Falcerminthus hispidus Tan, Bahoy, Sabang & Robillard, 2024

Bahoy, Daphne Cayle M., Sabang, Aira Mae M., Tan, Ming Kai, Nuñeza, Olga Macas & Robillard, Tony, 2024, A new species and new records of the subtribe Lebinthina (Grylloidea, Eneopterinae, Lebinthini) from Mindanao, Philippines, Zootaxa 5507 (1), pp. 167-178 : 170-174

Falcerminthus hispidus Tan, Bahoy, Sabang & Robillard , sp. nov.

( Figs 2–4 )

Material examined. Holotype: PHILIPPINES: • ♂; Mindanao, Zamboanga Del Norte, Dapitan City, Jose Rizal Memorial Protected Landscape ; N8.668583, E123.416417, 133 m. a.s.l.; 19 December 2023; secondary forest, found in leaf litter; leg. D.C. Bahoy & A. M. Sabang; 013; PNM.

Paratypes: 3♂, 3♀ • 1♂; same locality, date and collectors as HT; N8.668472, E123.416722, 41 m.a.s.l.; same microhabitat as HT; 011; MNHN-EO1350 • 1♂; same locality and collectors as HT; N8.668389, E123.416889, 45 m.a.s.l.; open area in secondary forest, found in leaf litter; 010; MNHN-EO1351 • 1♂; same locality as HT; N8.668167, E123.417111, 34 m.a.s.l.; same microhabitat as HT; 008; ZRC • 1♀; same locality and collectors as HT; N8.668389, E123.416889, 45 m.a.s.l.; 22 December 2023; open area in secondary forest, found in leaf litter; 0071; PNM • 1♀; same locality and collectors as HT; N8.668389, E123.416889, 45 m.a.s.l.; 22 December 2023; open area in secondary forest, found in leaf litter; 0072; MNHN-EO1352 • 1♀; same locality and collectors as HT; N8.668389, E123.416889, 45 m.a.s.l.; 22 December 2023; open area in secondary forest, found in leaf litter; 0073; PNM .

Etymology. The species name refers to the rough setae at the pseudepiphallic lophi in male genitalia; hispidus = rough, hairy, bristly in Latin.

Diagnosis. The new species is characterized by the relatively large size among congeners and the presence of the strong setae on the ventral side of pseudepiphallus lophi of the male genitalia. It is similar to Falcerminthus parvus and Falcerminthus palaceus (both also found in Mindanao) by the shape of the pseudepiphallus lophi, but differs by the lophi more narrowly spaced apart (also stouter than in F. parvus ); pseudepiphallic parameres sinuated elongated, somewhat membranous (instead of F-shaped in F. parvus and spade-shaped in P. palaceus ); ectophallic arc almost straight which differs to that of F. parvus (deeply curved posteriorly); endophallic apodeme short and not surpassing anterior margin of pseudepiphallus (instead of exceeding in F. parvus or not visible in F. palaceus ). The new species also shares some similarities in the male genitalia with Falcerminthus dannybaletei from Visayas, but differs by the pseudepiphallus stouter, pseudepiphallic lophi lacking strong setae (but similarly granulated), shape of pseudepiphallic parameres, shorter endophallic apodeme.

Description. Size average to large for the genus ( Fig. 2 ). General coloration brown to dark brown ( Fig. 2 ). Head. Head dorsum with four wide brown longitudinal bands almost fused together, region posterior to eye is yellow with margins bordered by dark brown or black bands ( Fig. 3A ). Fastigium dark brown, wider than long, wider than scapes, covered with setae ( Fig. 3A ). Scapes and antennae brown. Face, including clypeus and labrum dark brown to black; two spots between scapes black, separated by a lighter area ( Fig. 3B ). Median ocellus broadly oval, lateral ocelli smaller and round. Maxillary palpi dark brown to yellow brown ( Fig. 3C ). Laterally, head with gena dark brown, with a cream-colored broad spot; posterior and ventrad of eye with a vertical band cream-coloured ( Fig. 3C ). Dorsal disk of pronotum trapezoidal, anterior and posterior margins mostly straight, sometimes faintly concave and convex, respectively; setose; mostly yellow brown, mottled brown to dark brown, with a median dark brown area ( Fig. 3A ).

