Research Article |
Corresponding author: Riffat Sultana ( riffat.sultana@usindh.edu.pk ) Academic editor: Tony Robillard
© 2021 Riffat Sultana, Surriya Sanam, Santosh Kumar, Sheik Mohammad Shamsudeen R, Fakhra Soomro.
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:
Sultana R, Sanam S, Kumar S, Shamsudeen R SM, Soomro F (2021) A review of Gryllidae (Grylloidea) with the description of one new species and four new distribution records from the Sindh Province, Pakistan. ZooKeys 1078: 1-33. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1078.69850
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Seventeen species of the family Gryllidae were reviewed and a Modicogryllus sindhensis is described herein as new. Four species, namely Acheta hispanicus Rambur, 1838, Gryllus septentrionalis F. Walker, 1869, Callogryllus saeedi Saeed, 2000, and Miogryllus itaquiensis Orsini & Zefa, 2017 are recorded as new country and state records. Differences between similar species and a taxonomic key to the species of Sindh are provided.
Acheta, Callogryllus, Miogryllus, Modicogryllus, new distribution record, review, taxonomic key
Crickets are representative of superfamily Grylloidea with six (four families: Myrmecophilidae, Gryllotalpidae, Mogoplistidae and Gryllidae) Baissogryllidae Gorochov, 1985, Gryllidae Laicharting, 1781, Mogoplistidae Costa, 1855, Phalangopsidae Blanchard, 1845, Protogryllidae Zeuner, 1937 and Trigonidiidae Saussure, 1874 (Cigliano 2021). The group dates back from the Triassic Period and today includes 3,700 for all species of orthopterans known living and 43 extinct species, 22 extant and 27 extinct subfamilies, and 528 extant and 27 extinct genera (
Crickets live in virtually all terrestrial habitats from treetops to a meter or more beneath the ground. Field crickets live in oligotrophic, dry, barren habitats. Crickets are abundantly found at night but conceal themselves in thick vegetation, leaf litter, and under stones and rocks. Crickets are drab, or brightly and intensely coloured. Crickets have an incomplete metamorphosis with three life stages viz., egg, nymph, and adults. Females insert their eggs in soil and lay their egg on plants (
The classification of the Gryllidae has been established by Henri de Saussure in a remarkable monograph published in Geneva in the years 1877 and 1878. In this thorough work, the author points out the most important morphological characters and establishes the larger divisions of the group. Although a great number of species have been described since the publication of Saussure’s work, it remains the basis of the modern classification of the Grylloidea. The Gryllidae are abundant throughout Sindh, the most cultivated region of Pakistan that are damaged by mole crickets, ground crickets, field crickets, house crickets, etc. The Gryllidae live in different types of habitats such as moist soil, herbs, shrubs, grasses, and vegetation. The fauna of Gryllidae from Sindh is insufficiently known. It was therefore felt necessary to revise the family from this region. Descriptions, taxonomic keys, and illustrations for all 17 known species are provided; bionomics and ecological accounts are also briefly discussed. In this manuscript we offer one new species and four new records from Pakistan, which aid in filling the gaps in our knowledge of the Gryllidae of Pakistan and bring information up to date.
All specimens were collected from different agricultural crops in various districts of Sindh. Material was brought to Entomology and Bio-control Research Laboratory (EBCRL), Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro. Methodology for euthanasia was adapted from
Pinning of samples was done quickly after killing. An insect pin was inserted on the pronotum posterior to transverse sulcus, slightly to the right of the median carina. The head was directed slightly downwards on the stretching board. The left wings were set with the long axis of the body nearly at a right angle to the pin. The posterior legs were bent beneath the body to minimize the possibility of breakage and to occupy a smaller area. The abdomen was dropped below the wings and not obscured by the hind legs.
Fully dried specimens were preserved in insect cabinets with labels providing collection date, habitat, locality, and collector’s name. Naphthalene balls (C10H8) were placed in boxes to prevent the attack of ants and other insects. Specimens were identified through the bibliographies given by
Photographs of the various species were prepared. Line drawings were made with a camera lucida fitted on a microscope (Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Germany 545187) and these were improved with the help of the softwares Adobe illustrator CC-2015 and Adobe Photoshop CS.
Measurements of various body parts were calculated in millimetres (mm) using the microscope (Oculas), 10 × 10 graph, compass, divider, and ruler. Abbreviations used in the text are as follows.
LH Length of head;
LF Length of femur;
LP Length of pronotum;
LT Length of tegmen;
LT Length of tibia;
LT length of tarsus;
TBL total body length;
TN Tag Number;
SEMJ Sindh Entomological Museum Jamshoro.
Species distributions were mapped using latitude and longitude information for available sites of species. The material (TN: 802 SEM) has been deposited in Sindh Entomological Museum Jamshoro (SEMJ), Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro. Pakistan.
Subfamily Gryllinae
Tribe Gryllini
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 2♂, 8♀; Riffat, Surriya; 28 Aug. 2019; Mithi 24.7436°N, 69.8061°E, 11♂, 17♀; Riffat, Surriya; 30 Aug. 2019; Naushahro feroze 26.8463°N, 68.1253°E, 3♀; Surriya, Riffat; 3 Sep. 2019; Chachro 25.1156°N, 70.2557°E, 5♂, 11♀; Riffat, Surriya; 11 Sep. 2019; Umerkot 25.3549°N, 69.7376°E, 5♂, 16♀; Surriya, Riffat; 12 Sep. 2019; Nara 34.6851°N, 135.8048°E, 12♂, 24♀; Surriya, Riffat; 17 Sep. 2019; Nagarparkar 24.3572°N, 70.7555°E, 1♂, 4♀; 14 Aug. 2019; Tharparkar 24.8777°N, 70.2408°E, 2♂, 9♀; Riffat, Surriya; 16 Aug. 2019; Sanghar 26.0436°N, 68.9480°E, 1♂, 8♀; Riffat, Surriya; 17 Aug. 2019; Islamkot 24.7014°N, 70.1783°E.
Medium size, pubescent and deep. General colouration light fulvous or testaceous (Fig.
Distribution of Gryllidae species in different areas of Sindh, with numbers collected at each locality.
Species | Mithi | Naushahro feroze | Chachro | Umerkot | Nara | Nagarkarkar | Tharparkar | Sanghar | Islamkot |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acheta domesticus | 10 | 28 | 03 | 16 | 21 | 36 | 05 | 11 | 09 |
Acheta hispanicus | 01 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Gryllus (Gryllus) bimaculatus | 09 | 02 | 07 | 12 | 02 | 22 | 17 | 04 | 15 |
G (Gryllus) campestris | — | — | 08 | 33 | 03 | 19 | 23 | — | 11 |
Gryllus septentrionalis | — | — | — | 01 | — | — | — | — | — |
Gryllodes sigillatus | 02 | 09 | 18 | 24 | — | 13 | 05 | — | — |
Gryllodes supplicans | — | — | — | 01 | 02 | — | — | — | — |
Callogryllus saeedi | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 05 | — |
Callogryllus ovilongus | — | — | — | — | — | 04 | — | — | — |
Callogryllus bilineatus | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 02 |
Modicogryllus sindhensis | — | — | — | 01 | — | — | — | — | — |
Teleogryllus (Brachyteleogryllus) occipitalis | 01 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
T.(Brachyteleogryllus) commodus | — | — | — | — | — | 02 | — | — | — |
Lepidogryllus siamensis | — | — | — | 01 | — | — | — | — | — |
Svercus palmetorum | — | — | — | — | — | — | 02 | — | — |
Miogryllus itaquiensis | — | — | 01 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Oecanthus fultoni | — | — | — | 01 | — | — | — | — | — |
A male and female dorsal and lateral view of Gryllidae species. Subfamily Gryllinae: 1, 2 Acheta domesticus ♂♀, 3 A. hispanicus ♂, 4, 5 Gryllus (Gryllus) bimaculatus ♀♂, 6 G. (Gryllus) campestris ♀, 7 G. septentrionalis ♀, 8 Gryllodes sigillatus ♂ B male and female dorsal and lateral view of Gryllidae species. Subfamily Gryllinae: 9 Gryllodes supplicans ♀, 10 Teleogryllus (Brachyteleogryllus) occipitalis ♀, 11,12 T. (Brachyteleogryllus) commodus ♂♀, 13 Modicogryllus sindhensis sp. nov. ♀, 14 Svercus palmetorum ♀ C male and female dorsal and lateral view of Gryllidae species. Subfamily Gryllinae: 15 Miogryllus itaquiensis ♀, 16 Callogryllus saeedi ♀, 17 C. ovilongus ♀, 18 C. bilineatus ♀, 19 Lepidogryllus siamensis ♀, Subfamily Oecanthinae: 20 Oecanthus fultoni ♀. Abbreviations: D, dorsal, L, lateral. Scale bars: 2 mm.
Male and female head dorsal view of Gryllidae species. Subfamily Gryllinae: 1, 2 Acheta domesticus ♂♀, 3 A. hispanicus ♂, 4, 5 Gryllus (Gryllus) bimaculatus ♂♀, 6 G. (Gryllus) campestris ♀, 7 G. septentrionalis ♀, 8-Gryllodes sigillatus ♂, 9 Gryllodes supplicans ♀, 10 T. (Brachyteleogryllus) commodus ♂. Abbreviations: D, dorsal, L, lateral. Scale bars: 2 mm.
Male: LH 2.25 ± 0.15 (mm), LP 3.5 ±1.4 (mm), LT 4.5 ± 1.73 (mm), LF 11.0 ± 2.08 (mm), LT 6.01 ± 1.0 (mm), LT 4.9 (mm), TBL 15.33 ± 4.2 (mm) Female: LH 3.26 ± 2.8 (mm), LP 3.83 ± 1.50 (mm), LT 4.7 ± 1.23 (mm), LF 14.0 ± 4.11 (mm), LT 7.33 ± 2.06 (mm), LO 10.66 ± 2.94 (mm), TBL 16 ± 3.05 (mm).
Acheta domesticus is broadly distributed in the field. They complete their life cycle within 60–70 days. Agricultural crops affected by this species are Tritium aestivum (wheat), Oryza sativa (rice), Sacharum officinarium (sugarcane), and Dactyloctenium aegyptium (common lawn grasses).
Czech Republic, Greece, Peloponnese, Patras, Yugoslavia, Serbia, USA, India, Pakistan (
Acheta domesticus is generally recognised as the house cricket, cosmopolitan in nature. The presence of this species was reported by
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 1♂; Riffat, Surriya; 23 Aug. 2019; Mithi 24.7436°N, 69.8061°E.
Rather large and robust, colouration brownish-yellow (Fig.
Male: LH 2.17 (mm), LP 2.66 (mm), LT 13 (mm), LF 11 (mm), LT 08 (mm), LT 4.9 (mm), TBL 28 (mm).
The species was recorded from Mithi. Usually, they are found in ditches of soil in rice fields.
Portugal, Spain: Granada, India, Pakistan (
This species is a new record from Sindh, Pakistan, and also for Asia. The body is wide and robust in structure compared to the more widely distributed A. domesticus. In our collection only a single male was captured, so more extensive collections are needed to establish its complete distribution.
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 5♂, 4♀; Surriya, Riffat; 21 Aug. 2019; Mithi 24.7436°N, 69.8061°E, 2♀; Riffat; Naushahro feroze 26.8463°N, 68.1253°E, 3♂, 4♀; Riffat, Surriya; 12 Sep. 2020; Chachro 25.1156°N, 70.2557°E, 4♂, 8♀; Surriya, Riffat; 19 Sep. 2020; Umerkot 25.3549°N, 69.7376°E, 2♀; Riffat; 20 Aug. 2020; Nara 34.6851°N, 135.8048°E, 6♂, 16♀; Surriya; 24 Aug. 2020; Nagarparkar 24.3572°N, 70.7555°E, 6♂, 11♀; Riffat, Surriya; 23 Aug. 2020; Tharparkar 24.8777°N, 70.2408°E, 1♂, 3♀; Riffat; 26 Aug. 2020; Sanghar 26.0436°N, 68.9480°E, 3♂, 8♀; Riffat, Surriya; 27 Aug. 2020; Islamkot 24.7014°N, 70.1783°E.
Large size, stout. Colour blackish. Head curved feebly at anterior; wider at posterior (Fig.
Male: LH 2.25 ± 0.15 (mm), LP 3.45 ± 0.057 (mm), LT 4.1 ± 1.5 (mm), LF 14.5 ± 0.57 (mm), LT 11.0 ±1.15 (mm), LT 4.2 (mm), TBL 22.5 ± 0.57 (mm) Female: LH 4.76 ± 0.74 (mm), LP 4.66 ± 0.35 (mm), LT 4.5 ± 1.63 (mm), LF 15.33 ± 0.57 (mm), LT 11.66 ± 0.816 (mm), LO 18.5 ± 0.57 (mm), TBL 16 ± 3.05 (mm).
This species frequently occurred in the field. Plants affected by this species are Tritium aestivum (wheat), Oryza sativa (rice), Sacharum officinarium (sugarcane), and Echinochloa colonum (jungle rice). This species is hemimetabolous and moults 8–11 times to become adult (pers. obs.).
Ukraine, France, Spain, USA, India, West Bengal, Kashmir, Pakistan, Mali (
Gryllus bimaculatus is variable in size with colour variations. During this study we collected this species from dry parts of Nagarparkar and confirm its presence in dry barren areas.
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 2♂, 6♀; Riffat; 12 Jul. 2019; Chachro 25.1156°N, 70.2557°E, 10♂, 23♀; Riffat, Surriya; 17 Jul. 2019; Umerkot 25.3549°N, 69.7376°E, 3♀; Riffat; 18 Aug. 2019; Nara 34.6851°N, 135.8048°E, 7♂, 12♀; Surriya, Riffat; 27 Aug. 2019; Nagarparkar 24.3572°N, 70.7555°E, 8♂, 15♀; Riffat, Surriya; 8 Jul. 2019; Tharparkar 24.8777°N, 70.2408°E, 4♂, 7♀; Surriya, Riffat; 3 Sep. 2020; Islamkot 24.7014°N, 70.1783°E.
A large species, rather similar to G. (Gryllus) bimaculatus, but more rounded and curved (Fig.
Female: LH 4.6 (mm), LP 4.9 (mm), LT 18 (mm), LF 15, LT 13, TBL 29 (mm).
Tritium aestivum (wheat), Oryza sativa (rice), Sacharum officinarium (sugarcane), Echinochloa colona (cultivated field) are all affected by this pest. It seems rare in numbers, and not widely occurring like other species of Gryllidae. These specimens were collected from rice fields whereas other plants such as sugarcane and wheat were also present, but with minor damage.
Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, UK, Pakistan (
Due to its rare status and sporadic nature G. (G.) campestris is included in the red lists
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 1♀; Riffat, Surriya; 21 Jul. 2019; Mahendrani, Umerkot 25.3549°N, 69.7376°E.
Medium size, colouration rufous brown, rather strongly pubescent (Fig.
Female: LH 3.9 (mm), LP 4.2 (mm), LT 18 (mm), LF 12.5 (mm), LT 08 (mm), LT 05 (mm), TBL 26 (mm).
Gryllus septentrionalis was collected from the village of Mahendrani, Umerkot in August.It was noted that this field was surrounded by Citrus (lemon) crops and other wild vegetation. This study suggests that extensive surveys are needed.
Argentina, Paraguay, Caribbean, Jamaica, Pakistan (
This is the first record from the deserts of Thar, Sindh, Pakistan. According to
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 2♀; Riffat; 14 Jul. 2020; Mithi 24.7436°N, 69.8061°E, 1♂, 8♀; Surriya, Riffat; 19 Jul. 2020; Naushahro feroze 26.8463°N, 68.1253°E, 3♂, 15♀; Riffat; 2 Sep. 2019; Chachro 25.1156°N, 70.2557°E, 9♂, 12♀; Riffat, Surriya; 13 Aug. 2020; Umerkot 25.3549°N, 69.7376°E, 6♂, 7♀; Surriya, Riffat; 16 Aug. 2020; Nagarparkar 24.3572°N, 70.7555°E, 5♀; Riffat, Surriya; 4 Sep. 2020; Tharparkar 24.8777°N, 70.2408°E.
Medium size, depressed, rather strongly pubescent (Fig.
Male: LH 2.8 ± 0.72 (mm), LP 3.25 ± 0.62 (mm), LT 4.1 ± 5.2 (mm), LF 11.5 ±1.0 (mm), LT 8.0 ± 0.57 (mm), TBL 14.5 ± 1.0 (mm) Female: LH 2.10 ± 0.8 (mm), LP 3.32 ± 0.72 (mm), LT 4.3 ± 5.7 (mm), LF 12.5 ± 1.2 (mm), LT 8.2 ± 0.62 (mm), TBL 18.6 ± 2.1 (mm).
It commonly found everywhere but surprisingly, a single male only was reported during the present survey. Usually, this species is found in homes and lives under bricks and debris, and also in kitchens.
Australasia, Australia, Malaysia, West Bengal, USA, India, Pakistan (
Gryllodes sigillatus is cosmopolitan in nature. This species is generally known as the tropical house cricket or Indian house cricket because they are found everywhere, domestic in all tropical countries.
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 2♀; Riffat; 3 Jul. 2019; Nara 34.6851°N, 135.8048°E, 1♀; Surriya; 4 Jul. 2019; Umerkot 25.3549°N, 69.7376°E.
Medium size, yellowish brown (Fig.
Female: LH 3.15 (mm), LP 3.15 (mm), LT 4.2 (mm), LF 14 (mm), LT 10 (mm), LO 15 (mm), TBL 20 (mm).
America, Singapore, Berlin, Ceylon, India, Malaysia, China, Sri-Lanka, and Pakistan (
Earlier, this species was collected by
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 1♀; Riffat; 5 Sep. 2019; Mithi 24.7436°N, 69.8061°E.
Medium to large size. Body pale brown (Fig.
Female: LH 2.1 (mm), LP 3.85 (mm), LT 08 (mm), LF 9 (mm), TBL 20 (mm).
Teleogryllus is commonly known as black field cricket. Species of this genus are reported as a serious pasture pest in Australia and the warmer northern regions of New Zealand (
During the present study we captured only a single female from Lolium perenne grasses, which is considered as perennial ryegrass pasture, the main feed for dairy cows in temperate regions. This study suggests that preference of crickets for perennial ryegrass may lead high risk of damage to cultivated areas of Pakistan.
Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, Celebes, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, China, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Pakistan (
Until now 52 species of Teleogryllus were recorded by
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 1♂, 1♀; Riffat, Surriya; 19 Aug. 2019; Nagarparkar 24.3572°N, 70.7555°E.
Head short with vertical pale and dark bands at posterior margin (Fig.
Male and female head dorsal view of Gryllidae species, subfamily Gryllinae: 11 T. (Brachyteleogryllus) commodus ♀, 12 Modicogryllus sindhensis sp. nov. ♀,13 Svercus palmetorum ♀, 14 Miogryllus itaquiensis ♀, 15 Callogryllus saeedi ♀, 16 C. ovilongus ♀, 17 C. bilineatus ♀, 18 Lepidogryllus siamensis ♀. Subfamily Oecanthinae: 19 Oecanthus fultoni ♀. Abbreviations: D, dorsal, L, lateral. Scale bars: 2 mm.
Male and female pronotum dorsal view of Gryllidae species, subfamily Gryllinae: 1, 2 Acheta domesticus ♂♀, 3 A. hispanicus ♂, 4, 5 Gryllus (Gryllus) bimaculatus ♂♀, 6 G. (Gryllus) campestris ♀, 7 G. septentrionalis ♀, 8 Gryllodes sigillatus ♂, 9 Gryllodes supplicans ♀, 10 Teleogryllus (Brachyteleogryllus) occipitalis ♀. Abbreviations: D, dorsal, L, lateral. Scale bars: 2 mm.
Male: LH 4.34 (mm), LP 4.06 (mm), LT 14 (mm), LF 12.6 (mm), LT 7.7 (mm), LT 07 (mm), TBL 21 (mm), Female: LH 2.5 (mm), LP 3.1 (mm), LT 11 (mm), LF 08 (mm), LT 7.4 (mm), LT 04 (mm), TBL 17 (mm).
This species was reported from Nagarparkar. This area is surrounded by rock and fine sand. It was observed that due to burrowing habits this species uprooted many valued plants. This species is here reported from Cymbopogon commutatus which are perennial grasses and mostly used for medicinal purposes in the locality.
Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan (
This species is commonly known as black field cricket. Its powerful legs are used for jumping. This species has numerous white strips on the abdomen which make it different from the other species. Zalitschek et al. (2012) reported that they are omnivores in nature. However, dietary requirements are similar but perform different functions depending upon the sex of the specimen: females take a protein-rich diet for the production of eggs while, male requires it for producing mating calls to attract females.
Holotype. Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 1♀; Riffat, Mohan leg.; 23 July 2019; Umerkot 25.3549°N, 69.7376°E. Reg. no.: 723 SEMJ.
This species has a brightly coloured body along with a shiny pronotum. The tegmina and wing show different patches on their entire surface.
Small size, covered in pubescence. Colour light brown (Fig.
Male and female pronotum dorsal view of Gryllidae species, subfamily Gryllinae: 11, 12 T. (Brachyteleogryllus) commodus ♂♀, 13 Modicogryllus sindhensis sp. nov. ♀,14 Svercus palmetorum ♀, 15 Miogryllus itaquiensis ♀, 16 Callogryllus saeedi ♀, 17 C. ovilongus ♀,18 C. bilineatus ♀, 19 Lepidogryllus siamensis ♀, Subfamily Oecanthinae: 20 Oecanthus fultoni ♀. Abbreviations: D, dorsal, L, lateral. Scale bars: 2 mm.
Femur and Tibia dorsal view of Gryllidae species, subfamily Gryllinae: 1, 2 Acheta domesticus ♂♀, 3 A. hispanicus ♂, 4, 5 Gryllus (Gryllus) bimaculatus ♂♀, 6 G. septentrionalis ♀, 7 Gryllodes sigillatus ♂, 8 Gryllodes supplicans ♀, 9 Teleogryllus (Brachyteleogryllus) occipitalis ♀, 10, 11 T. (Brachyteleogryllus) commodus ♂♀, 12 Modicogryllus sindhensis sp. nov. ♀. Abbreviations: D, dorsal, L, lateral. Scale bars: 2 mm.
Female: LH 2.1 (mm), LP 2.45 (mm), LF 10 (mm), LT 11(mm), LO 10 (mm), TBL 15 (mm).
The specimen was collected from Sorghum vulgare near Desert Thar (Umerkot) 25.3549°N, 69.7376°E.
The specific epithet refers to collection of this species from Desert Thar of Sindh.
The type material (TN: 723 SEMJ) has been deposited in Sindh Entomological Museum, Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro.
The genus Modicogryllus was erected by
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 2♀; Surriya, Riffat; 22 Aug. 2020; Dahli, Tharparkar 24.8777°N, 70.2408°E.
Medium size. Colouration rufous brown, shiny (Fig.
Femur and tibia dorsal view of Gryllidae species, subfamily Gryllinae: 13 Svercus palmetorum ♀, 14 Miogryllus itaquiensis ♀, 15 Callogryllus saeedi ♀, 16 C. bilineatus ♀, 17 Lepidogryllus siamensis ♀, Subfamily Oecanthinae: 18 Oecanthus fultoni ♀. Abbreviations: D, dorsal, L, lateral. Scale bars: 2 mm.
Female: LH 1.8 (mm), LP 2.7 (mm), LT 9.6 (mm), LF 09 (mm), LT 6.6 (mm), LT 03 (mm), TBL 16 (mm).
This species was collected from the village Dahli Taluka Tharparkar Sindh, Pakistan. This species was reported from Larrea tridentate called the creosote bush. It is a medium-sized evergreen shrub with pointed leaves and a waxy coating. This plant has great medicinal value, recommended to cure fever, colds, stomach, pains, arthritis, and as a general pain killer; it is also used for cuts, and bacterial and fungal infections.
Libya, Algeria, Pakistan (
Male and female tegmen dorsal view of Gryllidae species, subfamily Gryllinae: 7 G. septentrionalis ♀, 8 Gryllodes sigillatus ♂, 9 Gryllodes Supplicans ♀, 10 Teleogryllus (Brachyteleogryllus) occipitalis ♀, 11, 12 T. (Brachyteleogryllus) commodus ♂♀, 13 Modicogryllus sindhensis sp. nov. ♀. Abbreviations: D, dorsal, L, lateral. Scale bars: 2 mm.
Male and female tegmen dorsal view of Gryllidae species, subfamily Gryllinae: 14 Svercus palmetorum ♀, 15 Miogryllus itaquiensis ♀, 16 Callogryllus saeedi ♀, 17 C. ovilongus ♀,18 C. bilineatus ♀, 19 Lepidogryllus siamensis ♀, Subfamily Oecanthinae: 20 Oecanthus fultoni ♀. Abbreviations: D, dorsal, L, lateral. Scale bars: 2 mm.
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 1♀; Riffat; 5 Sep. 2019; Chachro, Nagarparkar 24.3572°N, 70.7555°E.
Medium size. Colouration brown (Fig.
Female: LH 03 (mm), LP 3.1 (mm), LT 09 (mm), LF 10 (mm), LT 0.8 (mm), LT 4.2 (mm), TBL 12 (mm).
This species was reported from Chachro, Nagarparkar on Encelia farinose roots. This plant is commonly known as the Brittle bush. It is a medium-sized, rounded shrub with long, oval, silvery grey leaves. The resin collected from this plant is used as glue (Hogan and Michael 2013); these authors also stated that Brittle bush treats toothaches. Some animals such as desert Bighorn sheep and Kangaroo rats eat its seeds.
Argentina, Brazil South, Rio Grande do Sul, Itaqui, Sindh, Pakistan (
The pronotum of M. itaquiensis bears a whitish lateral lobe, while M. tucumanensis has the pronotum with uniform colouration. We collected a single female for the first time from Chachro, Sindh, Pakistan. However, more extensive surveys are needed to explore its distribution in the desert region.
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 5♀; Surriya, Riffat; 23 Aug. 2020; Sanghar 26.0436°N, 68.9480°E.
Medium size. Colouration yellow (Fig.
Female: LH 2.1 (mm), LP 2.8 (mm), LT 03 (mm), LF 12 (mm), LT 10 (mm), LO 14 (mm), TBL 17 (mm).
This species was previously reported by
India (this study), Pakistan (Saeed et al. 2000).
During this study, we have reported five females from Sanghar District which are a new record for Sindh province. Our thorough examination shows that this species is similar to C. ovilongus with the exception of a dark slanting band between the compound eyes, and the size of ovipositor: C. saeedi has a smaller ovipositor which is ca. 14 mm while C. ovilongus has a longer ovipositor, ca. 18–20 mm. In addition, the elytra of this female are quite different from those of C. ovilongus.
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 4♀; Riffat, Surriya; 16 Sep. 2020; Nagarparkar 24.3572°N, 70.7555°E.
Medium size. Colouration yellow (Fig.
Female: LH 3.85 (mm), LP 3.5 (mm), LT 5.2 (mm), LF 4.1 (mm), LO 15 (mm), TBL 16 (mm).
During the present study, females of this species are reported from Nagarparkar, Desert Thar, from xerophytic plants which were surrounded by sagebrush and saltbush trees.
China, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan (
This species was erected by
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 2♀; Riffat; 25 Aug. 2019; Islamkot 24.7014°N, 70.1783°E.
Medium size. Colouration brown to yellowish (Fig.
Female: LH 3.6 (mm), LP 04 (mm), LT 05 (mm), LF 13.5 (mm), LT 10 (mm), LT 03 (mm), TBL 18 (mm).
This species is recorded from wheat crops cultivated at Islamkot, Sindh.
India, Sindh, Pakistan (
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 1♀; Surriya; 27 Jul. 2019; Ramalani, Umerkot 25.3549°N, 69.7376°E.
Medium size. Colouration dark brown (Fig.
Female: LH 1.96(mm), LP 2.03(mm), LT 9.5(mm), LF 5.6(mm), LT 07(mm), LT 04(mm), TBL 11(mm).
This species was recorded for the first time from the village Ramalani, Umerkot, on the roots of Acacia nilotia locally known as “babul”. This is a medium-sized, thorny, nearly evergreen tree found in the desert area. Generally, it grows to 20–25 mm but may remain shrubby in poor conditions. Our specimen was collected from a shrub. This tree provides limber, fuel, shade, food, dye, and gum, and it also impacts the environment positively through soil reclamation.
Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, India, Hawaii, China, Pakistan (
Lepidogryllus has a very close morphological resemblance with Velarifictorus: the male has an enlarged round head with a swollen frons (Randell, 1964).
Oecanthini
Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 1♀; Riffat; 16 Aug. 2020; Umerkot 25.3549°N, 69.7376°E.
Large size. Colouration light pale green to yellowish (Fig.
Female: LH 1.96 (mm), LP 2.73 (mm), LT 14 (mm), LF 3.57 (mm), LT 3.85 (mm), TBL 22 (mm).
Oecanthus fultoni is a new record from Umerkot, Desert Thar, Pakistan. This species is reported from Cynadon dactylon (common lawn grasses) surrounded by wild plants.
Ohio, Franklin, New Jersey, Washington, Pakistan (
1 | Head brown with two variables extending testaceous bands (Fig. |
2 |
_ | Head curved feebly at anterior; wider at posterior (Fig. |
3 |
2 | Elytra extending to the apex of abdomen, mirror small, obliquely transverse (Fig. |
Acheta Linnaeus |
_ | Elytra extending to 1/3 of abdominal tergite, truncated, rounded at apex; mirror quite apical, little wider than long, rounded posteriorly; wings reduced (Fig. |
4 |
3 | Legs blackish testaceous with brown spots, pubescent. Posterior femora rather short and thick; posterior tibia armed with six spines on each margin (Fig. |
Gryllus Linnaeus |
_ | Legs brownish, fuscous; posterior femora moderately swollen, striated on external face; posterior tibiae armed with seven spines on each margin (Fig. |
5 |
4 | Head small, narrow at the anterior, slightly curved at posterior. Face short, yellow with spotted clypeus. Frontal suture feebly arched (Fig. |
Gryllodes Saussure |
_ | Head short, yellow, adorned with rufous spots, dorsal field of ocelli with pubescent horizontal dark bands (Fig. |
6 |
5 | Colour pale brown (Fig. |
Teleogryllus Chopard |
_ | Colour rufous brown, shiny (Fig. |
7 |
6 | Legs brownish. Pubescence rather thick, compressed. Anterior tibia bearing small, oval, external tympanum. Posterior tibia armed with ten external and one medio-internal spines (Fig. |
Modicogryllus Chopard |
_ | Legs dark brown dorsally, whitish ventrally. Tibia armed with nine internal, four medio-internal spines (Fig. |
8 |
7 | Elytra extending to the apex of abdomen, narrow posteriorly. Wing well developed (Fig. |
Svercus Gorochov |
_ | Elytra scarcely extending to apex of first abdominal tergite, slightly crossing at median line with internal oblique margin, (Fig. |
9 |
8 | Colour brown (Fig. |
Miogryllus Saussure |
_ | Colour dark brown (Fig. |
Lepidogryllus Otte & Alexander |
9 | Head brown, short, dome-shaped with four yellowish vertical sutures (Fig. |
Callogryllus Sjöstedt |
_ | Head pale green, narrow with dark brown ocelli (Fig. |
Oecanthus |
1 | Body colouration pale brown, fulvous, or testaceous (Fig. |
Acheta domesticus Linnaeus |
_ | Body colouration brownish yellow, rather large, robust (Fig. |
2 |
2 | Elytra extending to the apex of abdomen (Fig. |
3 |
_ | Elytra reach to the top of abdomen, wings much long (Fig. |
4 |
3 | Abdomen yellow, pubescent; ovipositor long, straight, serrated with numerous sutures. Cerci well developed, pointed at the terminus (Fig. |
A. hispanicus Rambur |
_ | Abdomen brown; ovipositor moderately long, rather slender with apical valves very acute (Fig. |
6 |
4 | Body large, stout. Colour blackish. Head curved feebly anteriorly; wider at posterior (Fig. |
G. (Gryllus) bimaculatus De Geer |
_ | Body size medium to large. Colour brown. Head yellowish brown with patches and raised veins (Fig. |
5 |
5 | Elytra run beyond length of body, elytra with yellow patches on base | G. campestris Linnaeus |
_ | Elytra equilateral reduced, extending to the extremity of abdomen, wings caudate (Fig. |
7 |
6 | Fastigium of vertex black, shiny, flat, slightly curved at sides, large body size, elytra large with thick venation system along total body length | G. septentrionalis F. Walker |
_ | Fastigium of vertex yellowish brown, curved at the anterior side; body elongated, elytra small, disjointed | Gryllodes sigillatus Walker |
7 | Head small, brown, with narrow frontal rostrum, pronotum transverse, feebly concave anterior margin; elytra of female are moderately diverse | 8 |
_ | Head wide at back and narrow in front, pronotum concave and slightly broad, Face blackish brown, right wing overlappintg on anterior wing | T. (Brachyteleogryllus) occipitalis Serville |
8 | Femur thick at anterior but narrow at posterior, without spines. Tibia moderately thin, armed with 10 anterior spines, no spines on external side | G. supplicans Walker |
_ | Femur thick, small, banded with vertical lines. Tibia thin with pointed spines with black bases, dorsal field of tegmina with several veins | 9 |
9 | Head short with vertical light and dark bands at posterior margin. Ocelli dorsal field with dark horizontal band (Figs |
.T. (Brachyteleogryllus) commodus Walker |
_ | Head larger, yellow, adorned with rufous spots, ocelli dorsal field with dark, horizontal, pubescent bands (Fig. |
10 |
10 | Femur wide with numerous patches and immovable spines, tibia has several spines on one side, tegmina dorsal field with 3 or 4 oblique veins | 11 |
_ | Femur thick, small groove at anterior, small hairs on external and internal sides. Tibia armed with 9 external, 11 internal, and 2 medio-internal spines | Svercus palmetorum Krauss |
11 | Elytra extending to the apex of abdomen; veins of the dorsal field rather irregular and condensed (Fig. |
12 |
_ | Elytra extending to 2/3 of the abdomen, apical field well developed; wings surpassing abdomen tip (Fig. |
13 |
12 | Abdomen brown. Ovipositor short, straight, slender with very small lanceolate, acute apical valves (Fig. |
Modicogryllus sindhensis sp. nov. |
_ | Abdomen yellow with dark spots on each tergite. Ovipositor long, straight, slender (Fig. |
14 |
13 | Legs dark brown dorsally, whitish ventrally. Tibia armed with 9 internal and 4 medio-internal spines (Fig. |
Miogryllus itaquiensis Orsini & Zefa |
_ | Legs brown, hind femora much longer than middle femora. Posterior tibia armed with 7 external, 3 medio-internal spines, much wider anteriorly, numerous patches on dorsal surface (Fig. |
15 |
14 | Medium size. Colouration yellow (Fig. |
Callogryllus saeedi Saeed |
_ | Medium size. Colouration yellow (Fig. |
C. ovilongus Saeed & Yousuf |
15 | Eyes oval and brown, pronotum serrated overall and wide, abdominal part smaller than tegmen, wings large. Legs yellow, brownish at base, strongly pubescent, irregular bands on dorsal field. Posterior tibiae armed with 11 external and 3 medio-internal spines (Fig. |
C. bilineatus Bolívar |
_ | Eyes small, oval, bulging outwards, ocelli black, horizontal dark band present (Fig. |
16 |
16 | Fastigium of vertex circular, brownish, shiny. Eyes small, dark brown. Head shiny brown, short, narrow; ocelli black, with horizontal dark band (Fig. |
Lepidogryllus siamensis (Chopard) |
_ | Fastigium of vertex small, tapered, green. Eyes black. Head short, narrow with dark brown ocelli (Fig. |
Oecanthus fultoni Walker |
The first author gratefully acknowledges HEC (Higher Education Commission Islamabad) for granting Research Project No. 6737 SINDH/NRPU/R&D/HEC as well as Dr. Mohan Lal entomologist and Health officer for assisting in the field survey in Thar desert.