Mnesibulus (Amnesibulus) zamboanga (Otte, 2007) Tan & Salvador & Sabang & Bahoy & Nuñeza & Robillard, 2023

Tan, Ming Kai, Salvador, Jewel Anne G., Sabang, Aira Mae M., Bahoy, Daphne Cayle M., Nuñeza, Olga Macas & Robillard, Tony, 2023, Taxonomy and bioacoustics of little-known Grylloidea crickets (Orthoptera, Ensifera) from Mindanao, Philippines, Zootaxa 5323 (3), pp. 301-348 : 322-326

Mnesibulus (Amnesibulus) zamboanga (Otte, 2007) comb. nov.

( Figs 20–22 )

Madasumma zamboanga Otte, 2007a: 355 — Otte, 2007b: 33 (depository of holotype added)

Specimens examined. PHILIPPINES • 1♁; Mindanao, Misamis Oriental, Gingoog City, Barangay Lunotan , near Mt Sumagaya ; N8.70115, E125.01004, 1206.0±7.0 m.a.s.l.; 16 February 2023, 20h09; mossy forest, under a leaf of a shrub; coll. D.C.M. Bahoy, M.K. Tan, J.A.G. Salvador, A.M. Sabang, A. Gono & K. Grumo; MIN.23.70 ( MSU-IIT) ( Fig. 20 ) • 1♁; Mindanao , Misamis Oriental, Gingoog City , Barangay Lunotan , ‘ A Mountain Home’ ; N8.70251, E125.01025, 1212.0± 4.7 m.a.s.l.; 13 February 2023; attracted to light; coll. M.K. Tan & E. Buagas; MIN.23.10 ( ZRC)

Remarks. Mnesibulus (Amnesibulus) zamboanga comb. nov. represents the third species in this subgenus after M. (A.) silentus Gorochov, 2003 from Sulawesi and M. (A.) congruus (Walker, 1869) from the Philippines, and the second from the Philippines.

Diagnosis (new). Mnesibulus (Amnesibulus) zamboanga comb. nov. is characterised by the pseudepiphallic paramere [ectoparamere] with an obovate to flabellate apex; the ectophallic fold [rachis] with a pair of apical sclerites processes curved abruptly dorsad then anteriorly and inward, forming hooked acute apices; the pseudepiphallic dorso-apical process (da p) in profile view pointing dorsad (nearly 90° to the dorsum of the pseudepiphallus) and anteriorly; FWs more developed (with a false mirror and three slightly curved oblique veins).

Mnesibulus (Amnesibulus) zamboanga comb. nov. is most similar to M. (A.) congruus (Walker, 1869) from the Philippines by the shape of the anal plate with a large, pale grey, oval and transverse median concavity; and having its apex truncated. However, it differs by the pseudepiphallus with its dorso-apical process of the seemingly larger and pointing more dorsad (nearly 90° to dorsum of pseudepiphallus); the pseudepiphallic paramere with an obovate to flabellate apex (instead of being narrowly hooked), and the ectophallic fold [rachis (= guiding rod)] with its apical process strongly curved dorsad (rather than tapering and pointing posteriorly). It also differs by the subgenital plate with the tapering posterior and the rectangular anterior halves having sub-equal lengths (instead of the posterior half distinctly longer than the anterior half) and the apex obtuse (instead of a subacute apex, although this could be an artefact of preservation).

Mnesibulus (Amnesibulus) zamboanga comb. nov. also differs from the type species M. (A.) silentus Gorochov, 2003 from Sulawesi by the pseudepiphallus [epiphallus] with the dorso-apical process in profile view pointing feebly anteriorly and stouter (instead of pointing posteriorly and slenderer); the pseudepiphallic lophi [posterolateral epiphallic lobe] in dorsal view stout and obtuse (instead slender and curving slighly inwards), in profile view surpassing the posterior end of the dorso-apical process (instead of being deeply emarginated between dorso-apical process and not surpassing the process); pseudepiphallic paramere [ectoparamere] with an obovate to flabellate apex with granular surfaces and serrated margins.

Redescription. Habitus as shown in Fig. 20 ; medium sized, generally dark brown to black with yellow-brown to red-brown legs. Head, including rostrum, dark-coloured. Rostrum about 1.1 times as wide as scapes, finely pubescent; with apex in dorsal view broadly rounded and margin cream-coloured ( Fig. 21A ). Eyes in dorsal view slightly projected anteriorly ( Fig. 21A ). Median ocellus indistinct; lateral ocelli oval, located between scapes and eyes. Maxillary palpi with apical segment longest, distinctly flattened and oblong with rounded apex; with subapical segment cylindrical and expanding apically; with third segment cylindrical and slightly longer than subapical segment ( Fig. 21B ). Gena and posterior of eye in profile view brown ( Fig. 21B ). Face in anterior view 1.3 times as wide as tall; red brown ( Fig. 21C ). Pronotal disk black with anterior and posterior margins brown; about 1.5–1.7 times as wide as long, faintly widening posteriorly (posterior margin 1.3 times as wide as anterior margin); finely and densely pubescent. Pronotal disk with anterior margin broadly concave; posterior margin faintly angularly convex ( Fig. 21A ). Pronotal lateral lobe 1.2 times as long as high; with a longitudinal, slightly sinuous and cream-coloured dorsal band, ventral of this band yellow brown to brown ( Fig. 21B ). Metanotal gland absent ( Fig. 21D ). TI swollen; with inner tympanum slit-like; with outer tympanum open and having oval tympanal membrane. TIII with 6 inner and 5 outer long subapical spurs, 3 inner and 2 outer apical spurs; with 1–4 spines between spines; many numerous spines before most proximal spurs; and with inner spurs (including apical spurs) longer than corresponding outer ones. Legs uniformly yellow brown to red brown; knee of FIII dark coloured. Thoracic and abdominal tergites dark-coloured, sternites yellow brown to brown.

