Endecous (Endecous) bonito, Carvalho & Castro-Souza & Ferreira, 2023

Carvalho, Pedro Henrique Mendes, Castro-Souza, Rodrigo Antônio & Ferreira, Rodrigo Lopes, 2023, Two new species of Endecous Saussure, 1878 (Orthoptera: Grylloidea: Phalangopsidae) from caves in central-western Brazil, with the proposition of a new subgenus to accommodate E. vitreus Bolfarini & Campos, 2023, Zootaxa 5353 (3), pp. 201-234 : 215-222

Endecous (Endecous) bonito n. sp.

( Figures 44–49 , 50–58 , 59–62 , 63–66 , 67–71 , 72–73 , 74–78 ; Table 2 )

Etymology— The specific epithet refers to the locality “Bonito”, a municipality located in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, where the specimens were collected.

Material examined— Holotype, ♂, code ISLA 106137, Brazil, Mato Grosso do Sul, municipality of Bonito, Gruta S„o Mateus cave (56°27’17.25”W, 21° 8’1.26”S), 28.IX.2022, R.L. Ferreira; condition: head, right tegmen, legs I, II and III detached and stored alongside the holotype, phallic complex dissected and also stored alongside the holotype . Allotype: 1 ♀, ISLA 106142, same data as the holotype; condition: legs I, II and III detached and stored alongside the allotype, copulatory papilla dissected and also stored alongside the allotype. Paratypes, 3 ♂♂; ISLA 106138, ISLA 106139, ISLA 106140, 2 ♀♀ ISLA 106141, ISLA 106143, same data as the holotype; 1 ♂, ISLA 106157, municipality of Bodoquena , Gruta Dona Benedita cave (56°43’23.51”W, 20°34’0.55”S), 26.IX.2022, R. L. Ferreira; male paratypes condition: right tegmen and legs I, II and III detached and stored alongside the paratype, phallic complex dissected and also stored alongside the paratype; female paratypes condition: legs I, II and III detached and stored alongside the paratype, copulatory papilla dissected and also stored alongside the paratype.

Diagnosis —Combination of the following characteristics: pseudepiphallic dorsal branches elongated and abruptly curved inwards, outer margin more sclerotized than the inner margin, apex less sclerotized, dorsally projected after curving inwards, claviform with a rounded tip and bearing several setae on the distal inner surface ( Figs. 44, 46–49 , Ps.db); pseudepiphallic parameres 1 and 2 fused in a single sclerotized and concave structure, ventral portion bean-shaped, dorsal portion diamond-shaped and projected towards the center of the sclerite ( Figs. 44–47 , Ps.p); ectophallic arc well-developed, dome-shaped, central portion bordering the base of the ectophallic median projections ( Fig. 45 , Ect.arc); lateral bars well-developed, elongated, inclined inwards and broadened dorsoventrally ( Figs. 45–47 , Ect.lb); anterior portion of the endophallus well-developed, sclerotized, with a long apodeme on the opposite side of the central groove ( Figs. 44, 45 and 49 , End.sc.a).