Thorax. Lateral lobe of pronotum black dorsally, ventral margin with faint pale spots ( Fig. 3C ). Legs I and II light brown to brown, FI–II with dark brown spots, TI–IIs with rings dark brown alternating with pale ones. TaIII-1 with four spines on dorsal outer edge and one on dorsal inner edge. TIIIs dark brown, spines and spurs brown with dark apices; Tas with basal half cream colored and distal half dark brown. FWs short, barely reaching abdomen midlength; hind wings absent. Cerci well developed. Abdomen: Tergites brown, posterior part slightly darker.

Male tegmina and wings. FWs reaching middle of fourth abdominal tergite ( Fig. 3A ). Dorsal field mostly dark brown; M and R veins dark orange brown, area between them cream colored, with a few incomplete transverse veins. Lateral field with dark brown or brown veins and transverse veins, cells mostly brown to dark brown, ventral half slightly pale ( Fig. 3A ). FW venation ( Fig. 3A ): 1A slightly curved (<100°). False mirror rounded, slightly broader than long. Mirror (d1) not differentiated, typical of genus. Lateral field with five longitudinal veins with irregularly-spaced cross veins in between.

Abdomen. Male genitalia ( Figs 4A–D ). Pseudepiphallic sclerite trapezoidal, in lateral view slightly convex dorsally, with stout pseudepiphallic lophi separated by a narrow U-shaped indentation. Pseudepiphallic triangular, with apex obtuse; ventrally with inner half granulated, ventral outer half having characteristic setae strong and long; anterior margin broadly curved, its lateral margins mostly straight and tapering slightly towards apex. Pseudepiphallic parameres weakly sclerotized, elongated, sinuate. Ectophallic arc complete, almost straight, slightly curved posteriorly. Ectophallic fold with two ventral sclerites, baso-external parts more sclerotized and plate-like, at posterior margin slightly indented. Ectophallic apodemes faintly sinuous, reaching anterior margin of pseudepiphallus. Endophallic sclerite Y-shaped, comprising long anterior region and short median expansion and lateral arms posteriorly. Rami short, about half pseudepiphallus length.

Female. Generally similar to male in coloration ( Figs 3D–F ). FWs rather short, reaching base of third tergite, only slightly overlapping basally. Veins brown, not translucent, darker than gray brown cells ( Fig. 3D ). Dorsal field is brown mottled with cream-coloration, veins and cross-veins yellow brown with 7 longitudinal veins ( Fig. 3D ). Lateral field darker with four longitudinal veins ( Fig. 3F ). Ovipositor slightly longer than hind femora; its apex lanceolate, denticulated ( Fig. 3G ). Subgenital plate trapezoidal. Copulatory papilla triangular, apical end truncated with two stout triangular lobules ( Fig. 4E ).

Measurements. See Table 1 .

Ecology. The species was observed in daytime on the forest floor of the trail of a disturbed dipterocarp forest ecosystem at low elevation ( Fig. 1A ). It was also occasionally found on top of leaves of small vascular plants. The area in general is surrounded by bodies of water; on one side is the Dapitan Bay and forest streams flowing from the Dapitan River.

Distribution. Philippines: Zamboanga del Norte, Jose Rizal Protected Landscape.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Jose Rizal Memorial Protected Landscape (A) in Zamboanga del Norte and Allah Valley Protected Landscape in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato (B).

FIGURE 2. Falcerminthus hispidus sp. nov. male (A, B) and female (C, D) habitus in dorsal (A, C) and lateral (B, D) views. Scale bar: 5 mm.

FIGURE 3. Falcerminthus hispidus sp. nov. male (A–C) and female (D–F): anterior part of body in dorsal (A, D) and lateral (C, F); face in anterior view (B, E); apex of female ovipositor in lateral view (G). Scale bars: 2 mm (A, C, D, F), 1 mm (B, E, G).

FIGURE 4. Falcerminthus hispidus sp. nov. male (A–D) and female (E) genitalia in dorsal (A, E), ventral (B, D) and lateral (C) views. Scale bars: 1 mm (A–C), 0.2 mm (D, E).