Cota caxiuana Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares, 2025

Cadena-Castañeda, Oscar J., Quintana-Arias, Ronald Fernando, Infante, Ivette Coque, Silva, Daniela Santos Martins & Tavares, Gustavo Costa, 2025, Studies on pygmy grasshoppers: On the current Metrodorinae sensu lato classification (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) with emphasis on American and Malagasy taxa, Zootaxa 5597 (1), pp. 1-265 : 48-55

Cota caxiuana Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares , sp. nov.

( Figs. 28 – 29 , Map 1)

Type material. Holotype. Male. BRAZIL, Pará , Melgaço, FLONA Caxiuanã [Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, i.e. Caxiuanã National Forest]—ECFPn [Estação Científica Ferreira Pena, i.e. Ferreira Pena Scientific Station]; ESECAFLOR; 1°43’35”S, 51°26’36”W. [45 m.]. X.2011; Pitfall; D.A. Cunha leg. ( MPEG).

Description. Male. Small-sized (8.6 mm). Body moderately robust, rugose, and with abundant granules and lappets on its surface ( Fig. 28 ). Coloration. Body brown ( Fig. 28 ), except for the penultimate antennal segment, palps ( Fig. 29A ), edges of the lateral lobes of the pronotum ( Figs. 29B, C ), and edges of the fore and mid femora, which are ocher. Fore and mid tibiae with two ocher rings, one proximal and one distal; hind tibia with a basal and a mesal ring ( Figs. 29D, E ); last tarsomere of all legs with the basal half ocher and the distal half brown. Head ovoid, slightly taller than wide, with eyes occupying a quarter of the cephalic capsule ( Fig. 29A ). Medial carina conical, with a rounded apex, not curving downwards or upwards, producing in the middle of the eyes ( Fig. 29B ); lateral carinae rounded and protruding over the dorsal margin of the eyes in lateral view. Head dorsal surface with granules, progressively decreasing in size from the vertex to the occiput ( Fig. 29B ). Scutellum moderately widened; fascial carinae diverging from its branching, protruding in lateral view; lateral ocelli located near the fork of the frontal costa; antennae with 14 segments, penultimate segment with a small tubercle or possible antennal organ ( Fig. 29A ).

Thorax. Anterior margin of the pronotum straight, with the prozonal carinae developed ( Fig. 29C ), and posterior apex completely covering the abdomen ( Fig. 28B ). First hump moderately elevated compared to other known species of the genus, in lateral view curving uniformly, then forming a valley, which will then give rise to the second hump, which is similar in height to the first hump, dorsally with three lappets on the median carina ( Fig. 28A ). Lower margin of lateral lobes wide, with the distal margin triangular and pointed ( Figs. 28B , 29C ); posterior margin of lateral lobe undulated ( Fig. 29C ); humero-apical carina undulated and finely serrulate, connecting posteriorly with the external lateral carina ( Fig. 28A ); infrascapular area wide, running laterally from the mesopleura to the pronotal apex ( Fig. 28B ). Legs. Fore femur widened, dorsal margin constricted basally, expanding distally, and with two dorsal undulations; ventral margin with three prolongations, the second being the most conspicuous ( Fig. 29D ). Mid femur rectangular, dorsal margin with three undulations of similar shape; ventral margin with three undulations, the second being the widest and longest, and the third undulation being subtriangular in shape ( Fig. 29E ). Hind femur robust, with three tubercles on the median external area; ventral margin finely serrulated; antegenicular tooth poorly developed; genicular tooth developed and triangular ( Fig. 28A ). Fore tibia armed with small ventral spines; middle tibia unarmed; hind tibia armed with five small spines on each dorsal margin ( Fig. 28 ). Abdomen unmodified and completely covered by the pronotum. Cerci conical and short ( Fig. 29F ); penultimate sternite longer than the subgenital plate ( Figs. 29G, H ), rounded and curving upwards; subgenital plate subtriangular and distally divided ( Fig. 29G ).

Female. Unknown.

Measurements (in mm). CFP: 8.6. PL: 7.2. PLB: 5.3. FF: 1.6. FL: 1.7. MFL: 2. MTL: 1.9. HL: 4.3. HW: 1.8. HTL: 3.2.

