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Further notes on the genus Eurhaphidophora Gorochov, 1999 (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae) with description of a new species from China
expand article infoQidi Zhu‡, Fuming Shi§
‡ Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
§ Hebei University, Baoding, China

Corresponding author: Fuming Shi ( shif_m@126.com )

Academic editor: Jun-Jie Gu
© 2024 Qidi Zhu, Fuming Shi.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Zhu Q, Shi F (2024) Further notes on the genus Eurhaphidophora Gorochov, 1999 (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae) with description of a new species from China. ZooKeys 1211: 17-28. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1211.128308
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B8B0712C-99B6-439B-B9B4-DAA489817F70
Open Access

Abstract

This paper revises the genus Eurhaphidophora from China and describes a new species, i.e., Eurhaphidophora dulongjiangensis Zhu & Shi, sp. nov. The females of Eurhaphidophora tarasovi doitungensis Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020 and Eurhaphidophora fossa Lu, Huang & Bian, 2022 are described for the first time. Moreover, Eurhaphidophora curvata Lu, Huang & Bian, 2022, syn. nov. is considered as a new synonym of Eurhaphidophora pawangkhananti Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020. Images illustrating the morphology of these species are provided.

Key words

Cave crickets, morphology, new species, new synonymy, taxonomy

Introduction

Gorochov (1999) established the genus Eurhaphidophora Gorochov, 1999 and assigned Eurhaphidophora nataliae Gorochov, 1999 from Vietnam as type species. Thereafter, nine species were described from China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Malaysia (Gorochov 2010, 2011, 2012). Later, E. truncata Bian & Shi, 2016, E. curvata Lu, Huang & Bian, 2022 and E. fossa Lu, Huang & Bian, 2022 were published from China (Bian and Shi 2016; Lu et al. 2022), while E. pawangkhananti Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020, E. tarasovi doitungensis Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020 and E. apicoexcisa Dawwrueng, Gorochov, Pinkaew & Vitheepradit, 2023 were discovered from Thailand (Dawwrueng et al. 2020, 2023).

Up to now, the genus Eurhaphidophora includes fifteen species, four of which are recorded from China. Here, we describe a new species E. dulongjiangensis Zhu & Shi, sp. nov. from China, describe the females of E. tarasovi doitungensis Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020 and E. fossa Lu, Huang & Bian, 2022 for the first time, and propose E. curvata Lu, Huang & Bian, 2022, syn. nov. to become a new synonym of Eurhaphidophora pawangkhananti Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020.

Materials and methods

Specimens were collected by hand at night and preserved in 75% ethanol. The genitalia were dissected with an insect needle and then put in 10% KOH solution to clean the tissue. Images were taken with a Zeiss AxioCam ICc5 digital camera attached to a Zeiss Stereo Discovery V12 microscope and edited with ADOBE PHOTOSHOP 2022. With regard to the scheme of arrangement of spines on the tibiae and hind basitarsus we follow Gorochov and Storozhenko (2015) and for measurements we follow Zhu et al. (2022). The type specimen is deposited in the Museum of Hebei University, Baoding, China (HBU).

Results

Eurhaphidophora Gorochov, 1999

Type species

Eurhaphidophora nataliae Gorochov, 1999, by original designation.

Diagnosis

Body medium-sized in Rhaphidophorinae. Seventh and eighth abdominal tergites of male with a small posterior median projection that is nearly rounded or angular. Posterior margin of ninth abdominal tergite of male provided with a large median process. Male epiproct simple. Male genitalia membranous. Lateral lobes of dorso-median blade large, almost entirely covering central lobe of this blade.

Figure 1. 

Eurhaphidophora dulongjiangensis Zhu & Shi, sp. nov. A–I ♂ A–C head and pronotum A frontal view B lateral view C dorsal view D–H apex of abdomen D lateral view E apico-lateral view F dorsal view G apical view H ventral view I hind tarsus in lateral view.

