Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Gryllacrididae (Orthoptera) IV: New additions of Chinese Furcilarnaca Gorochov, 2004

Based on the specimens from Guangxi and Yunnan deposited in the Guangxi Normal University, the paper is firstly reported the female sex of two known species from China, viz. Furcilarnaca armata (Bey-Bienko, 1957) and Furcilarnaca forceps (Bey-Bienko, 1962). The female of Furcilarnaca armata (Bey-Bienko, 1957) is very similar to Furcilarnaca chiangdao in seventh abdominal tergite and subgenital plate, and they may belong to the same species. After examining the female subgenital plate of Furcilarnaca chirurga (Bey-Bienko, 1962), we treat Furcilarnaca hirta as a valid species. Mitochondrial genomes of six specimens of three Furcilarnaca species were sequenced and annotated in this study. The organization and gene content of new sequenced mitogenomes were conserved, except for significant variation of the control region. All the PCGs started with the typical ATN codons and most ended with complete TAA or TAG codons. Combined with five mitogenomes in NCBI, a total of twelve specimens (including one outgroup) were used in phylogenetic analysis based on 13 PCGs. The result revealed that Furcilarnaca was a monophyletic group. These data will provide more meaningful genetic information and validate the phylogenetic relationships within the Gryllacrididae.

Three new species of Byrsopteryx Flint microcaddisflies from Peru (Insecta: Trichoptera) including DNA-based larval associations

In this paper, we have described and illustrated three new species of Byrsopteryx from Peru: Byrsopteryx inti, sp. nov. Byrsopteryx mamaocllo sp. nov., and Byrsopteryx mancocapac sp. nov. Larvae of the latter two were also associated to male specimens based on comparison of a fragment of COI gene and pharate male identification. Byrsopteryx inti sp. nov. and Byrsopteryx mamaocllo sp. nov. share a unique feature: a semi-dome process formed by a thickened area on male forewings. The three species can be easily identified by wing coloration and male genitalia. Furthermore, Byrsopteryx inti sp. nov. can be recognized by its sternum VIII with a median digitate process on posterior margin, slightly capitate; and by long dorsolateral processes from segment VIII, which cross each other apically in dorsal view. Byrsopteryx mamaocllo sp. nov. can be distinguished by sternum VIII bearing a pair of short, posterior, spinelike processes, which are curved inwards and bordered by a rounded, membranous structure, and by a pair of short, heavily sclerotized, dorsolateral processes. Byrsopteryx mancocapac sp. nov. can be distinguished by strong spine-like processes arising dorsally from subgenital plate and by sternum VIII with posterior margin divided into two plate-like lobes. Larvae of B. mamaocllo sp. nov. and B. mancocapac sp. nov. are similar to other Byrsopteryx larvae known. They can be distinguished from each other by the shape of the operculum formed by terga VIII and IX, and number of setae on the second abdominal pleurite. Maximum likelihood analyses of 20 COI sequences, including nine Byrsopteryx species, placed B. inti sp. nov. and B. mamaocllo sp. nov. as sister species and related to a clade including B. gomezi, B. tapanti, and B. esparta, while B. mancocapac sp. nov. was found as sister to B. abrelata. Despite the close phylogenetic relationship found between B. inti sp. nov. and B. mamaocllo sp. nov., they are separated by 14.9% minimum K2P divergence of COI. The highest intraspecific distance observed was 1.4% for B. mancocapac sp. nov. individuals. Although the Peruvian caddisfly fauna has around 320 known species and almost a third of them are microcaddisflies, in this paper we present the first descriptions of Byrsopteryx species for the country.

Anormalous liu sp. nov.: a first record and a new species of the genus Anormalous Liu, 2011 (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Phaneropterinae) from India

The Phaneropterinae, commonly known as the bush katydids, are among the most diverse tettigoniids in the world. A new species Anormalous liusp. nov. is described from Kashmir, India. This is the second species in the short-winged genus Anormalous. It is differentiated from the other species from China by the absence of posterior apical spurs on the fore and mid tibiae, the male subgenital plate with two long cylindrical lobes fused with each other and blunt at the apices, and the male stridulatory area longer than broad. We include a key to species in the genus Anormalou. The holotype has been deposited in the Museum of Zoology Department, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh Uttar Pradesh, India.