Comparison. The new species resembles C. saxosa more than the other known species of the genus. C. caxiuana sp. nov. differs from C. saxosa in the less conspicuous and not sharp tubercles, prolongations, and lappets covering the body. Additionally, the new species has two humps on the pronotum of similar height, and the apex of the lateral lobes of the pronotum projects into a moderately sized spine, resembling those of C. undulata . In contrast, C. saxosa has the first hump higher than the second, and the lateral lobe of the pronotum has three triangular projections, two distal and one located on the posterior margin of the lateral lobe.

Remarks. The type specimen harbored several mites on the sternum. Structures such as the epiproct and the pallial plates could not be observed, as the abdomen was rigid, and it was not desirable to damage the sole specimen by forcing this structure.

Etymology. The name of this new species refers to the type locality and must be treated as a noun in apposition.

Genus Hancockiella Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona-Granda, 2015

Hancockiella Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona, 2015: 482 .

Type species: Hancockiella armata Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona, 2015 , by original designation.

Redescription. Body almost smooth, with small granulations ( Figs. 30A, B ). Head little exserted. In frontal view: vertex almost as wide as the width of an eye or 1.5 times wider; medial carinae well-developed, and lateral carinae not produced; posterior margin of the vertex projecting rectangularly, but medial carina protruding in the middle; frontal costa bifurcation located at the middle of the eyes; scutellum narrow; fascial carinae almost straight and parallel, ramification of the fascial carinae angled and little divergent; upper margin of the antennal grooves located well below the lower margin of the eyes, close to the end of fascial carinae ( Fig. 30C ); antennae unknown (incomplete in the only known specimens); lateral ocelli placed between the eyes, near the base from where each branch of the fascial carinae diverges; medial ocellus located close to the lower margin of the scutellum ( Fig. 30C ); palpi narrow, with apical segments moderately depressed. In lateral view: carinae of the vertex produced between the eyes; fastigio-fascial angle convex in frontal view, deeply at its upper margin where the carinae unite to connect with the medial carina; fascial carinae rounded and emerging between the antennal sockets, above and below almost straight; eyes subglobose, with rounded dorsal surface and almost straight ventral margin, not elevated higher than vertex ( Fig. 30A ). Thorax. Pronotum reaching the tip of hind femora; pronotal disc with the dorsum almost flat ( Fig. 30A ); anterior margin straight and apex pointed but truncated and slightly elevated in lateral view; median carinae very poorly elevated; lateral carinae finely denticulated, little sinuate in dorsal and lateral views, mostly straight after the shoulders; humeral angles concave; lower edge of lateral lobes of pronotum projecting to the sides ( Fig. 30B ), rounded and armed with a thin spine curved anteriorly ( Fig. 30D ); infrascapular area ending at the level of the last abdominal segment; lateral area poorly developed ( Fig. 30A ). Wings absent. Legs little elongated. Fore and mid-femora compressed, dorsal and ventral margins moderately wavy. Hind femora with ante-genicular tooth moderately developed; genicular tooth triangular and with apex almost acute. Hind tibia scarcely ampliated near the apex; first and third segments of the hind tarsi equal in length ( Fig. 30A ). Abdomen. Last segments moderately constricted; cerci conical and reduced; penultimate sternite mid-sized, 1.5 times longer than subgenital plate, and little upcurved; subgenital plate short, cupuliform, upcurved, and apex rounded.

Female. Unknown.

Remarks. This genus was recently described, including a single species from the Colombian Amazon rainforest ( Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona-Granda, 2015). Hancockiella is differentiated from the other Metrodorina stat. nov. genera by the following characteristics: carinae of the vertex produced, prominently protruding in the middle of the eyes in lateral view, and scutellum narrow; medial carinae not elevated, therefore, pronotal disc flat; lateral lobes of the pronotum with the lower margin armed with a thin spine curved to the front; apex of the pronotum with a small spinous projection directed upwards.

An additional record fitting Hancockiella armata was photographed ( Fig. 40A ) and made available at iNaturalist, near Nauta, Peru (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/64200859).

Species included. Hancockiella armata Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona-Granda, 2015 only.

Distribution. Amazonia of Colombia. However, neighboring countries undoubtedly have additional species and records (Maps 1 and 2).