Distribution

China, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Eurhaphidophora dulongjiangensis Zhu & Shi, sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/FAE6DAB0-1028-40DD-A5A2-1F8BA6D2411A
Figs 1, 2A, B

Type material

Holotype. ♂, China: Yunnan Province, Gongshan County, Dulongjiang Town, Bapo Village, 27.7418°N, 98.3561°E, alt. 1610 m, 9.VII.2021, Shengchuan Yang leg.

Diagnosis

The new species can be distinguished from other congeneric species by the shape of the male epiproct and the ninth abdominal tergite. The ninth abdominal tergite of the male has a long posteromedian process, basal half narrow with a longitudinal median furrow, lateral sides raised into ridges; apical half slightly broadened and curved downwards, with a carina in midline, apex truncate. Male epiproct linguiform, concave on ventral side, apical area slightly protruding.

Figure 2. 

Male genitalia of Eurhaphidophora spp. A, C dorsal view B, D ventral view A, B Eurhaphidophora dulongjiangensis Zhu & Shi, sp. nov. C, D Eurhaphidophora tarasovi doitungensis Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020.

Description

Male. Body medium-sized. Fastigium verticis with rostral tubercles, pressed to each other and divided by a narrow and deep furrow, pointing forwards. Eyes ovoid, protruding forwards; lateral ocelli large and circular, occupying basal 2/3 of lateral surface of rostral tubercles; median ocellus slightly smaller, oval, located between antennal sockets. Pronotum long, anterior margin straight, posterior margin arcuate; lateral lobe longer than high, ventral margin arc-shaped. Mesonotum and metanotum short, posterior margin of mesonotum arcuate, posterior margin of metanotum straight. Fore coxa with one small spine. Internal genicular lobe of fore femur with one long spine; internal and external genicular lobes of mid femur each with one long spine; hind femur with one inner spine on ventral surface, internal genicular lobe with one small spine. Tibia and hind basitarsus with following armament – ve, vi, ve, v2a / de, d~2, d2a, ve, ve, v2a / d20e–18i (d22e–20i), d2sa, 6a / d3c, dac. Posterior margin of eighth abdominal tergite angularly projecting. Ninth abdominal tergite with long posteromedian process, basal half narrow with a longitudinal median furrow, lateral sides raised into ridges; apical half slightly broadened and curved downwards, with a carina in midline, apex truncate. Epiproct linguiform, concave ventrad, apical area slightly protruding; paraproct nearly triangular in lateral view. Cercus narrow, conical, apex acute. Subgenital plate transverse and broad, posterior margin straight. Stylus cylindrical, apex rounded, inserted on posterolateral area of subgenital plate. Genitalia membranous. Female. Unknown.

Coloration. Body light brown. Face, fastigium verticis and eyes black; ocelli pale. Thoracic tergites brown.

Measurements (mm). Body length: ♂29.60; length of pronotum: ♂7.44; length of fore femur: ♂9.36; length of hind femur: ♂20.18; length of hind tibia: ♂18.34; length of hind basitarsus: ♂3.50.

Etymology

The name of the new species derives from the type locality.

Distribution

China (Yunnan).

Eurhaphidophora tarasovi doitungensis Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020

Figs 2C, D, 3

Eurhaphidophora tarasovi doitungensis Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020. In: Dawwrueng, Gorochov, Tanomtong and Suwannapoom 2020: 240.

Material examined

1♂1♀, China: Yunnan Province, Lvchun County, Banpo Town, 22.6517°N, 102.1236°E, alt. 1073 m, 17.VIII.2023, Mengjia Zheng leg.

Figure 3. 

Eurhaphidophora tarasovi doitungensis Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020 A–I ♂ A–C head and pronotum A frontal view B lateral view C dorsal view D–I apex of abdomen D dorsal view E lateral view F, G apico-lateral view H apical view I ventral view J, K ♀ J subgenital plate K ovipositor in lateral view.

