Criotettix gariyabandicus Sp.

Gupta, Sunil Kumar & Chandra, Kailash, 2018, Two new species of the genus Criotettix Bolivar, 1887 (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae: Scelimeninae) from India, Zootaxa 4375 (1), pp. 143-150 : 147-148

Criotettix gariyabandicus Sp. nov.

( Fig. 2 )

Material examined (9 specimens). Holotype ♀, India, Chhattisgarh, Gariyaband, Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary, Jhariyabahra Nala , 20°13’56.6’’N, 81°11’48.6’’E, 580 m a.s.l., 21.i.2014, coll. S. K. Gupta & party, Reg. No. 18431/H5 . Paratypes 1♂, same data as holotype, Reg. No. 18432/H5 ; 1♀, Chhattisgarh, Gariyaband, Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary, Baji Nala , 20°12’58.2’’N, 82°11’16.5’’E, 591 m a.s.l., 30.vi.2014, coll. S. K. Gupta & party, Reg. No. 18433/H5 ; 1♂, DC, Chhattisgarh, Gariyaband, Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary, Gwarund , 20°08’42.9’’N, 82°16’34.3’’E, 431 m a.s.l., 29.vi.2014, coll. S. K. Gupta & party, Reg. No. 18434/H5 ; 2♀, 1♂, DC same data as holotype, Reg. No. 18435-37/H5 ; 1♀, Chhattisgarh, Gariyaband, Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary, Udanti village , 20°06’48.1’’N, 82°19’10.7’’E, 382 m a.s.l., 27.vi.2014, coll. S. K. Gupta & party, Reg. No. 18438/H5 ; 1♀, Chhattisgarh, Gariyaband, Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary, Torenga Rest House , 22°11’07’’N, 82°15’31.5’’E, 443 m a.s.l., 01.vii.2014, coll. S. K. Gupta & party, Reg. No. 18439/H5.

Description. Female (Holotype). Size small, stout. Head slightly exserted above the pronotal surface. Width of vertex equal to the width of an eye, Anterior margin of vertex arched, protruding beyond eyes, lateral ridge raised, median carina distinctly, in profile, vertex and frontal ridge forming an obtuse round shape. Frontal ridge protruding archly between antennae, scutellum wider than scapes. Antenna filiform, 15-segmented, length of mid segment 4.5 times longer than width, inserted inferior margin of eyes. Eyes globose, lateral ocelli placed on middle of anterior margin of eyes. Pronotum granulated, wrinkled, truncate anteriorly, subulate posteriorly and extends up to only tip of hind femora. Median carina developed, straight, caudal end of pronotum narrow, short cone-shaped, just surpassing the top of hind femora. Lateral lobes of pronotum turning outwardly, posterior angles directed distinctly backwards, apex of posterior angles obtuse, posterior margin of lateral lobe subtruncated. Tegmen small, ovate, apex narrowly rounded. Hind wings developed but not reaching the top of hind process. Upper and lower margins of fore and mid femora straight, width of midfemur 1.1 times narrower than width of tegmina. Hind femur 3 times longer than wide, genicular teeth and antigenicular teeth visible, acute, small. Outer side of hind tibiae with 11 spines, inner side with 8 spines. Length of first segment of hind tarsus longer than third, third pulvillus longer than first and second, apices of first and second sharp, apices of third obtuse. Ovipositor narrow and long with slender saw-like teeth. Cerci large with obtuse apex.

Male: Body size smaller than female. Subgenital plate cone shaped, apex acute.

Colour: Body dark blackish-brown.

Measurements. Female. Body length (from the tip of the vertex to the end of the abdomen): 9.0–9.5; Pronotum length: 8.0–8.5; Fore leg: femur length: 1.0–1.5; tibia length: 1.1–1.5; Mid leg: femur length 1.2–1.6; tibia length: 2.0–2.5; Hind leg: femur length: 6.0–6.5; tibiae length 5.0–5.5; Wings: tegmen length: 1.0–1.5; dorsal ovipositor valves length: 1.0–1.5; ventral ovipositor valves length: 1.0–1.5.

Measurements. Male. Body length (from the tip of the vertex to the end of the abdomen): 8.0–8.5; Pronotum length: 9.0–9.5; Fore leg: femur length: 1.0–1.5; tibia length: 1.2–1.6; Mid leg: femur length 1.0–1.5 tibiae length: 1.5–2.0; Hind leg: femur length: 5.5–6.0; tibia length: 5.5–6.0; abdomen length: 4.0–4.5; Wings: tegmen length: 1.0–1.5, subgenital plate length:1.0–1.5.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to Criotettix orientalis Hancock, 1913 . The major differences are listed in Table 2.

Etymology. Named after the Gariyaband district where the new species was found.

Figures

FIGURE 2 A‒I. Criotettix gariyabandicus sp. nov. Female A, dorsal view; B, lateral view; C, Pronotum dorsal view; D, frontal ridge; E, antenna; F, ovipositor; G, hind tarsal segments andpulvilli; H, hind tibiae, external view; I, vertex dorsal view.