Genus Hebardidora Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares , gen. nov.

Type species: Platytettix harroweri Hebard, 1924 , here designated.

Description. Body granulated, robust ( Figs. 31 , 32 , 33 , 36 ). Head little exserted. In frontal view: vertex wider than two times the width of an eye; medial carinae 2 to 2.5 times longer than the lateral ones; frontal costa bifurcation located at the middle of the eyes; scutellum wide; fascial carinae mid-sized and concave, ramification of fascial carinae rounded; antennae situated lower than the ventral margin of the eyes, in the middle length of each branch of the fascial carinae and with 14–15 segments; lateral ocelli placed between the inferior part of the eyes, near the base from where each branch of the fascial carinae diverges; medial ocellus located near to the ventral apex of the scutellum, close to the frontal carina; palpi narrow, the apical segments moderately depressed ( Figs. 32C , 34A , 37A ). In lateral view, carinae of the vertex rounded and strongly produced, protruding between the eyes; fastigio-fascial angle not convex in front, progressively upcurved; fascial carinae emerging between the antennae and rounded, above and below slightly sinuate; frontal carinae produced and almost straight; eyes subglobose, with rounded dorsal surface ( Figs. 32A , 34B , 37B ). Thorax. Pronotum robust, not surpassing the tip of hind femora. Pronotal disc anteriorly rounded a slightly curved, and the posterior apex pointed; median carina elevated, with a conspicuous hump in the anterior section of pronotum and minor undulation from midsection to apex or cristatte ( Figs. 32A , 34A , 35 ). Angles of the lateral lobes flattened and projected to the sides, triangularly acute produced or rounded, obliquely truncated behind and denticulated ( Figs. 34C , 35 ); infra-scapular area wide, ending at the level of the eighth or ninth abdominal segment; lateral area narrow, originating from the upper half of the infra-scapular area with similar width from the base to the apex in lateral view ( Figs. 32A , 34B , 35 , 36A ). Wings absent. Legs stout and a little elongated. Fore and mid femora compressed, dorsal and ventral margins conspicuously wavy, forming small projections on the ventral one ( Figs. 34D , 37D ). Hind femora with ante-genicular tooth well-developed; genicular tooth triangular and with acute apex ( Fig. 32A ). Hind tibia scarcely ampliated near the apex; the first and third segments of the hind tarsi equal in length. Abdomen unmodified. Penultimate sternite globose; cerci conical and short; subgenital plate upcurved, with the posterior edge angulated, and slightly divided at the apex.

Female. Similar to the male in shape but larger ( Figs. 31 , 38 ). Last segments moderately constricted; cerci conical and reduced; ovipositor valves with moderated serrations, and subgenital plate covering the first basal third of the lower valves ( Figs. 39D ).

Species included. Hebardidora harroweri (Hebard, 1924) , comb. nov., H. panamae (Hebard, 1924) , comb. nov., and H. kasaloi sp. nov.

Distribution. Central America, Between Panama and Costa Rica (Map 4).

Comparison. Hebardidora gen. nov. differs from Metrodora because the carina of the vertex and the fastigium is pronounced in the middle of the eyes, and the pronotum generally has a conspicuous hump in the anterior half. In contrast, in Metrodora , the fastigium is not pronounced, barely protruding in the middle of the eyes in lateral view, and the pronotal disc is flat. The new genus resembles Tylotettix stat. resurr. more than the other genera of the subtribe. In Tylotettix stat. resurr., the median carina is elevated, curving progressively from the anterior margin to the apex, and the infrascapular area is of medium width, reaching up to the fourth to sixth abdominal segment. In contrast, in Hebardidora gen. nov., the females are larger and more robust; the median carina is elevated but with a conspicuous hump on the anterior section of the pronotum and a minor undulation from the central section to the apex, and the infrascapular area is wider and more conspicuous than in the Tylotettix stat. resurr. species, reaching up to the eighth or ninth abdominal segment. Hancockiella and Bolivaridora gen. nov., are differentiated from the new genus because they have a narrow scutellum and no humps on the pronotum, although they have a pronounced fastigium.

Remarks. The two Central American species described by Hebard (1924a) with wide scutellum and conspicuous hump are grouped in this new genus. They were originally described within Platytettix and placed within Cladonotinae , a classification followed by Günther (1939).