Description

Male. Body medium-sized. Fastigium verticis with rostral tubercles, pressed to each other and divided by a narrow and deep furrow, pointing forwards. Eyes ovoid, protruding forwards; lateral ocelli large and circular, occupying basal 2/3 of lateral surface of rostral tubercles; median ocellus slightly smaller, oval, located between antennal sockets. Pronotum long, anterior margin straight, posterior margin arcuate; lateral lobe longer than high, ventral margin arc-shaped. Mesonotum and metanotum short, posterior margin of mesonotum arcuate, posterior margin of metanotum straight. Fore coxa with one small spine. Internal genicular lobe of fore femur with one long spine; internal and external genicular lobes of mid femur each with one long spine; internal genicular lobe of hind femur with one small spine. Tibia and hind basitarsus with following armament – ve, vi, ve, v2a / d~2, d2a, ve, ve, v2a / d17e–17i (d21e–19i), d2sa, 6a / d2c (d3c), dac. Posterior margin of eighth abdominal tergite angularly projecting. Ninth abdominal tergite with long posteromedian process, parallel on both sides, lateral margin bent downwards, apical area with a wide notch. Epiproct with longitudinal median concavity on dorsal surface, basal half with a pair of angular lateral lobes, apical half linguiform, curved downwards and forwards; paraproct nearly triangular in lateral view. Cercus slender, conical, apex acute. Subgenital plate transverse and broad, posterior margin straight. Stylus cylindrical, apex rounded, inserted on posterolateral area of subgenital plate. Genitalia membranous. Female. Posterior margin of ninth abdominal tergite slightly convex. Epiproct lingulate. Ovipositor short, slightly curved upwards, apical area of ventral margin denticulate. Subgenital plate triangular, apex acute.

Coloration. Body light brown. Face, fastigium verticis and thoracic tergites brown. Eyes black, ocelli pale.

Measurements (mm). Body length: ♂23.70, ♀18.10; length of pronotum: ♂6.48, ♀6.48; length of fore femur: ♂7.60, ♀7.44; length of hind femur: ♂18.26, ♀17.66; length of hind tibia: ♂16.86, ♀15.90; length of hind basitarsus: ♂2.66, ♀2.96; length of ovipositor: 8.26.

Distribution

China (Yunnan); Thailand.

Remarks

The species is newly recorded from China and the female is described for the first time.

Eurhaphidophora pawangkhananti Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020

Figs 4, 5, 6A, B

Eurhaphidophora pawangkhananti Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020. In: Dawwrueng, Gorochov, Tanomtong and Suwannapoom 2020: 242.

Eurhaphidophora curvata Lu, Huang & Bian, 2022, syn. nov.

Material examined

China: • Yunnan Province, 1♂1♀, Puer City, Meizihu Park, 22.7594°N, 100.9963°E, alt. 1302 m, 20.VIII.2019, Qidi Zhu leg.; • 4♂♂2♀♀, Puer City, Yixiang Town, 22.7487°N, 101.0563°E, alt. 1470 m, 22.VIII.2019, Qidi Zhu leg.; • 12♂♂20♀♀, Puer City, Meizihu Park, 22.7594°N, 100.9963°E, alt. 1302 m, 19.VIII.2023, Jie Su leg.

Figure 4. 

Eurhaphidophora pawangkhananti Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020 A–G ♂ A–C head and pronotum A frontal view B lateral view C dorsal view D–G apex of abdomen D lateral view E dorsal view F apical view G ventral view H, I ♀ H subgenital plate I ovipositor in lateral view.

Figure 5. 

Eurhaphidophora pawangkhananti Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020 A, B apex of male abdomen A apico-lateral view B apical view.

Figure 6. 

Male genitalia of Eurhaphidophora spp. A, C dorsal view B, D ventral view A, B Eurhaphidophora pawangkhananti Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020 C, D Eurhaphidophora fossa Lu, Huang & Bian, 2022.

Description

Male. Body medium-sized. Fastigium verticis with rostral tubercles, pressed to each other and divided by a narrow and deep furrow, pointing forwards. Eyes ovoid, protruding forwards; lateral ocelli large and circular, occupying basal 2/3 of lateral surface of rostral tubercles; median ocellus slightly smaller, oval, located between antennal sockets. Pronotum long, anterior margin straight, posterior margin arcuate; lateral lobe longer than high, ventral margin arc-shaped. Mesonotum and metanotum short, posterior margin of mesonotum arcuate, posterior margin of metanotum straight. Fore coxa with one small spine. Internal genicular lobe of fore femur with one long spine; internal and external genicular lobes of mid femur each with one long spine; internal genicular lobe of hind femur with one small spine. Tibia and hind basitarsus with following armament – ve, (vi), ve, v2a / d~2, d2a, ve, ve, v2a / d18e–18i (d20e–19i), d2sa, 6a / d1c (d4c), dac. Posterior margin of eighth abdominal tergite angularly projecting. Ninth abdominal tergite long and wide, strongly curved downwards, basal half with a short dorso-median ridge, apex nearly truncate. Epiproct cup-shaped, basal half wide, nearly semicircular, apical process narrow, curved downwards and forwards. Cercus slender, conical, apex acute. Subgenital plate transverse and broad, posterior margin straight. Stylus cylindrical, apex rounded, inserted on posterolateral area of subgenital plate. Genitalia membranous. Female. Posterior margin of ninth abdominal tergite with small projection. Epiproct lingulate. Ovipositor slightly curved upwards, apical area of ventral margin denticulate. Subgenital plate nearly triangular, apex acute.

Coloration. Body light brown. Eyes black, ocelli pale.

Measurements (mm). Body length: ♂25.50–26.8, ♀24.68–25.40; length of pronotum: ♂6.54–6.90, ♀6.58–6.60; length of fore femur: ♂7.52–7.80, ♀7.50–7.76; length of hind femur: ♂17.06–17.66, ♀17.38–17.96; length of hind tibia: ♂15.58–15.90, ♀15.02–15.50; length of hind basitarsus: ♂3.22–3.26, ♀2.96–3.20; length of ovipositor: 12.02–12.80.

Distribution

China (Yunnan); Thailand.

Remarks

Dawwrueng et al. (2020) described E. pawangkhananti from Thailand. Then, Lu et al. (2022) published E. curvata from China and thought it was close to E. ampla Gorochov, 2010 and E. orlovi Gorochov, 2010. Dawwrueng et al. (2023) compared E. curvata to E. pawangkhananti, which is very similar to E. curvata. The two species can be distinguished by the characteristics of the male epiproct and the subgenital plate. However, the male epiproct of E. curvata is also greatly similar to that of E. pawangkhananti, which is cup-shaped, broad and rather short with an apical process that is very narrow and slightly curved forward in lateral view (Fig. 5). When the apical part is not fully exposed, the posterior margin of the epiproct appears to be widely rounded (Fig. 4F). Moreover, it is not obvious whether the posterior margin of the male subgenital plate between its styli is convex or almost straight, so it cannot be used as the main distinguishing character. Therefore, we consider E. curvata Lu, Huang & Bian, 2022, syn. nov. to be a new synonym of E. pawangkhananti Dawwrueng, Gorochov & Suwannapoom, 2020.

Eurhaphidophora fossa Lu, Huang & Bian, 2022

Figs 6C, D, 7

Eurhaphidophora fossa Lu, Huang & Bian, 2022: 394.

Material examined

China: • Yunnan Province, 5♂♂4♀♀, Jinghong City, Gasa Town, 21.9589°N, 100.7678°E, alt. 1340 m, 11.VIII.2019, Qidi Zhu leg.; • 1♂3♀♀, Menghai County, Guomenshan, 22.0610°N, 100.5682°E, alt. 1770 m, 11.VIII.2023, Jie Su and Sheng Gao leg.; • 4♂♂6♀♀, Lvchun County, Banpo Town, 22.6517°N, 102.1236°E, alt. 1073 m, 17.VIII.2023, Mengjia Zheng, Xiaolong Tong and Tianshuo Han leg.

