Gryllus septentrionalis F. Walker, 1869

Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

Material examined.

Pakistan, Sindh Prov. • 1♀; Riffat, Surriya; 21 Jul. 2019; Mahendrani, Umerkot 25.3549°N, 69.7376°E .

Description.

Medium size, colouration rufous brown, rather strongly pubescent (Fig. 1G). Head long, rounded without any ornamentation. Face brown with yellow horizontal band; ocelli big, brown (Fig. 2G). Pronotum slightly enlarged in front, anterior margin feebly concave, posterior one pointed; disc convex, rufous with two large piriform impressions; lateral lobes with yellowish inferior part (Fig. 4G). Elytra brownish, reaching to apex of abdomen; dorsal fields with slightly oblique veins, rather projecting. Wings long (Fig. 9A). Legs pubescent; anterior and medium femora rufous brown; anterior tibia with large slender external tympanum; only internal face depressed. Posterior femora rather long, swollen. Tibia shorter than femora, armed with nine basal spines, four on joint of metatarsus (Fig. 6F). Abdomen brown; ovipositor moderately long, rather slender with very acute apical valves (Fig. 1G).

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).

Ecology.

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.

Global distribution.

Argentina, Paraguay, Caribbean, Jamaica, Pakistan (Cigliano et al. 2020).

Remarks.

This is the first record from the deserts of Thar, Sindh, Pakistan. According to Saeed (2000), this species of cricket occurs in terrestrial habitats throughout the world, and mostly damages cotton, rice, millet, and sugarcane crops. Due to their predatory nature, they are also helpful in biological control, but more detailed investigations are needed to identify this strategy in future.