Male. FWs ( Fig. 21E ) covering abdomen and barely surpassing apex of FIII. Colouration: black, with cream-coloured infumation. Veins generally black, but some cross-veins creamed-coloured. Dorsal field of FW with small irregular cream-coloured spot at base, larger spot anterior of 1A; with transverse cream-coloured stripe along diagonal separating oblique vein of harp area and false mirror; FW in middle with large triangular cream-coloured patch, posterior of false mirror. Lateral field of FW with veins mostly black and cross-veins cream-coloured ( Fig. 21F ). Venation: 1A very straight, diagonal angularly bent, chord area very large with 3 slightly curved oblique veins in elongated harp area; false mirror small and diamond-shaped, 2.3 times as long as wide, dividing vein straight. Apical field occupying entire posterior half of FWs; 1A, chords, harp area and false mirror occupying anterior half of FWs. Lateral field around 11 branches on Sc ( Fig. 21F ). Hind wings hyalinous dark coloured; clearly surpassing FWs, surpassing middle of TIIIs.

Male abdominal gland as shown in Fig 22A : 6 th abdominal tergite simple, pubescent (especially laterally), posterior margin with two shallow whitish lateral indentation. 7 th abdominal tergite with shallow cavity in the middle with posterior margin narrowly and deeply notched, produced into a tubercle pointing anteriorly; tubercle on 7 th abdominal tergite with whitish spot at apex, apex rounded. 8 th abdominal tergite with similar tubercle as 7 th tergite but not so distinct, posterior margin more broadly and less deeply notched.Anal plate with large, pale-grey, oval and transverse median concavity; apex truncated ( Fig. 22A ). Subgenital plate cream-coloured; tapering posterior and rectangular anterior halves of subsequal lengths; apex obtuse ( Fig. 22B ).

Male genitalia as shown in Figs 22C–E : Pseudepiphallus [epiphallus] stout. Pseudepiphallus with dorso-apical process (da p) strongly sclerotized with acute apex; in profile view pointing dorsad (nearly 90° to dorsum of pseudepiphallus) and anteriorly. Pseudepiphallus with posterior end produced into two pseudepiphallic lophi [posterolateral epiphallic lobe]. In dorsal view, lophi stout and obtuse; pseudepiphallus with posterior margin in dorsal view truncated between lophi with deep narrow emarginatation (widens slightly anteriorly). In profile view, lophi slightly surpassing posterior end of dorso-apical process, but between lophi and dorso-apical process without emargination. Pseudepiphallic paramere [ectoparamere] fairly stout, surpassing with pseudepiphallic lophi; in profile view narrowed in the middle then with obovate to flabellate apex; apex with surface granular and margins serrated. Ectophallic fold [rachis] large and stout, well surpassing pseudepiphallic lophi. At posterior end, ectophallic fold in dorsal view shaft-like (sh), somewhat rectangular with posterior end more sclerotized, roundly truncated and in profile view tapers narrowly into subacute apex. Posterior of shaft, a pair of apical sclerite processes (ds) strongly curved abruptly dorsad then anteriorly and inward, forming hooked acute apices; ventrad of apical sclerites with another pair of long flattened process (vs) producing ventrally with apex obliquely acute.At anterior end, ectophallic fold in ventral view long, diverging anteriorly. Endophallic sclerite [formula] in ventral view with short posterior acute apex flanked by two elongated posterior lateral wing-liked arms, anterior end slender and tapering into acute apex. Ectophallic apodemes [endoparameral apodeme] elongated and parallel, anterior apex reaching anterior end of rami. When first dissected, pseudepiphallic paramere points externally and ectophallic fold extended much more posteriorly.

Female. Unknown.

Measurements (in mm). 2 J: BL = 17.5–18.2; BWL = 27.1–28.1; HL = 1.4–1.6; PronL = 1.4–2.2; PronW = 2.4–3.6; FWL = 19.1–19.6; FWW = 3.6–4.0; HWT = 5.0; FIIIL = 11.6–11.8; TIIIL = 10.9.

Ecology. This species was found to inhabit mossy forest but was also attracted to light.

Type locality. PHILIPPINES, Mindanao Island, Zamboanga del Norte, Massawan Trail to Mount Malindang

Distribution. PHILIPPINES (Mindanao Island: Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Oriental)

Calling song. This species is likely to be mute owing to the rudimentary stridulatory apparatus.

Figures

FIGURE 20. Mnesibulus (Amnesibulus) zamboanga comb. nov. ♁ in its natural environment, a mossy forest near Mt Sumagaya.

FIGURE 21. Mnesibulus (Amnesibulus) zamboanga comb. nov.: head and pronotum in dorsal (A) and lateral (B) views; face in anterior view (C); metanotum in dorsal view (D); FWs in dorsal (E) and lateral (F) views.Asterisk (*) indicates the false mirror. Scale bars: 5 mm (E, F), 1 mm (A–D).

FIGURE 22. Mnesibulus (Amnesibulus) zamboanga comb. nov. ♁ abdominal apex in dorsal view (A); ♁ subgenital plate in ventral view (B); ♁ genitalia in dorsal (C), ventral (D) and lateral (E) views. Scale bars: 1 mm.