Grylloblatta siskiyouensis, Schoville, Sean D., 2012

Schoville, Sean D., 2012, Three new species of Grylloblatta Walker (Insecta: Grylloblattodea: Grylloblattidae), from southern Oregon and northern California, Zootaxa 3412, pp. 42-52 : 47-48

Grylloblatta siskiyouensis new species

( Figs. 1 B, 2C–D)

Type material. Holotype female in ethanol, deposited in CAS, labeled: “ USA OR: Josephine Co., Oregon Caves N.M., Big Tree Loop Trail N42.098 W-123.407 WGS84, Note: near water station 06-III-2007 9:15pm AY SDS10- 004” [white label]/ “ HOLOTYPE Grylloblatta siskiyouensis Schoville det. S.D. Schoville 2011” [red label]; Big Tree Trail of Oregon Caves National Monument, 42.098o North and - 123.407o West, Josephine County, Oregon, U.S.A.

Other specimens. Three juveniles in ethanol, deposited in CAS, labeled: “ USA OR: Josephine Co., Oregon Caves N.M., Blind Leads Cave, N42.098 W-123.407 WGS84, 20-III-2010. Note: twilight zone under rocks” [white label]/ “ Grylloblatta siskiyouensis Schoville det. S.D. Schoville 2011” [white label]. Two juveniles in ethanol, deposited in CAS, labeled: “ USA OR: Josephine Co., Oregon Caves N.M., N42.098 W-123.407 WGS84, 20-III- 2010. Note: on snow surface” [white label]/ “ Grylloblatta siskiyouensis Schoville det. S.D. Schoville 2011” [white label].

Etymology. The specific epithet, siskiyouensis , is named for the Siskiyou Mountains in which the type locality, Oregon Caves National Monument, is located.

Diagnosis. Adult females of this species can be distinguished from all other Nearctic Grylloblatta species by the following combination of character states: color amber brown on dorsum and white ventrally with light amber yellow patches; small body size; more than 30 antennomeres; ratio of antennomere lengths 2 and 1 1.2; head and interocular distance wider than pronotum; compound eyes large; pronotum short and narrow with a notable point formed at posterior edge; ventral valve of ovipositor broad and slightly up-curved; dorsal valve of ovipositor projects beyond ventral valve one-fifth total length; ovipositor nearly as long as cercus; cercomeres short, distally brown and proximally white.

Description of holotype female. Antennomere number on right antennae 32 and left antennae (broken) 19. Compound eyes well developed, large and black. Interocular distance slightly larger than pronotum width. Head width slightly greater than head length. Pronotum short and narrow, slightly convex, anterior end wider than posterior end, transverse sulcus at anterior end curving slightly towards the posterior end, a weak mid-dorsal line visible, and a notable point formed at the posterior edge. Leg coloration distinctly yellow compared to dorsal body and abdomen, and brown setae distinctive. Ovipositor nearly as long as cercus, extending to eighth cercomere. Ventral valve of ovipositor broad in the middle and slightly up-curved, roughened distally (possible scarring), with noticeable long setae. Dorsal valves of ovipositor extend beyond ventral valve by one-fifth total length and at midpoint nearly straighten out. Cercal segments short, distally brown and proximally white. Dorsal body color amber brown (55), legs light amber yellow (83), abdomen white laterally and light amber yellow patches ventrally, antennomeres and cercomeres amber brown fading to white at distal ends, ovipositor salmon-orange (50).

Measurements of holotype female (cm). BL 1.295, HL 0.294, HW 0.326, EL 0.071, EW 0.0476, ID 0.223, Ant1L 0.0397, Ant2L 0.0476, AntRatio 1.2, PL 0.3176, PW 0.183, FL front 0.333, FL mid 0.397, FL rear 0.508, TL front 0.238, TL mid 0.349, TL rear 0.453, TrL front 0.071, TrL mid 0.103, TrL rear 0.175, PTrL front 0.270, PTrL mid 0.318, PTrL rear 0.318, OvL 0.437, OvW 0.135, CL 0.476.

Description of other specimens. Juveniles are amber brown (55) on the dorsal surface of the head and pronotum.

Comparisons. Grylloblatta siskiyouensis n. sp. can be distinguished from all Grylloblatta species by dark dorsal coloration and dark abdominal color patches, as well as notable point on posterior end of pronotum. It can be distinguished from G. oregonensis n. sp. by a smaller adult body size and limb length, notably narrower pronotum and head, antennomere count higher (>30) and ratio of antennomere 2:1 lower (<2.0), dorsal valve of ovipositor thicker and slightly more up-curved. It can be distinguished from G. ro t h i by a smaller body size, higher antennomere count (>30), and long, setaceous ovipositor. It can be distinguished from G. sculleni by a cercus nearly equal in length to ovipositor. It can be distinguished from G. barberi by more reddish dorsal color, narrower head and pronotum, fewer antennomeres, a cercus nearly equal in length to ovipositor, and a less up-curved dorsal valve of ovipositor. It can be distinguished from G. gurneyi in having fewer antennomeres and ovipositor nearly equal in length to cercus. It can be distinguished from G. chandleri by fewer antennomeres and broader ventral valve of ovipositor.

Habitat distribution. The type specimen was found walking on snow at night in pine forest. I collected two juvenile specimens on the snow at night on March 20, 2010 and three more in the twilight zone of Blind Leads Cave under stones. The adult female specimen examined by Jarvis and Whiting (2006) was collected in a cheesebaited trap near the entrance of a cave.

Geographical distribution. Grylloblatta siskiyouensis n. sp. is presently known only from Oregon Caves National Monument ( Fig. 3 ). Due to its surface activity, it is potentially more widespread in the Siskiyou Mountains. Kamp (1973) refers to a grylloblattid population near Mt. Ashland that might represent the same species.

Phylogenetic relationships. Based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II data, G. siskiyouensis n. sp. (GenBank Accession JN612961 ) is distinct from (minimum ~10%) other nearby grylloblattids ( Table 1 ). This species is represented by the Oregon Caves sample deposited in GenBank ( Jarvis & Whiting 2006), from which it differs by a single base (0.1%). In a neighbor-joining analysis, it is grouped with G. oregonensis n. sp. and G. m a rmoreus n. sp. in an unresolved polytomy ( Fig. 4 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Differences in size and coloration observed in type specimens. A) Grylloblatta oregonensis n. sp. B) G. siskiyouensis n. sp. C) G. m a r m o re u s n. sp.

FIGURE 3. Geographical distribution of grylloblattid populations (dots) and type localities (crosses and asterisks) in California and Oregon, USA.

FIGURE 4. Relationships of new Grylloblatta species based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II gene data.