Male phallic sclerites (holotype ISLA 106137, Figs. 44–49 )—Phallic complex longer than broad, and curved dorsoventrally. Pseudepiphallus: arms short and broadened laterally, albeit to a lesser extent when compared to E. liviae n. sp. ( Fig. 44 , Ps.arm); dorsal branches elongated and abruptly curved inwards, outer margin more sclerotized than the inner margin, apex less sclerotized, dorsally projected after curving inwards, claviform with a rounded tip and bearing several setae on the distal inner surface ( Figs. 44, 46–49 , Ps.db); ventral branches sclerotized and elongated, almost reaching the tip of the pseudepiphallic parameres, distal half broader compared to that of E. liviae n. sp., and with a tapered apex ( Figs. 45–47 , A); paramere 1 and 2 fused in a single sclerotized and concave structure, ventral portion bean-shaped, dorsal portion diamond-shaped and projected towards the center of the sclerite ( Figs. 44–47 , Ps.p); inner bars dorsally projected, slightly concave and inclined inwards, central portion pointing downwards in dorsal view ( Figs. 44, 47 and 49 , Ps.ib); rami short and shield-like, partially covering the proximal portion of the inner bars ( Figs. 45, 47 and 49 , R). Ectophallic invagination: ectophallic arc well-developed, dome-shaped, central portion bordering the base of the ectophallic median projections ( Fig. 45 , Ect.arc); apodemes well-developed, distal end slightly curved inwards ( Figs. 44, 45 and 49 , Ect.ap); median projections sclerotized, broad and almost straight, reaching the pseudepiphallic parameres ( Fig. 44 , Ect.mp); lateral bars well-developed, elongated, inclined inwards and broadened dorsoventrally ( Figs. 45–47 , Ect.lb). Endophallus: anterior portion of the endophallus well-developed, sclerotized, with a long apodeme on the opposite side of the central groove ( Figs. 44, 45 and 49 , End.sc.a); duct membranous, elongated, roughly the same length as the ectophallic apodemes ( Figs. 45 and 49 , End.sc.d); posterior portion membranous, tapered towards the apex and hidden between the pseudepiphallic parameres ( Figs. 44 and 45 , End.sc.p).

Variations in phallic sclerites (holotype and paratypes, n = 3, ISLA 106137, ISLA 106139, ISLA 106157)— Phallic complexes vary slightly in size and degree of sclerotization;pseudepiphallic arms (Ps.arm)and pseudepiphallic dorsal branches (Ps.db) vary slightly in degree of inclination and sinuosity, pseudepiphallic dorsal branches tips almost touching or slightly distant from one another; pseudepiphallic parameres (Ps.p) ventral portion also nearly touching or far from each other; pseudepiphallic inner bars (Ps.ib) vary slightly in degree of inclination, central portion straight or pointing downwards; ectophallic apodemes (Ect.ap) distal end vary slightly in degree of curvature and sclerotization; ectophallic median projections (Ect.mp) straight or inclined outwards.

Morphology (paratype ISLA 106138, Figs. 50–63 )— Body color: vertex, scape, pedicel and flagellum dark yellowish brown, vertex with four poorly-marked longitudinal stripes; fastigium dark brown; front and gena varying from light yellow to white; clypeus and labrum almost completely white; mandibles and maxiles yellowish brown, galea and labium light yellow; ommatidia black, with a slightly depigmented area near the base of the antennal scapes ( Figs. 52–54 ); all maxillary and labial palpomeres light yellow, maxillary palpomere V and labial palpomere III whitish at the tip ( Figs. 53 and 54 ); pronotum, tegmina and abdomen brown, pronotum with darker spots, mainly on the posterior margin, last portions of the latter tergites brown ( Figs. 50, 51, 55 and 56 ); supra-anal plate and subgenital plate brown, slightly whitish distally ( Figs. 56–58 ); cerci yellowish brown, darker at first sight due to the presence of setae ( Fig. 56 ); legs yellowish brown, darker near the joints, white at their base ( Figs. 59–62 ). Head: slightly pubescent, elongated in frontal view; fastigium as a short and narrow extension of the vertex, inclined and pointing downwards, with long bristles; mandibles sclerotized at the apex and lateral margins; maxiles sclerotized at the apex; maxillary palpomeres I and II short and same-sized, III–V longer, palpomere V claviform; labial palpomeres I–III increasing in size, palpomere III dilated at the apex; compound eyes reduced and diamondlike in shape, more developed when compared to those of E. liviae n. sp., ocelli absent ( Figs. 52–54 ). Thorax: pronotum dorsal disk broader than long (4.76 mm and 3.07 mm in width and length, respectively), pubescent, anterior and posterior margins arched and covered in long bristles, lateral lobes subtriangular in shape and slightly shifted towards the head ( Figs. 50 and 55 ). Right tegmen: slightly sclerotized, more developed when compared to that of E. liviae n. sp., covering the first three urotergites (5.59 mm and 7.88 mm in width and length, respectively); harp with four crossveins, three complete (one bifurcated); mirror subtriangular, distal margin almost rounded, with three arched crossveins, and four cells; basal field with a poorly-marked secondary vein connecting Cu2 to 1A vein; lateral field with two almost completely parallel longitudinal veins connected by short poorly-marked secondary veins, and more than ten anastomotic secondary veins leading to the right margin of the tegmina ( Figs. 51, 55 and 63 ); stridulatory file with 72 teeth. Abdomen: cerci pubescent, with long bristles throughout all their extension and globose setae at their base, mostly on the inner side ( Figs. 56–58 ); supra-anal plate as long as the subgenital plate, subtriangular, distal margin rounded and covered in long bristles, lateral projections short and rounded, paraprocts as long as the supra-anal plate ( Figs. 56 and 57 ); subgenital plate proximal margin substraight, distal margin rounded, with a small dent in the center and covered in bristles ( Figs. 56–58 ). Legs: pubescent. Leg I ( Figs. 59 and 60 ): tibia with an oval tympanum on its inner side and two ventral apical spurs; tarsomere I ventrally serrated and longer than tarsomeres II and III together. Leg II ( Figs. 59 and 60 ): tibia with two ventral apical spurs of equal size and two lateral short spurs, one on each side; tarsomere I ventrally serrated and longer than tarsomeres II and III together. Leg III ( Figs. 61 and 62 ): femur developed; tibia longer than the femur (13.70 mm and 12.46 mm, respectively); tibia armed with three subapical spurs on the inner side ( Fig. 61 ; m, n, o), four on the outer side ( Fig. 62 ; w, x, y, z), the most distal one, “z”, being the shortest, four apical spurs on the inner side ( Fig. 61 ; d, e, f, g), spurs “e” and “f” longer the “d” and “g”, and three on the outer side ( Fig. 62 ; a, b, c), spur “a” being the longest and “c” the shortest; tarsomere I longer than tarsomeres II and III together, ventrally serrated, with two apical spurs, the inner one being the longest.

Variations in right tegmina (paratypes, n = 4, ISLA 106138, ISLA 106139, ISLA 106140, ISLA 106157, Figs. 63–66 )— Stridulatory file with 79 ± 4.15 teeth (n = 5, holotype and paratypes). Harp with three ( Fig. 63 ), four ( Figs. 64 and 65 ) or five ( Fig. 66 ) complete diagonal crossveins, one of them may be bifurcated; incomplete crossveins may be present. Mirror with two ( Fig. 64 ) or three ( Figs. 63, 65 and 66 ) complete crossveins, the third most distal one may be very short ( Fig. 66 ). Basal field with many anastomotic, poorly marked secondary veins; 1A, 2A and 3A well-marked. Lateral field with two parallel longitudinal veins that may or may not be connected through short secondary veins, and ten or more well-marked, sometimes anastomotic, secondary veins branching out of the longitudinal veins and reaching the right margin of the tegmina.

Female morphology (allotype ISLA 106142, Figs. 67–71 )—same pattern of body coloration as the male, but with an abdomen slightly darker; bigger than the male (25.63 ± 3.14 mm and 21.54 ± 2.16 mm in length, respectively); apterous; supra-anal plate subtriangular in shape, pubescent, with long bristles covering the distal margin, which is rounded, lateral projections short and rounded ( Fig. 67 ); subgenital plate pubescent, lateral margins angled inwards from the base, distal margin W-shaped ( Fig. 68 ); ovipositor (12.14 mm in length) shorter than the cerci, shaped like a curved sword, with a dorsoventral constriction near the tip, apex tapered, but rounded when compared to that of E. liviae n. sp. ( Figs. 69–71 ).

Copulatory papilla (allotype ISLA 106142, Fig. 72 )—sclerotized and chalice-like; anterior potion broadened, ventral side with a M-shaped extension, making the ventral margin substantially longer than the dorsal margin; posterior portion membranous with a small circular opening on the ventral side.

