Gryllus multipulsator Weissman, 2009

Weissman, David B. & Gray, David A., 2019, Crickets of the genus Gryllus in the United States (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Gryllinae), Zootaxa 4705 (1), pp. 1-277 : 79-83

Gryllus multipulsator Weissman

Long-Chirp Field Cricket

Figs 54 , 60–62, 67–70, Table 1

2009 Gryllus multipulsator Weissman et al. 2009, p. 375 . Holotype male ( Fig. 67 ): Alpine, San Diego Co., California. Deposited in CAS, Entomology type #18174.

1980 Gryllus assimilis Weissman et al. 1980 .

1981 ‘ Gryllus I’ Rentz & Weissman 1981.

‘ Gryllus #1’ in DBW notebooks.

Distribution. Known from southern California, southern Nevada, and southwestern-central Arizona.

Recognition characters and song. Always macropterous ( Figs 67 , 68 ), medium to large crickets, head usually narrower than pronotum, pronotum covered with fine hairs resulting in dull appearance. Song ( Fig. 69 ; R 15 -325) loud, unique in US with 11–17 p/c and usually <2 c/s. Individual chirps demonstrate how pulse duration increases during a chirp while pulse rate simultaneously decreases ( Fig. 71 , and Weissman et al. 2009). Body measurements as in Table 1 , p. 18. Most similar US song is G. assimilis but latter with fewer p/c and found considerably east in Texas.

Derivation of name. Reflecting the high number of pulses in each chirp. Geographic range. Southern California, far southern Nevada, and southwestern Arizona ( Fig. 70 ), including on the Channel Islands of Santa Cruz and Santa Catalina. Also extends into Mexico west of the Continental Divide ( Weissman et al. 2009) and throughout much of Baja California, Mexico (Weissman et al. 1980).

Habitat. Almost always associated with people and their watered environs such as lawns, golf courses, schools, around towns but also from salt and fresh water marsh areas. Usually singing from under dense vegetation. Most common in low elevation areas under coastal weather influences but also up to 1700 m at Sky Forest, San Bernardino Co., California.

Life cycle and seasonal occurrence. No diapause at any stage. Continuous generations with two or three generations/year with adult males heard singing in coastal southern California even in the middle of winter.

Variation. Color: Individuals vary from almost entire body solid black ( Fig. 68 ) to those with tan or reddish body parts. In the latter, the head may have distinctive longitudinal stripes. Tegmina also vary from tan to black, the latter especially common in cooler, moister habitats.Adult females with dark tegmina frequently have a light stripe (tegminal bar) along the forewing angle. It is unknown if colors change with generation and/or time of year maturing.

Specimens examined. ARIZONA. Gila Co., Globe , 3544’ 25-viii-1982 (S82-103). Maricopa Co., Buckeye , 840’ 18-ix-2011 (S11-102). Hwy 85 just E Goodyear, 980’ 31-vii-1981 (S81-46). Phoenix, 1140’ 16-v-1999 (S99- 25). Scottsdale, 22-iv-1985 (S85-41). Mohave Co., Davis Dam, 900’ 14-vi-1990 (S90-46). Kingman, 3600’ 19-vi- 1990 (S90-58). Pima Co., Ajo, 1720 ’ 20-viii-1998 (S98-72). Gila Bend, 1700 ’ 1-viii-2009 (S09-103). Saguaro Rd near Tucson, 2400’ 28-vii-1981 (S81-35). Hwy 86 just W Sells, 2276’, 29-vii-2015, 31° 57’ 25.4” -111° 56’ 46.4” (S15-108) 2♂. Yuma Co., Telegraph Pass , 676’ 15-ix-2011 (S11-92). Yuma , Western College, 300’ 10-viii-1988 (S88-89). Yuma , 156’, 1-xi-2003, 32.63011 -114.59740 (2003-333 and 2003-334) A. Izzo. CALIFORNIA. Los Angeles Co., Santa Catalina Island, Middle Ranch, 28-iv-1970, 15-vi-1971; 2-vii-1972. Santa Catalina Island, Isthmus, 4-Vvii-1973. Santa Monica Mts., Trancas Reservoir, 18-viii-1973. Orange Co., Newport Beach, Backbay Dr., 7-vii-1976. Irvine, on UC Irvine Campus, 7-vii-1976. Riverside Co., Banning, 2400’ 22-viii-2006 (S06-88). Blythe, 400’ 26-vi-1980 (S80-47). Indio, 6-viii-1988 (S88-74). Palm Springs, 2-iv-1989 (S89-8); 6-iv-1991 (S91-14,). Rancho Mirage, 850’ 30-ix-2006 (S06-114). Riverside near UC Riverside Campus, 6-vi-2003 (S03-41). San Diego Co., Alpine, 1900’ 5-vi-1997 (S97-59). Borrego Springs, 8-viii-1988 (S88-83.) Camp Pendleton, 10 & 11-vii-1976. Cardiff by the Sea, sea level, 12 and 13-vii-1976; 27-vi-1980 (S80-48). La Jolla, near Prospect and Beach Blvd., sea level, 11-vii-1976. San Diego, Mission Bay, sea level, 18-vi-1994 (S94-34). San Bernardino Co., Essex, 2000’ 22-vii-1990 (S90-69). 3 m N Essex, 1680’ 21-viii-1998 (S98-75). Mentone, 2000’ 25-vii-1981 (S81-28). San Bernardino Mts., Sky Forest, 5600’ 17-viii-1982 (S82-64). Santa Barbara Co., Gaviota State Park 14-vii-1976. Santa Cruz Island, Prisoner’s Harbor, sea level 11-vii-2004 (S04-65). Santa Ynez Mts., Lake Cachuma, 600’ 24-vii-1981 (S81-20). NEVADA. Clark Co., Cottonwood Cove, 800’ 14-vi-1990 (S90-44).