Figure 7. 

Eurhaphidophora fossa Lu, Huang & Bian, 2022 A–G ♂ A–C head and pronotum A frontal view B lateral view C dorsal view D–G apex of abdomen D lateral view E dorsal view F apical view G ventral view. H, I ♀ H subgenital plate I ovipositor in lateral view.

Description

Male. Body medium-sized. Fastigium verticis with rostral tubercles, pressed to each other and divided by a narrow and deep furrow, pointing forwards. Eyes ovoid, protruding forwards; lateral ocelli large and circular, occupying basal 2/3 of lateral surface of rostral tubercles; median ocellus slightly smaller, oval, located between antennal sockets. Pronotum long, anterior margin straight, posterior margin arcuate; lateral lobe longer than high, ventral margin arc-shaped. Mesonotum and metanotum short, posterior margin of mesonotum arcuate, posterior margin of metanotum straight. Fore coxa with one small spine. Internal genicular lobe of fore femur with one long spine; internal and external genicular lobes of mid femur each with one long spine; internal genicular lobe of hind femur with one small spine. Tibia and hind basitarsus with following armament – ve, vi, ve, v2a / d~2, d2a, ve, ve, v2a / d17e–16i (d19e–19i), d2sa, 6a / d1c (d5c), dac. Posterior margin of eighth abdominal tergite rounded. Ninth abdominal tergite long, trapezoid. Basal 2/3 of epiproct trapezoid, apical 1/3 rectangular, curved downwards; paraproct nearly triangular in lateral view. Cercus narrow, conical, apex acute. Subgenital plate transverse and broad. Stylus cylindrical, apex rounded, inserted in posterolateral area of subgenital plate. Genitalia membranous. Female. Posterior margin of ninth abdominal tergite with small projection. Epiproct lingulate. Ovipositor slightly curved upwards, apical area of ventral margin denticulate. Subgenital plate nearly triangular, apex acute.

Coloration. Body light brown. Eyes black, ocelli pale.

Measurements (mm). Body length: ♂27.76–27.94, ♀28.00–28.60; length of pronotum: ♂6.68–7.20, ♀7.40–7.68; length of fore femur: ♂7.72–7.80, ♀7.80–8.38; length of hind femur: ♂18.26–19.38, ♀20.26–21.00; length of hind tibia: ♂16.30–16.40, ♀17.2–18.4; length of hind basitarsus: ♂3.20–3.92, ♀3.78–4.00; length of ovipositor: 13.44–14.20.

Distribution

China (Yunnan).

Remarks

The female of E. fossa Lu, Huang & Bian, 2022 is described for the first time.

Discussion

The subfamily Rhaphidophorinae includes eight genera (Cigliano et al. 2024). The genus Eurhaphidophora can be distinguished from other genera by the structure of the ninth abdominal tergite and the male genitalia (Gorochov 1999; Lu et al. 2022; Dawwrueng et al. 2023). The other genera differ in the form of the male epiproct or the abdominal tergites (Bian and Shi 2016; Qin et al. 2018). However, the classification of some species remains controversial, such as Neorhaphidophora longispinula (Bian, Zhu & Shi, 2017). Up to now, the classification of the subfamily Rhaphidophorinae is based on morphological characteristics, without molecular evidence. We cannot judge whether the distinguishing characters of the classification system for the genera are appropriate. Moreover, the phylogenetic relationship between genera is still unclear. Further studies on the subfamily Rhaphidophorinae based on more evidence are needed.

Acknowledgments

We are thankful to Shengchuan Yang, Jie Su, Sheng Gao, Mengjia Zheng, Xiaolong Tong and Tianshuo Han for collecting specimens.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31872268) and the doctoral research start-up fund of Jiangxi Agricultural University (No. 9232310345).

Author contributions

All authors have contributed equally.

Author ORCIDs

Qidi Zhu https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8187-1286

Fuming Shi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4885-9012

Data availability

All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.

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