Odontogryllodes spinifer, Tan & Japir & Chung & Robillard, 2022

Tan, Ming Kai, Japir, Razy, Chung, Arthur Y. C. & Robillard, Tony, 2022, New taxa and notes on bark and bush crickets (Orthoptera, Grylloidea, Gryllidae Landrevinae and Podoscirtinae) from Sabah, Zootaxa 5178 (3), pp. 201-228 : 211-214

Odontogryllodes spinifer sp. nov.

( Figs 7–11 )

Material examined. Holotype: EAST MALAYSIA • ♂; Sabah State, Mount Silam, near Lahad Datu ; N4.96786, E118.17203, 722.3± 6.7 m.a.s.l.; 12 May 2022, 20h22; on a branch of a small tree; coll. M.K. Tan, T. Robillard & R. Japir; SBH.22.33 ( FRC)

Paratypes: EAST MALAYSIA • 1♂; Sabah State, Mount Silam, near Lahad Datu ; N4.96609, E118.17285, 717.8± 8.6 m.a.s.l.; 12 May 2022, 20h05; on a foliage of a small tree; coll. M.K. Tan, T. Robillard & R. Japir; SBH.22.29 ( ZRC) • 1♂; Sabah State, Sandakan, Sepilok, Rainforest Discovery Centre ; N5.87342, E117.94214, 64.4± 7.1 m.a.s.l.; 17 May 2022, 21h36; on a branch of a small tree; coll. M.K. Tan & T. Robillard; SBH.22.135 ( ZRC) • 1♀; Sabah State, Sandakan, Sepilok, Kabili Sepilok Forest Reserve ; N5.86984, E117.93806, 68.3± 6.5 m.a.s.l.; 3 October 2019, 20h19; on a branch; coll. M.K. Tan & J. Lee Yukang; SDK.19.100 ( MNHN)

Other material examined: EAST MALAYSIA • 1♀; Sabah State, Tabin Wildlife Reserve ; N5.19541, E118.50370, 117.7± 6.7 m.a.s.l.; 15 May 2022, 21h32; on a branch near the ground; coll. M.K. Tan, T. Robillard & R. Japir; SBH.22.92 ( FRC) [need a male from the same locality to confirm the species]

Diagnosis. The new species differs from all of the congeners by the anterior half of the male pseudepiphallus [epiphallus] curved upwards and with lateral squarish lobes (these two lateral lobes have spine-like setae); and by the pseudepiphallic lophi [posterolateral epiphallic lobe] forming narrow-triangular dorsal lobules pointing dorsad with subacute apices (in lateral view), and ventral lobules stout and obtuse (all lobules with setae); the male FW with the apical area of the dorsal field narrowly-obtuse.

Remarks. This represents the first record of Odontogryllodes in Borneo (previously known from Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Java).

Etymology. The species name refers to the numerous prickle-like setae on the pseudepiphallus; in Latin from spîna (“thorn, spine, prickle”) +-fer (“carrying”).

Description. Typical of the genus, body slightly cylindrical and densely pubescent, red-brown in colouration ( Fig. 7 ). Head rostrum very densely pubescent, about 1.2 times as wide as scapes, with apex truncated (in dorsal view) ( Fig. 8A ). Scapes yellow brown. Eyes fairly small, vertically elongated (in profile view) ( Fig. 8B ). Maxillary palpi with apical (fifth) segment yellow, swollen and pyriform, longer than third and subapical (fourth) segments, with apex obtusely rounded; subapical segment pale-brown, widens apically, slightly longer than third segment; third segment pale-brown, cylindrical ( Fig. 8B ). Head in anterior view 1.1 times as tall than wide ( Fig. 8C ). Face dark brown, clypeus whitish. Median ocellus small and circular, between scapes; lateral ocelli small and circular, posterior of scapes. Pronotum 1.1 times as long as broad; very densely setose but anterior and posterior margins with strong hairs ( Fig. 8A ). Dorsal disc slightly widening with posterior margin 1.2 times as wide as anterior margin; with anterior margin feebly concave in the middle and posterior margin feebly convex in the middle ( Fig. 8A ). Pronotal lateral lobe about 1.3–1.4 times as long as wide; anterior half about 2.2 times as tall as posterior half; with ventral margin straight ( Fig. 8B ). TI without tympanum. TIII inner and outer margins with 4 stout articulated apical spurs (also known as movable spines) on each dorsal side; with 7 (3 small and 4 longer) inner and 6 (2 small and 4 longer) outer subapical spines. TaIII with two rows of denticles, 4–5 on each side.

Male. FW red-brown, densely pubescent (not as dense as pronotum) between veins; barely reaching posterior end of metanotum; spaced well apart and not touching each other ( Figs 8D, 8E ). Dorsal field distinctly longer than lateral field; venations obsolete, except R and M straight, widely spaced apart and parallel; apical area narrowlyobtuse ( Fig. 8D ). Lateral field wide, with four longitudinal veins; dorsal two longitudinal veins most spaced-apart, dorsal most longitudinal vein straight to faintly sinuous, second and third veins (from dorsal) parallel and gently curved in the middle ( Fig. 8E ). Hind wings absent. Metanotal gland seemingly under-developed.

Anal plate triangular with truncated apex, with sparse setae along posterior margin( Fig.9A ).Male pseudepiphallus [epiphallus] ( Figs 9B–D ) in dorsal view notched in the middle; anterior half curved upwards and with two lateral squarish lobes; lateral lobe with spine-like setae. Pseudepiphallic posteromedial lophi [posteromedial epiphallic lobe] stout with obtuse apex; these lobules separated from each other by shallow and narrow notch. Pseudepiphallic lophi [posterolateral epiphallic lobe] forming dorsal lobules in lateral view narrow-triangular and pointing dorsad with subacute apices, with spine-like setae on the dorsal and ventral (fewer) margins; ventral lobules stout and obtuse, also with a few setae. Ectophallic fold [rachis] barely reaching apex of pseudepiphallic posteromedial lophi [posteromedial epiphallic lobe] (when viewed ventrally), slender and faintly raised and tapering to subacute apex (when viewed laterally); vertically lamellar plates of the ectophallic fold [rachis] having microscopic ridges on their lateral sides. Each ectophallic apodeme [endparamere] forked posteriorly, and together with its long anterior apodeme forming a Y-shape structure; inner branch shorter and with obtuse apex, outer branch longer (reaching bottom of pseudepiphallic notch) and with truncated apex. Endophallic sclerite [formula] elongated; faintly tapering posteriorly into obtuse to truncated apex (when viewed ventrally). Rami not fused together by the anterior ends.

Female. Habitus not different from males ( Figs 10A, 10B ). FW characteristic of genus, small and rounded, with 7–8 longitudinal veins in both dorsal and lateral fields; FWs not touching each other. Subgenital plate typical of genus, broader than long, with posterior margin concave ( Fig. 10C ). Ovipositor slightly curved, short, barely reaching middle of cerci; having characteristic denticulate lateral edges of the distal part of upper valves ( Fig. 10D ).

Measurements (3♂, 1♀, in mm). PronL = ♂ 2.8–2.9 (2.9), ♀ 2.9; PronW = ♂ 3.2–3.3 (3.3), ♀ 3.3; FWL = ♂ 2.2–2.4 (2.3), ♀ 1.4; FIIIL = ♂ 7.6–8.3 (8.0), ♀ 8.4; TIIIL = ♂ 4.6, ♀ 4.9; OL = 4.6.

Ecology. This species is found among branches and tree trunks, usually around and above breast height (rather than near the ground).

Distribution. Borneo, Sabah State: Mount Silam near Lahad Datu, Kabili Sepilok Forest Reserve (including Rainforest Discovery Centre).

Type locality. EAST MALAYSIA, Sabah State, Mount Silam near Lahad Datu.

Calling song. The species is probably mute.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Odontogryllodes spinifer sp. nov. ♂ in its natural environment: at Mount Silam (SBH.22.29) (A) and at Sepilok (SBH.22.135) (B).

FIGURE 8. Odontogryllodes spinifer sp. nov. ♂: head and pronotum in dorsal (A) and lateral (B) views; face in anterior view (C); FW dorsal field in dorsal view (D); FW lateral field in lateral view (E). Scale bar: 2 mm.

FIGURE 9. Odontogryllodes spinifer sp. nov. ♂: male abdominal apex in dorsal view (A); genitalia in dorsal (B), ventral (C) and lateral (D) views. Scale bars: 1 mm (A); 0.1 mm (B–D).

FIGURE 10. Odontogryllodes spinifer sp. nov. ♀ (SDK.19.100): living habitus at Sepilok (A); habitus in lateral view (B); FW in lateral view (C); ovipositor in lateral view (D). The blue arrow in (D) refers to the characteristic denticulate lateral edges of the distal part of upper valves. Scale bars: 5 mm (B), 1 mm (C, D).

FIGURE 11. Odontogryllodes spinifer sp. nov.? ♀ in its natural environment at Mount Silam (A) and Tabin Wildlife Reserve (SDK.19.92) (B).