Morphological and molecular characterisation of the Popijač’s Yellow Sally, Isoperla popijaci sp. nov., a new stenoendemic stonefly species from Croatia (Plecoptera, Perlodidae)

A new species of the Yellow Sally genus (Isoperla Banks, 1906) is described, based on morphological (males and females adults, larval and egg) and molecular (the barcode region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI)) features. Popijač’s Yellow Sally, I. popijaci Hlebec & Sivec, sp. nov. inhabits two karstic sources of the Krasulja rivulet in Croatia. Male and female of the new species are characterised by colouration patterns of the head and pronotum; the dimensions of the female subgenital plate; the medial penial armature and oval-shaped egg without collar and anchor. The larvae differ from their congeners by the uniquely coloured head and pronotum. Based on morphological characteristics I. popijacisp. nov. belongs to the I. tripartita species group. Phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships were reconstructed using three methods of phylogenetic inference and three species delimitation methods. As I. popijacisp. nov. occurs at a narrow area of the Krasulja rivulet in Krbava field, the study puts emphasis on the conservation and hotspot importance of the temporary rivers in the Dinaric karst. Furthermore, the study accentuates the necessity for further research on the genetic diversity of Plecoptera in Croatia.

Studies on raspy crickets: Caudafistulus rubrinervosus (Serville, 1838) n. comb. (Orthoptera: Gryllacrididae)

Caudafistulus n. gen. is described to accommodate Brachybaenus rubrinervosus, a species of Raspy Cricket from the Colombian Andes, endemic to the highlands of the Aburra Valley and the eastern subregion of the department of Antioquia. Caudafistulus rubrinervosus n. comb. differs from Brachybaenus species, due to its conspicuous frontal ocellus, male terminalia with processes on the tenth tergite, subgenital plate modified, and genitalia with sclerotized areas, being one of the few genera of gryllacridids known with this peculiarity in the world. Finally, the similarity of copulatory structures with old-world taxa and their possible function for mating is discussed.

A new species and key to known species of the genus Conophymacris Willemse, 1933 (Orthoptera, Acridoidea, Catantopidae, Podisminae) from China

A new species in the genus Conophymacris Willemse, 1933 from Yunnan, China is described. The new species Conophymacris reni sp. nov. is similar to C. jiulongensis Zheng et al., 2009, but differs from latter in width of vertex between eyes of male equal to 2.8 width of frontal ridge between antennae, epiproct of male width longer than length, cercus of male apical part not wider, tegmina extending over the hind margin of first abdominal tergum, hind tibia all red, epiphallus ancorae small, lower than anterior projection, lophi not acute, width of subgenital plate shorter than its length and hind margin with 1 tooth in female. Type specimens are deposited in the Natural Museum of Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China.

Revision of the genera Habetia Kirby, 1906 and Parahabetia gen. nov. from New Guinea (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Conocephalinae, Agraeciini)

The genus Habetia Kirby, 1906 previously known from only four species or subspecies is revised based on unidentified specimens found in museum collections. H. multispinulosa Griffini, 1908 is given full species status, while H. pictifrons Karny, 1911 is removed from Habetia based on male and female characters and becomes the type species of the new genus Parahabetia gen. nov. Sixteen new species are described in Habetia, and one new species and two new subspecies in Parahabetia. The most significant characters for the differentiation of species of Habetia are male tenth abdominal tergite, cerci, subgenital plate, and male internal genitalia with the titillators that basically form a pair of roughly U-shaped sclerites that vary between species from simple, curved sclerites to modified structures with additional sclerotized branches and the sclerites can be connected with septa to form complex shapes. In contrast, males of Parahabetia have elongate titillators provided at end with a crest. In the larger species of Habetia the stridulatory file on the underside of the male left tegmen has a step in pre-apical area that is missing in the smaller species; one species with a weak step is intermediate between both groups. Unique modifications of single species in Habetia are an apical dorsal extension of the male subgenital plate in H. imitatrix Karny, 1912 and a hardened phallus sheath between phallus and subgenital plate in H. tuta sp. nov. Females of Habetia have straight ovipositors that vary in length and in the shape of the dorsal margin between species. Females can also be differentiated by species specific modifications of the subgenital plate. In Parahabetia the ovipositor is rather short and curved similar to the condition in the genus Philmontis Willemse, 1966 but has the apical area slightly recurved. Keys to the species of both genera are provided. Habetia species have been found throughout New Guinea except so far for Papua Barat; although they were mainly found in the North and the East. Parahabetia species are currently only known from the East of New Guinea. The following species and subspecies are described as new: Habetia bivittata sp. nov., H. curvata sp. nov., H. dentata sp. nov., H. elevata sp. nov., H. kondiu sp. nov., H. lalibu sp. nov., H. nigricauda sp. nov., H. pallida sp. nov., H. pedala sp. nov., H. pilleata sp. nov., H. pinnigera sp. nov., H. quatrispina sp. nov., H. simbai sp. nov., H. sororcula sp. nov., H. tuta sp. nov., H. wau sp. nov., Parahabetia bispinosa sp. nov., P. pictifrons obtusa ssp. nov., P. pictifrons acuta ssp. nov.

