Male Cerci Research Articles

Systematics of the American Katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). Communication 10

A new material on the Neotropical genus Anaulacomera Stål, 1873 from its subgenera Anallomes Stål, 1875, Stenotegmora subgen. nov., Irisovia subgen. nov. and Munticercora Gorochov, 2020 is considered with description of six new species and one new subspecies: A. (Anallomes) galarzai sp. nov. from Peru (Junin Department: Satipo Prov.); A. (A.) monicae sp. nov. from Peru (Junin Department: Satipo Prov.); A. (S.) adunca sp. nov. from Peru (Junin Department: Satipo Prov.); A. (S.) spinifera sp. nov. from Peru (Ucayali Department: Atalaya Prov.); A. (S.) originalis sp. nov. from Peru (Junin Department: Satipo Prov.); A. (I.) grigoryi sp. nov. from Peru (Junin Department: Satipo Prov.); A. (M.) sclerogenitalis woronovi subsp. nov. from Colombia (“Penas Blancos, Rio Magdalena”). The above-mentioned new subgenera are distinguished from all the other subgenera of this genus by the following features: Stenotegmora subgen. n. by narrower tegmina, and the male genitalia with a large median inflation on the dorsal fold; Irisovia subgen. n. by the male last abdominal tergite with strongly denticulate posterior lobes, the male cerci short but thick and with distal processes having numerous spinule-like setae, and the male genitalia membranous. For A. (M.) psedoepiproctalis Gorochov, 2020 and A. (M.) s. sclerogenitalis Gorochov, 2020, some important geographical mistakes in their type data are corrected (Ecuador and Mexico instead Peru, respectively), and for the latter taxon, a previously unknown female is described.

The Pyrenean species of Chelidura (Dermaptera, Forficulidae)

The Pyrenees are inhabited by scattered populations of earwigs of the genusCheliduraLatreille, 1825. There is some controversy about the specific assignment of these populations: while most authors assign them toC. pyrenaica(Gené, 1832), other consider thatC. aptera(Mégerlé, 1825) is also present in the Pyrenees. The main objective of this work was to revise the identity and synonyms of PyreneanChelidura. Specimens from recent fieldwork and collections (MNCN-CSIC) were used for morphological and molecular studies (cytochrome oxidase 1). All Pyrenean specimens shared similarcox1sequences, very divergent from those of AlpineC. aptera. As a consequence, the variability observed in male cerci morphology from the Pyrenees, ranging from long and slightly curved to short and very curved, corresponded toC. pyrenaica, and the presence ofC. apterain the Pyrenees can be rejected. As previously suggested by Maccagno (1933) and Fontana et al. (2021), the revision of the synonymic list uncovered the misplacement of the nameF. simplexGermar, 1825 under the synonymy ofC. aptera, while it rather represents a synonym ofC. pyrenaica(syn. nov.).Forficula simplexhas nomenclatural priority overC. pyrenaica, however both names meet the requirements of the article 23.9.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature to retain the prevailing usage ofC. pyrenaica(nomen protectum) overF. simplex(nomen oblitum). Additionally, we discuss the taxonomic status ofChelidura arvernaDavid & Van Herrewege, 1973stat. nov.from the French Massif Central.

A new species the genus Mesorhaga Schiner, 1868 (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from Tanzania, with a key to Afrotropical species

Mesorhaga tanzaniensis sp. n. is described from the Udzungwa Mountain National Park in Tanzania. New species differs from all other Afrotro¬pical species of the genus in large size, yellow antenna, almost entirely yellow legs, and brown spots on abdominal tergites. Male cercus of the new species bears very long dorsolateral setae, which are longer than cercus. A new key to Afrotropical species of Mesorhaga is provided.

A new species of Anaulacomera Stål, 1873 (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Phaneropterinae) from Parque Nacional de Itatiaia, Southeastern Brazil.

Anaulacomera currently contains 147 valid species, of those 50 are recorded from Brazil. The genus is further divided into six subgenera, which can be distinguished on characteristics of the male terminalia. A new Brazilian species is presently proposed, Anaulacomera (Anallomes) curvata sp. nov., based on three males and one female collected at Parque Nacional de Itatiaia, Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro State. It can be distinguished from all other species because of the pair of cerciform projections of the tenth male abdominal tergite and a combination of shape and size of the male cerci.

Eleven new species of Amblypsilopus Bigot (Diptera: Dolichopodidae: Sciapodinae) and a key to the species of Madagascar and adjacent islands

Eleven new species of Amblypsilopus Bigot, 1888 from Madagascar are described and illustrated: A. analamazaotra sp. nov., A. andasibensis sp. nov., A. ankarana sp. nov., A. bairae sp. nov., A. fianarantsoa sp. nov., A. freidbergi sp. nov., A. friedmani sp. nov., A. leonidi sp. nov., A. marinae sp. nov., A. olgae sp. nov., and A. romani sp. nov. New species differ from other representatives of the genus in morphology of male surstylus and cercus mainly and male secondary sexual characters on legs. A. flavus (Vanschuytbroeck, 1962) is redescribed. Presently, ca 60 species of Amblypsilopus are known from the Afrotropical region, and 25 species are found on Madagascar. Western Indian Ocean species are associated with the Indo-Pacific A. pallidicornis group, the Pantropical A. abruptus group and the Madagascan A. stuckenbergi group of species. An identification key to males of 28 species of Madagascar and adjacent islands is compiled for the first time.

Description of Chlorogomphus danhkyi sp. nov. from Vu Quang National Park, central Vietnam with notes on other congeners from the Park (Odonata: Chlorogomphidae).

Chlorogomphus danhkyi sp. nov. (Holotype ♂: Khe Ro, Vu Quang National Park, Ha Tinh Province, 15.0444 N, 107.9270 E, altitude 1480 m) based on both sexes is described. The new species differs from Chlorogomphus piaoacensis Karube, 2013 mainly by the shape of male cerci. Other species of Chlorogomphus Selys, 1854 from Vu Quang National Park are also recorded.

First description of the female of Coeliccia furcata Hämäläinen, 1986, with descriptive notes on males from Yunnan, China (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae).

Coeliccia furcata Hämäläinen, 1986, an atypical species of Coeliccia Kirby, 1890 with bifurcated male cerci, had been known solely from the holotype male collected in Myanmar in 1938. In recent years the species has been rediscovered in Yunnan, China. The first description of the female is given, along with descriptive notes on the male and illustrations of both sexes, including fresh images of the holotype. Another of the unusual features of C. furcata is the extremely simple form of its penile organ, this is discussed and compared with other species from mainland Asia and Japan currently placed in Coeliccia and with a simple penile organ.

Pycnogaster ribesiglesiasii/, a new species of Ephippigerini (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Bradyporinae) from Catalonia (northeast of the Iberian Peninsula).

A new species of the genus Pycnogaster Graells, 1851 is described from Catalonia (Northeast of the Iberian Peninsula). Pycnogaster ribesiglesiasii n. sp. was collected in the Plana d'Ancosa in a calcicolous stepic scrub dominated mainly by thyme (Thymus vulgaris). L. ribesiglesiasii is compared to P. sanchezgomezi Bolívar, 1897 from which it can be separated mainly by the shape of the male cerci, the titillators and the male calling song. In addition, in the females by the protuberance of the seventh (7th) sclerite and the shape of subgenital plate.

Revision of the New World subgenus Titanogrypa (Cucullomyia) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), with a reassessment of diagnostic characters

ABSTRACT Species of the flesh fly subgenus Cucullomyia Roback (of genus Titanogrypa Townsend) are poorly studied and scarce in field samplings. Currently, eight species are described, distributed in the Neotropical and Nearctic regions, with six exclusively Neotropical species. The available descriptions and illustrations of some species of Cucullomyia lack sufficient detail to enable their accurate identification, and some issues regarding their subgeneric inclusion are debatable. Cucullomyia spp. have mainly been diagnosed by the peculiar shape of the male cercus, in particular the broader proximal half and the robust and rounded apex in lateral view, and by presenting a patch of white setulae on the sides of the scutellum, although there are exceptions in the colouration of these setae within the subgenus. This work presents redescriptions of the species, expands the distribution of some species in Brazil, and provides an identification key for the males. We discuss some diagnostic characters of Titanogrypa (Cucullomyia), such as the presence and colour of the patch of setulae laterally on the scutellum, as well as the limits of the vesica and juxta as the most important phallic structures for the segregation of the species of this taxon. Titanogrypa rubrigaster Dodge is transferred from the subgenus Cucullomyia to the nominative subgenus Titanogrypa.

Description of Heteracris lecoqi Yetchom-Fondjo & Kekeunou sp. nov. and Heteracris hannai Wandji & Kekeunou sp. nov. and redescription of Heteracris guineensis (Krauss, 1890) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) with comments on its ecology in the Southern part of Cameroon

The specimens studied were collected with sweep net and pitfall in the forests, agro-forests, herbaceous fallows, and crop fields of 14 localities in the southern part of Cameroon, from August 2015 to February 2018. The results show that Heteracris hannai sp. nov. and Heteracris lecoqi sp. nov. differ from previously known species of the same genus by the pattern of coloration and the details or shape of the phallic complex. H. lecoqi sp. nov. is characterized by light brownish body; male cercus with flattened, downcurved and obtuse apex; lophus strongly curved; interlophal space with V shape; apodeme of cingulum bow, convergent, with V-shape; valve of cingulum in lateral view longer than apical valve of penis; ramus in ventral view joined. H. hannai sp. nov. is distinct to other species by brown to grey body; male cercus with apex rounded, curved inside; lophus curved; interlophal space with U-shape; apodeme of cingulum thick, slightly parallel, with U shape; valve of cingulum in lateral view hardly longer than apical valve of penis; ramus in ventral view opened. The characteristics of H. guineensis are closer to H. hannai sp. nov. than to H. lecoqi sp. nov. H. lecoqi sp. nov. was collected only in the fallows while H. hannai sp. nov. was collected in the forests, agro-forests, fallows, and crop fields. Compared to H. guineensis, both new species are scarce in the natural vegetation and their distribution area is limited to two and four localities respectively for H. lecoqi sp. nov. and H. hannai sp. nov. All these three grasshopper’s species were recorded as accidental species in all types of vegetation.

Studies in Neotropical Pseudophyllinae: A new genus of Cocconotini from the Colombian Andes and new subfamily assignment of the Dominican genus Anacaona (Tettigoniidae: Pseudophyllinae: Cocconotini).

Acuscercus eudaldoleondiazi n. gen et n. sp. from the Eastern slopes of the Colombian Andes is described, a typical long-winged member of the tribe Cocconotini, distinguished by peculiar morphology of male cerci. On the other hand, the Dominican genus Anacaona is moved from Cocconotini to the tribe Copiphorini (Conocephalinae). The status and tribal boundaries of Cocconotini and Eucocconotini are briefly discussed.

New species of Hercostomus Loew, 1857 from Afrotropics (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) and key to Afrotropical fauna

Five new species of Hercostomus Loew, 1857 from Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania and South Africa are described and illustrated. They belong to the Hercostomus longiventris lineage, which also appears similar to the Palaearctic H. chetifer subgroup and the Oriental H. takagii and H. absimilis groups on the basis of the modified male fore tarsus. The male cercus of almost all Afrotropical species is remarkable in having ventral processes or projections and are conditionally divided into H. nectarophagus and H. perturbus subgroups on the basis of the presence of one or two ventral projections on the cercus, respectively. Hercostomus brandbergensis sp. nov. and H. fedotovae sp. nov. are associated with the H. nectarophagus subgroup; H. koshelevae sp. nov., H. vikhrevi sp. nov., and H. sanipass sp. nov. are associated with the H. perturbus subgroup. The new species differ by fine structures of the male fore tarsus, cercus and postgonite. An identification key to males of 23 Afrotropical species of Hercostomus is compiled for the first time. New records are given for some known species.

New species of the genus Phlugiolopsis from its subgenus Omkoiana stat. nov. (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae)

The genus Phlugiolopsis Zeuner, 1940 is considered: its brief comparison with some similar genera is given, and its subgeneric composition is discussed. This genus is tentatively subdivided into two subgenera: Phlugiolopsis s. str. with three possible species; the subgenus Omkoiana Sänger et Helfert, 2002, stat. nov. with all the other species of this genus including three “subgenera” with unclear status (Longiloba Bian et Shi, 2018; Tribranchis Bian et Shi, 2018; Uncinata Bian et Shi, 2018). Two new species, Ph. (O.) trilobulata sp. nov. with three lobes on the male cercus and Ph. (O.) bilobulata sp. nov. with two such lobes, are described from Vietnam and Indonesia, respectively; these species additionally differ from each other in the male genital plate with specialized apical hooks (Ph. trilobulata sp. nov.) or with a slightly bilobate apex (Ph. bilobulata sp. nov.). From the other congeners, these species are distinguished by the same characters as well as some other features connected mainly with shape of the male cercal lobes and of the female genital plate.

Pseudotepuibasis gen. nov., a new monotypic genus of Coenagrionidae from Colombian Amazon (Odonata: Zygoptera).

Pseudotepuibasis gen. nov. is erected for P. garrisoni sp. nov. from the Colombian Amazon (December 2015, Caquetá Department, Solano Municipality, Araracuara, Guacamayo Guard, -72.2497, -0.6308, L. Pérez leg.). Male and female of this new genus are described and illustrated, cerci of male with a ventrobasal spur for which it is considered in the tribe Teinobasini, close to Tepuibasis De Marmels, 2007 and Austrotepuibasis Machado Lencioni, 2011, by its color pattern and cerci morphology; and close to Leptobasis Selys, 1877 and Mesoleptobasis Sjöstedt, 1918, by its genital ligula. Some notable characters of Pseudotepuibasis are a chitinized spine-like process directed posteriorly on the genital ligula, male cerci with chitinized median tooth, and thoracic color pattern.

Redescription of the larva of Neoerythromma cultellatum (Hagen in Selys, 1876) (Odonata: Coenagrionidae: Coenagrioninae).

The final instar of Neoerythromma cultellatum (Hagen in Selys, 1876) is redescribed and illustrated based upon reared specimens from Turrialba, Cartago, Costa Rica. This is a detailed complement of the original description provided by García-Díaz (1938) and illustrated with high quality photos of the larval morphology. The larva of N. cultellatum is characterized by a slender, spinulose, and yellow to yellowish-brown body, premental setae 3+1, five palpal setae, male cerci long, and caudal lamella lanceolate, with obvious node, spotted, and markedly tracheate.

New species of Condylostylus Bigot (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from Comoros, Madagascar, Tanzania and South Africa, with key to Afrotropical species.

Descriptions of five new Afrotropical species of the genus Condylostylus Bigot are provided: C. comorensis sp. nov. from Comoros, C. friedmani sp. nov. from Madagascar, C. gavryushini sp. nov. from Tanzania, C. kaplini sp. nov. from South Africa, and C. madagascarensis sp. nov. from Madagascar. The new species differ from other representatives of the genus in morphology of the male cercus and male secondary sexual characters of the legs. A revised identification key to males of the 25 known species of Afrotropical Condylostylus is provided. Condylostylus congensis Curran, 1927 syn. nov. is newly synonymized with C. beckeri Speiser, 1920.

Revision of the Afrotropical genus Leiodontocercus (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Phaneropterinae) with a description of four new species.

Specimens belonging to the genus Leiodontocercus are rare or even absent in natural history museum collections; this is likely due to at least two reasons, notably, their relatively small size, and, the sheer difficulty in finding them in dense Afrotropical forests. Until recently, three species from less than fifteen specimens were known from this genus, whose identification relied on a singular diagnostic character, that is, the shape of the male cerci. The present contribution is based on the examination of thirty specimens collected from various countries, ranging from central to west Africa; apart from the male cerci, a second diagnostic character – the stridulatory file – is used to distinguish species, even though it is difficult to examine in mounted specimens. As a result, four new species were detected, namely, L.viciisp. nov., L.spinicercatussp. nov. (from the Central African Republic), L.muticussp. nov. (from Gabon and Cameroon) and L.philipporumsp. nov. (from Côte d’Ivoire). Moreover, L.condylus is recorded from the Central African Republic, the only country where three species of this genus co-occur. It is suggested that population isolation during fluctuating humid and dry periods, consequent to the influence of Ice Age impact during the Pleistocene in tropical central Africa, is the best explanation for the adaptive radiation of the group.

Hetaerina calverti (Odonata: Zygoptera: Calopterygidae) sp. nov., a new cryptic species of the American Rubyspot complex.

Hetaerina americana Fabricius, 1798 has a long and irresolute taxonomic history. Several synonyms have been suggested (H. californica Hagen in Selys-Longchamps, 1859, H. basalis Hagen in Selys-Longchamps, 1859, H. texana Walsh, 1863, H. scelerata Walsh, 1863, etc.), related to the variation in the size of the wing spots as well as to the morphology of the male cerci. However, Calvert (1901) suggested that H. americana represents one variable species. Nevertheless, Vega-Sánchez et al. (2019) through a genetic and morphological analysis presented evidence to propose that H. americana represents a species complex. In the present work, we describe a new species that belongs to this complex: H. calverti sp. nov. The morphological characteristics by which males and females of H. calverti differ from H. americana are highlighted. The most important character for the differentiation of males is the shape of the cerci and the size of the individuals (when the two species are in sympatry). In females, the main differences are in the shape of the intersternites and the medio-dorsal carina of the last segment of the abdomen. Some generalities about the biology of the species are presented, including geographical distribution patterns and genetic divergence data. [urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F5C329AE-7A00-4979-8A0D-A13D869E54B1].

Negragrion sagma gen.n. and sp.n. from South America with a morphological phylogeny of the New World Ischnurinae (Odonata: Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae)

A new coenagrionid genus, Negragrion, is described for N. sagma sp.n. found in Argentina and Brazil (Holotype and allotype, pair in tandem. Argentina: Corrientes: Santo Tomé, arroyo Ita Cuá sobre RP 94, 28°26'48.30"S 56°00'33.11"W, 24.ii.2003, Muzón & Pessacq coll., MLP). The new genus is characterized by the shape of male cerci (decumbent from base; saddle-shaped; in lateral view with an acute apophysis directed dorsally located at 0.3 from base). The presence of a vulvar spine on S8 of females places this genus within Ischnurinae. A cladistics analysis using morphological data was carried out to determine its phylogenetic position. Negragrion gen.n. is recovered within the clade 4 as the sister group of the clade (Acanthallagma Acanthagrion (Oxyagrion, Fluminagrion)).

A review of genus Agriocnemis larva (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) from Thailand including a description of the final stadium larva of Agriocnemis minima Selys, 1877 with supporting molecular (COI) data.

The larva of Agriocnemis minima Selys, 1879 is described and illustrated for the first time, based on reared specimens collected from Thailand. Selected larvae of Agrioncnemis Selys, 1877 were matched with their adults by DNA barcoding. The mitochondrial COI gene (658 bp) of three species (A. minima, A. femina femina (Brauer, 1868), and A. pygmaea (Rambur, 1842)) occurring in Thailand was analysed to confirm the species identification and to determine the association between the larva and adult stages. The larva of A. minima can be distinguished from known species by the following combination of characteristics: 1) long simple setae on the antennomeres I and II, 2) protrusion of the male cerci as long as 0.5× the S10, and 3) tufts of spiniform setae on the lateral occiput margin and on the ventral view of the compound eyes. Comparisons to known larvae of Agriocnemis and those of some other subfamily Agriocnemidinae members are also provided.