DNA. Multilocus species tree G1414 (S09-103, Gila Bend ) G. multipulsator is a sister species of G. assimilis — see DNA comparisons in Weissman et al. (2009) and in Gray et al. (2019). Also, closely related to G. locorojo and G. veintinueve ( Fig. 6 , p. 28 ).

Discussion. When we described this taxon in 2009, it was thought to have the highest number of p/c of any Gryllus . Otte (1987) described G. mzimba from Malawi with 17p/c and Martins (2009) discussed an undescribed Gryllus from southern Brazil (his G. n. sp. 2) that has from 13-21 p/c. Because G. multipulsator’s distribution ends in central Mexico (Weissman et a l. 2009), Martins’ undescribed cricket will be the new record holder for p/c once published.

Tachinid Ormia ochracea emerged from 2 males collected in Yuma , AZ (2003-333 and 334).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Phylogenetic arrangement of taxa redrawn from Gray et al. (2019). Taxa in grey text are either not considered here because they are not US Gryllus, or are considered only briefly (Pet Store Group; G. bryanti).

FIGURE 15. Five second calling song of G. locorojo: (R12-3) commercial pet store, at 22°C.

FIGURE 28. Five second waveforms of calling songs of (A) G. pennsylvanicus and (B) G. firmus. G. pennsylvanicus (R04-110) Whatcom Co., WA (S04-91), at 25°C. G. firmus: (R03-255) Gainesville, FL (S03-85), at 25°C.

FIGURE 54. ITS2 gene tree. G. multipulsator sample: S03-41 (G577); G. assimilis samples: S10-64 (G1901); S16-12 (G3367, G3373); G. locorojo sample: type locality (Rainbow Mealworms); G. veintinueve samples: S02-39 (G134); S07-21 (G1139); S07-27 (G1140, G1211); S09-71 (G1451); OK, Love Co., Hwy 32 at Boggy Creek (2015-055).

FIGURE 67. Holotype male, Gryllus multipulsator, specimen and labels.

FIGURE 68. Color variation in G. multipulsator, from reddish male (left, Riverside Co., CA, S03-41); brown female (middle, Santa Cruz Island, CA, S04-65); black male (right, Riverside Co., CA, S03-41).

FIGURE 69. Top: Five second waveform of calling song of G. multipulsator (R15-325) Pima Co., AZ (S15-108), at 25.4°C; Middle: One second waveform of same song showing individual pulses; Bottom: Expansion of an individual chirp showing decreasing pulse rate towards end of chirp.

FIGURE 70. Known US distribution, G. multipulsator.

FIGURE 71. Five second waveforms of calling songs of (A) G. rubens, (B) G. texensis, and (C) G. regularis. (A) G. rubens: (R13-220) Tulsa, OK (S13-68), at 25°C; (B) G. texensis: (R13-224) Rio Hondo, TX (S13-44), at 26°C; (C) G. regularis (R99- 211) Sinaloa, MX (S99-86), at 25.5°C.