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Research Article
Two new species of the genus Comidoblemmus Storozhenko & Paik from China (Orthoptera, Gryllidae)
expand article infoHaoyu Liu, Fu-Ming Shi
‡ College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, China
Open Access

Abstract

Two new species of Comidoblemmus Storozhenko & Paik, 2009 are described and illustrated, C. sororius sp. n. (CHINA, Zhejiang) and C. excavatus sp. n. (CHINA, Guizhou). A key and a distribution map of all species in the world are presented.

Keywords

Orthoptera , Gryllidae , Comidoblemmus , new species, China

Introduction

The genus Comidoblemmus was established by Storozhenko and Paik (2009) for Gryllus nipponensis Shiraki, 1911, by monotypy and original designation. Except for the type species, which is widely distributed in Japan, Korea and China (Taiwan), none has been added to this genus until now (Eades et al. 2014).

During our study, two new species of Comidoblemmus from China were recently discovered and are described here under the names of C. sororius sp. n. and C. excavatus sp. n. They match the generic diagnosis well and are characterized by having four pairs of dorsal spines on each hind tibia and similar shapes of male genitalia as the type species, epiphallus with posterior margin between lateral lobes rounded, not sinuate. But they are different from C. nipponensis (Shiraki, 1911) by the distinctly oblique head, whose shape could be more or less variable owing to the agonistic behavior character (Storozhenko and Paik 2009) within one genus, such as Loxoblemmus Saussure, 1877 (sensu Gorochov 2001). Thus, we confirm the two new species belong to the genus Comidoblemmus, which currently includes three species. A key for their identification and a distribution map (Map 1) are presented.

Map 1. 

Distribution map of the genus Comidoblemmus Storozhenko & Paik.

Material and methods

The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Museum, Hebei University, Baoding, China (MHBU).

The male genitalia were dissected and cleared in 10% KOH solution. All morphological structures were photographed using a Leica M205A microscope. Images of multiple layers were stacked using Combine ZM. Distribution maps were prepared using the geographic information system software ArcView 3.2 (ESRI, Redlands, CA, USA), based on localities of the specimens examined for this study and those mentioned in the literature (Shiraki 1911, 1930, Chopard 1961, Randell 1964, Ichikawa et al. 2000, Ichikawa et al. 2006, Storozhenko and Paik 2007, 2009).

Taxonomy

Key to the species of Comidoblemmus Storozhenko & Paik

1 Head with both genae nearly parallel in frontal view (Storozhenko and Paik 2009: Fig. 1); posterior margin between lateral lobes of epiphallus almost straight (Storozhenko and Paik 2009: Figs 10–12) C. nipponensis (Shiraki, 1911)
Head with genae distinctly converging downwards in frontal view (Figs 3, 4, 7); posterior margin between lateral lobes of epiphallus distinctly rounded 2
2 Male tegmina reaching abdominal apex (Fig. 1); male supra anal plate slightly narrowed posteriorly, posterior margin narrowly rounded (Figs 9–11) C. sororius sp. n.
Male tegmina reaching 8th abdominal tergite (Fig. 6); male supra anal plate distinctly narrowed posteriorly, posterior margin slightly emarginated in middle (Figs 12–14) C. excavatus sp. n.
Figures 1–8. 

Comidoblemmus spp. 1–5 C. sororius sp. n. (1, 3, 5 male; 2, 4 female) 6–8 C. excavatus sp. n. (male): 1, 2, 6 habitus, dorsal view 3, 4, 7 head, frontal view; 5, 8 supra anal plate, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figures 9–14. 

Male genitalia of Comidoblemmus spp. 9–11 C. sororius sp. n. 12–14 C. excavatus sp. n.: 9, 12 dorsal view 10, 13 ventral view 11, 14 lateral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Comidoblemmus sororius sp. n.

Figs 1–5, 9–11

Type material

Holotype ♂: CHINA: Zhejiang, Lin’an, Tianmushan, Qianmutian, 14.–15.IX.2012, leg. Y.Y. Lu. Paratypes: 9♂♂, 1♀: same data as the holotype; 2♀♀: Zhejiang, Lin’an, Qingliangfeng, Shunxiwu, 17.–19. IX.2012, leg. Y.Y. Lu.

Description

Male (Fig. 1). Body small-sized. Head nearly globular (Fig. 3), slightly wider than anterior margin of pronotum, frontal rostrum short and about 1.8 times as wide as scapus; eyes large, oval; last joint of maxillary palpus slightly longer than 4th joint, distinctly widened apicad. Pronotum transverse, slightly widened posterioly, about 0.6 times as long as width of posterior margin, anterior and posterior margins straight. Tegmina reaching abdominal apex, present with 3 oblique veins, mirror large, about 1.2 times as long as wide, apical field very short; wings absent. Fore tibia with two tympana, outer tympanum large and oblong, about 2.8 times as long as wide, inner tympanum small and nearly round. Hind femur slender, about 2.9 times as long as maximal width; hind tibia with 4 pairs of dorsal spines and 3 pairs of apical spurs, of which middle one longest while lower one shortest among the inner spurs, lower and upper ones equal in length and distinctly shorter than middle one among outer spurs; first hind tarsal segment each side with 4–5 small spines in a line on dorsal surface.

Supra anal plate (Fig. 5) slightly narrowed posteriorly, with posterior margin narrow and rounded at apex. Subgenital plate rather long, narrowed posteriorly, nearly coniform. Genitalia (Figs 9–11): epiphallus with two lateral lobes on posterior margin, and posterior margin between lateral lobes of epiphallus distinctly widely rounded; lateral lobes acute at apex and bent upwards apicad in lateral view; ectoparamers small.

Female (Fig. 2). Head very similar to that of male (Fig. 4). Lateral margins of pronotum nearly parallel. Tegmina reaching 5th abdominal tergite, present with several parallel veins. Ovipositor straight, spear-shaped, 1.2 times shorter than hind femur.

Coloration. Body black brown. Head black, with a narrow transverse yellow stripe in middle of dorsum and between lateral ocelli respectively, mouthparts light yellow. Pronotum black, disc with light yellow markings. Legs yellowish brown mixed with irregular dark brown markings, hind femur with numerous oblique black markings on outer surface. Ovipositor brown.

Measurements

(mm). Male: body 7.0–8.1, pronotum 1.4–1.5, tegmen 4.6–5.0, hind femur 5.2–5.7; female: body 6.9–8.0, pronotum 1.4–1.5, tegmen 3.2–3.5, hind femur 5.4–5.9, ovipositor 4.2–4.5.

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to C. nipponensis (Shiraki), but differs from the latter by the male tegmina reaching abdominal apex; head with genae distinctly converging downwards in frontal view; posterior margin of supra anal plate narrowly rounded; posterior margin between lateral lobes of epiphallus distinctly widely rounded.

Distribution

China (Zhejiang).

Etymology

The specific name is derived from Latin soror (sisters), referring to this species is similar to C. nipponensis (Shiraki).

Comidoblemmus excavatus sp. n.

Figs 6–8, 12–14

Type material

Holotype ♂: CHINA: Guizhou, Leishan, Fangxiang, 15.IX.2005, leg. H.Y. Liu.

Description

Male (Fig. 6). Body small-sized. Head nearly globular (Fig. 7), slightly wider than anterior margin of pronotum, frontal rostrum short and about 1.4 times as wide as scapus; eyes large, oval; last joint of maxillary palpus slightly longer than 4th joint, distinctly widened apicad. Pronotum transverse, slightly widened posterioly, about 0.6 times as long as width of posterior margin, anterior and posterior margins straight. Tegmina reaching 8th abdominal tergite, present with 3 oblique veins, mirror large, about 1.4 times as long as wide, apical field short; wings absent. Fore tibia with two tympana, outer tympanum large and oblong, about 2.9 times as long as wide, inner tympanum small and nearly round. Hind femur slender, about 2.8 times as long as maximal width; hind tibia with 4 pairs of dorsal spines and 3 pairs of apical spurs, of which middle one longest while lower one shortest among the inner spurs, lower and upper ones equal in length and distinctly shorter than middle one among outer spurs; hind first tarsal segment each side with 5 small spines in a line on dorsal surface.

Supra anal plate (Fig. 8) distinctly narrowed posteriorly, with posterior margin slightly emarginated in middle. Subgenital plate rather long, narrowed posteriorly, nearly coniform. Genitalia (Figs 12–14): epiphallus with two lateral lobes on posterior margin, and posterior margin between lateral lobes of epiphallus distinctly narrowly rounded; lateral lobes acute at apex and bent upwards apicad in lateral view; ectoparamers small.

Female. Unknown.

Coloration. Body black brown. Head black, with a narrow transverse yellow stripe in middle of dorsum and between lateral ocelli respectively, mouthparts light yellow. Pronotum black, disc with light yellow markings. Tegmina brown. Legs yellowish brown with irregular dark brown markings, and hind femur with numerous oblique black markings on outer surface.

Measurements

(mm). Male: body 8.8, pronotum 1.7, tegmen 6.0, hind femur 5.8.

Diagnosis

This new species is similar to C. nipponensis (Shiraki), but differs from the latter by the head with checks distinctly converging downwards in frontal view; posterior margin of supra anal plate slightly emarginated in middle; posterior margin between lateral lobes of epiphallus distinctly narrowly rounded. It also resembles C. sororius sp. n., but can be distinguished by the posterior margin of supra anal plate slightly emarginated in middle; posterior margin between lateral lobes of epiphallus distinctly narrowly rounded; tegmina reaching 8th abdominal tergite, mirror distinctly longer than wide.

Distribution

China (Guizhou).

Etymology

The specific name is derived from Latin ex- (out) + cavare (cave), referring to its posterior margin of supra anal plate slightly emarginated in middle.

Acknowledgements

We are appreciated to Dr. Sergey Yu. Storozhenko (Institute of Biology and Soil Sciences, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian) for providing us with literature. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31201731, 31372232), Ph. D. Programs Foundation of Ministry of Education of China (No. 20121301120007) and the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (No. C2014201043).

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