Metriogryllacris (Xiphilarnaca), Ingrisch, 2018

Ingrisch, Sigfrid, 2018, New taxa and records of Gryllacrididae (Orthoptera, Stenopelmatoidea) from South East Asia and New Guinea with a key to the genera, Zootaxa 4510 (1), pp. 1-278 : 220

Metriogryllacris subgenus Xiphilarnaca subgen. nov.

Type species: Gryllacris xiphiura Karny, 1928a (here designated)

Diagnosis. The new subgenus is erected for M. xiphiura (Karny, 1928) that differs from the other species of Metriogryllacris s. str. in the male by the ninth abdominal tergite that is distinctly furrowed in midline and provided with a pair of narrow, acute, upright projections from hind margin while in Metriogryllacris s. str. the ninth tergite is not furrowed and provided with a pair of blunt down-curved projections from hind margin. Very striking are the differences in the female that is provided with a very long and straight ovipositor, which is distinctly longer than the hind femur in Xiphilarnaca while in Metriogryllacris s. str. the short ovipositor is less than half as long as the hind femur.

Wing venation in Xiphilarnaca resembles the situation in Larnaca although the main veins R, RS, MA, CuA and CuP are still clearly recognizable. Other differences to Larnaca are the male ninth abdominal tergite and its apical projections, the long straight ovipositor of females, and the uniform light coloration.

Etymology. The name of the new genus refers to the elongate projections from the male ninth abdominal tergite and was taken from the species epithet of the type species.