Hubbellcophus Cadena-Castañeda, 2021

Cadena-Castañeda, Oscar J., Soto, Wolfang Andrés Rodríguez, Cárdenas, Andrea Del Pilar Floréz & Acevedo, Angélica, 2021, Studies on Neotropical crickets: The continental Otteiini taxa (Orthoptera Phalangopsidae), those cave crickets are not confined to the West Indies, Zootaxa 4981 (2), pp. 331-356 : 345

Hubbellcophus Cadena-Castañeda n. gen.

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:514182

Diagnosis. Eyes reduced, either small, less than half as broad as scapus, and with reduced pigmentation, or absent ( Fig. 9A , 10 A-D). Antennae extraordinarily elongate, being from two to six times longer than the length of the body. Pronotum subquadrate, lower margins of lateral lobes moderately expanded to the sides ( Fig. 10 E-H). Apterous species. Legs relatively long and slender, hind tibia armed dorsally with three to five spurs on both margins; all tarsi very slender and elongated, first tarsomere unarmed dorsally and as long as a third of its respective tibiae. Abdominal tergites specialized, usually with plate-shaped extensions in the tergal segments of moderate size or very conspicuous ( Fig. 9 ), and dorsal glands ( Fig. 10 E-H). Male epiproctus quadrangular, with finger-like lobes on the lateral-distal margins. Cerci slender and barely longer than the hind femur ( Fig. 10 E-H). Ovipositor usually as long as the hind femur, apex dorsally straight and with small dentation ( Fig. 12 ). Male genitalia moderately tubuliform; ectophallic fold membranous; pseudepiphallic median lophi with a medial notch and on the posterior lateral borders with a long spine-shaped projection that curves upward in lateral view (most prominent than Paracophus s.s. species); pseudepiphallic paramere with two projections, one ventrally and another posteriorly; endophallic apodeme sclerotized and Y-shaped; ectophallic apodeme thick, slightly curved in lateral view and, in ventral view, the branches are divergent ( Fig.11 ).

Etymology. Dedicated to the memory of Prof. Theodore Huntington Hubbell (1897-1989), an eminent orthopterist and as a recognition of his important and fundamental contributions to cave crickets (phalangopsids and rhaphidophorids). With the ending - cophus , referring to its closeness to that genus. Gender is designated as neutral.

Taxa included: Hubbellcophus placonotus ( Hubbell, 1972) n. comb., (type species), H. caecus ( Hubbell, 1972) n. comb., H. cladonotus ( Hubbell, 1972) n. comb. and H. lippus ( Hubbell, 1972) n. comb.

Comments. This new genus is derived from the second group proposed by Hubbell (1972) “GROUP II. Troglobitic species with relatively long legs, pale coloration, eyes reduced or absent, and reduced hind leg armature”, adding H. placonotus n. comb., included in the first group by Hubbell, but which fits this group by its anatomical characteristics and male genitalia.

Unfortunately, the male phallic complex of H. lippus n. comb. was not described, since the only known male genitalia was lost, so its generic placement is not completely clear. Even this species not have the typical epiproctus of the genus Hubbellcophus , other morphological characteristics fit this new genus, being closer to H. caecus n. comb.

Key to Hubbellcophus n. gen. species

1. Abdominal tergites notoriously specialized and with conspicuous plates or papillae ( Fig. 10E, H, I, J ).................. 2

– Abdominal tergites are slightly specialized and with glandular apparatus ( Fig. 10F, G )............................... 3

2. Fifth and six abdominal tergites with conspicuous laminate mid projections directed posteriorly and overlapping the following tergite ( Fig. 9 , 10H, J ). Lateral lophi with conspicuous prolongation dorsally and ventrally (in profile), the ventral one longer than the dorsal one ( Fig. 11A–C ). Female epiproctus with sides angulated and convergent to apex... H. placonotus n. comb.

– Fourth and fifth abdominal tergites with distinctive processes ( Fig. 10E, I ). Lateral lophi with only a conspicuous dorsal prolongation, ventrally rounded and not prolonged ( Fig. 11D–F ). Female epiproctus broader, widely parabolic, or almost semicircular in outline.......................................................................... H. cladonotus n. comb.

3. Eyes absent ( Fig. 10A ). Glandular apparatus between third and ninth tergites ( Fig. 10G ). Male epiproctus quadrangular shaped and posterior margin straight............................................................. H. caecus n. comb.

– Eyes present ( Fig. 10B ). Glandular apparatus between fourth and eighth tergites ( Fig. 10F ). Male epiproctus semicircular and posterior margin rounded................................................................. H. lippus n. comb.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Hubbellcophus placonotus n. comb. Paratype. A. Male habitus in lateral and B. dorsal view. Photos: Holger Braun.

FIGURE 10. Hubbellcophus species, diagnostic structures. A-D. Head and thorax in lateral view. E-H. habitus in dorsal view. I-J. male tergites modification. A, G. H. caecus n. comb. B, F. H. lippus n. comb. C, E, I. H. cladonotus n. comb. D, H, J. H. placonotus n. comb. (All draws after Hubbell, 1972).

FIGURE 11. Hubbellcophus species, male genitalia. A-C. H. placonotus n. comb. D-F. H. cladonotus n. comb. G-I. H. caecus n. comb. A, D, G. genitalia apex in dorsal view. B, E, H. genitalia apex in ventral view. C, F, I. genitalia apex in lateral view. (All draws after Hubbell, 1972).

FIGURE 12. Hubbellcophus caecus n. comb. females in live condition. A. Adult in lateral view. B. Subadult in dorsal view. Both females from Tamaulipas, Gomez Farías. Cueva “La Capilla”. Photos: Diego Barrales-Alcalá. I Naturalist observation: https://www.naturalista.mx/taxa/256710-Paracophus-caecus