Revision of the genus Attaphila (Blattodea: Blaberoidea), myrmecophiles living in the mushroom gardens of leaf-cutting ants

The genus Attaphila, comprising minute myrmecophilous cockroaches, is revised, including now six previously known (A. aptera, A. bergi, A. flava, A. fungicola, A. schuppi, A. sexdentis) and three new species (A. multisetosasp. nov. Bohn and Klass, A. paucisetosasp. nov. Bohn and Klass, A. sinuosocarinatasp. nov. Bohn and Klass). All species are described or redescribed and depicted with their main characteristics; determination keys allow the identification of males and females. Especially the male characters allow a distribution to two species-groups with differing host specificity: bergi-group associated with Acromyrmex (and possibly Amoimyrmex) ants, fungicola-group associated with Atta ants; the former appears paraphyletic, the latter monophyletic. The genus Attaphila is characterised emphasising its unique features: (1) insertion of antennae at the bottom of a wide funnel-shaped deepening; (2) antenna with the possibility of a rectangular bending between scapus and pedicellus (associated with a distal excavation of the scapus) and (3) with an unusual shape and low number of antennomeres; (4) femora of legs with a ventral groove allowing a close spacing of femur and tibia during a strong flexion; (5) a complex and unusual shape of the laterosternal shelf area of the female genitalia (lack of shelf, presence of a pair of complicated tubular invaginations); and (6) lateral parts of abdominal tergite T9 of male ending in a pair of ventromesally directed arms, which contact the lateral margins of the subgenital plate. Functional aspects and the possible biological roles of these features are discussed. Older biological data are summarised and new observations are presented. The position of Attaphila within Blattodea is discussed. Like a recent molecular study, the morphology of the male genitalia places the genus in the Blaberoidea. The molecular result of Attaphila being closest to three particular blattellid genera, however, is conflictual from the morphological perspective.

One new species of Homogryllacris Liu, 2007 from China with comments on the characters of mitochondrial genome (Orthoptera: Gryllacrididae; Gryllacridini)

This paper reported on new species from China which differs from other species of Homogryllacris in being without styli of male subgenital plate. The nearly complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome), except control region, of the new species Homogryllacris parcibrevipenna was sequenced and analyzed. This partial mitogenome was 15509 bp in length and encoded 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and 2 ribosomal RNA unit genes. The gene arrangement and contents were consistent with other members of the Gryllacrididae. All the PCGs were started with the standard ATN codons except ND1 with TTG; and most of PCGs were terminated with a complete stop codon (TAA/TAG). Most tRNAs could be folded into the typical cloverleaf secondary structures, while tRNASer1 lacked a DHU stem. This data could enrich the genome information available for Gryllacrididae and facilitate phylogenetic studies of related insects. All the material were deposited in the Museum of Guangxi Normal University.

A case of gynandromorphy in Ducetia japonica (Thunberg, 1815) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae)

In this paper, we described an example of gynandromorphy in a katydid, Ducetia japonica. Its color is brown, while normal individuals are green. Its left maxilla is smaller, and left maxillary palpus is shorter. Left forewing as male is shorter than right one as female. Hindwing is also shorter in left. Cercus, epiproct and subgenital plate are left in male and right in female.