Ecological remarks —Specimens of Endecous (B.) bonito n. sp. were found in two caves located in the municipalities of Bodoquena (Gruta Dona Benedita cave) and Bonito (Gruta S„o Mateus cave). The observed populations are not notably large, with immature specimens being more readily encountered than adults in all caves where the species is present. As mentioned for E. (E.) liviae n. sp., this species is likely to have a wide distribution in the region, given the distances between the caves where specimens were found and the limited number of caves sampled in this study. It is noteworthy that both E. (E.) bonito n. sp. and E. (E.) liviae n. sp. can coexist in certain caves, indicating that they likely do not exclude each other through competitive exclusion. Notably, E. (E.) bonito n. sp. was observed in a show cave (Gruta S„o Mateus cave ( Figs. 75 and 76 ), even within the tourist route of the cave ( Figs. 77 and 78 ). This cave attracts numerous visitors, suggesting that this species exhibits considerable tolerance to anthropogenic impacts. Furthermore, the close proximity of this cave in relation to the city of Bonito ( Fig. 74 ) also suggests a certain level of tolerance for anthropogenic conditions exhibited by this species.

Figures

FIGURES 44–49. Endecous (Endecous) bonito n. sp. (ISLA 106137) phallic complex. (44) dorsal view, (45) ventral view, (46) frontal view, (47) laterofrontal view, (48) highlight of the apex of the pseudepiphallic dorsal branches in frontal view, (49) lateral view. Abbreviations: A, pseudepiphallic ventral branch (or “A” sclerite); Ps.arm, pseudepiphallic arm; Ps.db, pseudepiphallic dorsal branch; Ps.ib, pseudepiphallic inner bars; R, pseudepiphallic rami; Ps.p, pseudepiphallic paramere; Ect.ap, ectophallic apodeme; Ect.arc, ectophallic arc; Ect.lb, ectophallic lateral bar; Ect.mp, ectophallic median projection; End.sc.a, endophallic sclerite anterior portion; End.sc.d, endophallic sclerite duct; End.sc.p, endophallic sclerite posterior portion.

FIGURES 50–58. Endecous (Endecous) bonito n. sp. (ISLA 106138) male general morphology. (50) pronotum in dorsal view; (51) right tegmen in dorsal view (52) head in dorsal view; (53) head in frontal view; (54) head and palpi in lateral view, compound eye highlighted; (55) pronotum and tegmen in lateral view; (56) supra-anal and subgenital plates in lateral view; (57) supra-anal plate in dorsal view; (58) subgenital plate in ventral view.

FIGURES 59–62. Endecous (Endecous) bonito n. sp. (ISLA 106138) right legs. (59) outer view: leg I and leg II, apical spurs highlighted; (60) inner view: leg I, tympanum highlighted, and leg II, apical spurs highlighted; (61) inner view: leg III, apical spurs highlighted; (62) outer view: leg III, apical spurs highlighted.

FIGURES 63–66. Endecous (Endecous) bonito n. sp. right tegmina, dorsal and lateral view. (63) paratype, ISLA 106138; (64) paratype, ISLA 106139; (65) paratype, ISLA 106140; (66) paratype, ISLA 106157.

FIGURES 67–71. Endecous (Endecous) bonito n. sp. (ISLA 106142) ovipositor. (67) supra-anal plate; (68) subgenital plate; (69) ovipositor, lateral view; (70) ovipositor apex, dorsal view; (71) ovipositor apex, lateral view.

FIGURES 72–73. Endecous (Endecous) bonito n. sp. copulatory papillae. (33) allotype, ISLA 106142; (34) paratype, ISLA 106143; A—dorsal view; B—ventral view; C—lateral view.

FIGURES 74–78. Endecous (Endecous) bonito n. sp. habitat. (74) Gruta S„o Mateus cave, external environment; (75) Gruta S„o Mateus cave, entrance; (76) Gruta S„o Mateus cave, entrance and internal environment; (77) adult male of E. (E.) bonito n. sp.; (78) adult female of E. (E.) bonito n. sp. Photo credits: Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira.