, almost totally pigmented in the dorsal region with two clear lines at the sides of the central bands and one more clear small patch at the anterior region ( Fig. 4 b, 4c). Dactyls in the fore tibiae robust, short, parallel and moderately spaced ( Fig. 3 b, 4e); the internal region of foretibia totally covered by granulations ( Fig. 4 h). Fore trochanter straight, with parallel margins; trochanter blade very long and thin, extending about 4/5 the length of trochanter ( Fig. 4 f). Tympanum approximately 65% covered in dorsal view ( Fig 3 d, 4f). Wings well developed, hind wings reach the tip of the abdomen; tegmina, transparent and cover approximately two thirds of the abdomen ( Fig. 3 c, 4g). Hind femora with two dark parallel bands in the dorsal region, these bands continual from the knee to the middle portion, interrupted from the middle to the basal part of the femora ( Fig. 4 k).

Abdomen: All sclerites pigmented in the central region. Cerci short and the subgenital plate not produced as it is in other species as S. mexicanus Bumeister and S. quadripunctatus Nickle.

Measurements (mm): 2 males: Ocellar length: ~0.85 0.76–0.95; Interocellar distance: ~0.9 0.73–0.85; Interocular distance: ~2.10 1.96–2.25; Ocular-ocellar distance: ~0.28–0.27–0.30; Length of pronotum: ~10.66 9.52–11.8; Width of pronotum ~8.23 7.76–8.7; Trochanter blade length: ~ 2.44 2.13–2.75; Interdatylar distance: ~0.36 0.34–0.38; Total length: ~39.44 37.9–40.90.

Ratios of morphometrical measurements of this species are shown in the table 2. One of the most representative is Ocellar length/Interocellar distance, which is unique among Scapteriscus species as noted in the diagnosis.

Specimen OL:IOD IOD:OOD ID:IOCD ID:IOD PL:TRL TRL:IOCD Holotype (n=1) 1.12 3.09 0.15 0.39 0 28 1.22 Paratype (n=1) 1.04 2.44 0.19 0.52 0.25 1.08 Mean (n=2) 1.08 2.76 0.17 0.45 0.26 1.15

Figures

FIGURE 3. Scapteriscus zeuneri sp. nov. Holotype male: A) lateral habitus, B) Fore tibiae dactyls C) Dorsal habitus D) Timpanum. Notice the robust aparience that characterize this species. Length of scale line: 1 mm.

FIGURE 4. Scapteriscus cerberus sp. nov. A) Head: anterior view. B) Head and pronotum: lateral view. C) Pronotum: dorsal view. D) Timpanum: dorsal view. E) External view of fore tibia showing disposition of dactyls. F) Fore trochanter blade. G) Male tegmina. H) Inner view of fore tibiae showing granulation. I) Inner view of hind tibiae showing spines. J) External view of hind tibiae, showing spines. K) Hind leg, showing femur pigmentation. Length of scale line: 1 mm.