Etymology. This genus is dedicated to the memory of the illustrious orthopterist Morgan Hebard for his significant contributions to orthopteroids, including two species grouped here. The ending - dora, which comes from the genus Metrodora , is added. The gender of the name is feminine.

MAP 3. Distribution of Bolivaridora cipolai Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares sp. nov. and Brazitettix paulista Silva, 2024 .

Key to species of Hebardidora

1. Hump of median carina of pronotum moderately elevated, in lateral view, from the humero-apical carina to the highest edge of the hump, rising the equivalent of half of the fore femur length or less ( Figs. 35D, F ). Lower margin of lateral lobes of pronotum pointed ( Fig. 35C, E ).................................................................................. 2

- Hump of median carina of pronotum conspicuously elevated, in lateral view, from the humero-apical carina to the highest edge of the hump rising the equivalent of the fore femur lenght ( Figs. 31A , 32A ). Lower margin of lateral lobes of pronotum rounded ( Figs. 35A, B ).................................................................... H. harroweri comb. nov.

2. Medial carina of the vertex conspicuously projected in lateral view. Median carina of the pronotum with two humps ( Fig. 35D )............................................................................. H. panamae comb. nov.

- Medial carina of the vertex moderately projected, protruding a little between the eyes in lateral view ( Fig. 37B ). Median carina of pronotum cristate, not like a hump ( Fig. 35F ).............................................. H. kasaloi sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 28. Cota caxiuana Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares sp. nov. Male habitus A. Lateral and B. Dorsal views.

FIGURE 29. Cota caxiuana Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares sp. nov. Male. A. Frons. B–C. Head and thorax in lateral and dorsal views respectively. D. Fore femur. E. Mid femur. F–H. Terminalia in lateral, axial and ventral views respectively.

FIGURE 30. Hancockiella armata Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona, 2015. Male A. Habitus in lateral and B. Dorsal views. C. Frons. D. Apex body detail.

FIGURE 31. Hebardidora harroweri (Hebard, 1924) comb. nov. Female holotype. A–B. Habitus in lateral views. C. Frons. D. Labels.

FIGURE 32. Hebardidora harroweri (Hebard, 1924) comb. nov. Male studied by Hebard (1933), treated as a paratype. A. Habitus lateral and, B. Dorsal views. C. Frons. D. Labels. Photos: J. Tumbrinck.

FIGURE 33. Hebardidora harroweri (Hebard, 1924) comb. nov. Male from Costa Rica, habitus A. Lateral and, B. Dorsal views.

FIGURE 34. Hebardidora harroweri (Hebard, 1924) comb. nov. Male. A. Frons. B. Head and thorax in lateral and, C. Dorsal views. D. Mid femur.

FIGURE 35. Hebardidora species (females). A–B. H. harroweri (Hebard, 1924) comb. nov. A. Posterior margin of lateral lobe. B. Pronotum, lateral outline. C–D. H. panamae (Hebard, 1924) comb. nov. C. Posterior margin of the lateral lobe. D. Pronotum, lateral outline. E–F. H. kasaloi sp. nov. E. Posterior margin of the lateral lobe. F. Pronotum, lateral outline.

FIGURE 36. Hebardidora kasaloi Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares sp. nov. Male holotype habitus A. Lateral and B. Dorsal views.

FIGURE 37. Hebardidora kasaloi Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares sp. nov. Male holotype. A. Frons. B. Head and thorax in lateral and, C. Dorsal views. D. Mid femur.

FIGURE 38. Hebardidora kasaloi Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares sp. nov. Female paratype habitus A. Lateral and B. Dorsal views.

FIGURE 39. Hebardidora kasaloi Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares sp. nov. Female paratype. A. Frons. B. Head and thorax in lateral and, C. Dorsal views. D. Terminalia in ventral view. E. Mid femur.

FIGURE 40. A. Hancockiella armata Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona, 2015 from Loreto, close to Nauta, Peru. Photo: Jonghyun Park, clurarit. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/64200859. B. Hebardidora harroweri (Hebard, 1924) comb. nov. from Gamboa, Panama. Photo: Ernst Klimsa. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152111747. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED.