Varitrella (Cantotrella) robusta luzoni Gorochov, 2025

Gorochov, A. V., 2025, Taxonomy of Podoscirtinae (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). Part 17: some Madagascan genera and Varitrella, Russian Entomological Journal 34 (1), pp. 19-36 : 33-35

Varitrella (Cantotrella) robusta luzoni Gorochov , subsp.n.

Figs 89–91 , 96–99 .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Holotype ♂, Philippines, Luzon I., ~ 120 km NNE of Manila City, environs of Paraiso Camp (15º39′33′′ N, 121º16′37′′ E), 500–800 m, forest, at light, 10–19.II.2024, A. Gorochov, M. Omelko, I. Naumenko ( ZIN). Paratype ♀, same island, ~ 60 km NWW of Manila City , environs of Bataan National Park on Natibi Mt (14º44′37′′ N, 120º25′08′′ E), 600–700 m, forest, at light, 19–21.II.2024, A. Gorochov, M. Omelko ( ZIN) .

DESCRIPTION. Male (holotype). Coloration and structure of body very similar to those of V. (C.) robusta robusta from Sulawesi I. but with following small differences: head light greyish brown with almost dark brown area between ocelli, greyish brown dorsum behind lateral ocelli and area on each gena behind eye as well as smaller spots on maxillary palpi and on epicranium between each eye and clypeus ( Fig. 89 ); pronotum greyish brown with a pair of rather large light brown spots on middle part of disc as well as with poorly distinct lightish band along each lateral edge of disc and small areas on lateral lobes ( Fig. 89 ); each tegmen with brownish grey marks on dorsal field, light yellowish humeral stripe and spot near (behind) mirror ( Fig. 90 ), and light grey membranes of lateral field having rather dark parts between bases of Sc branches and proximal portion of Sc-R area as well as small spots in distal portion of this area; legs with sparse darkish dots and small greyish brown spots (latter spots more distinct in apical part of fore tibia and of hind femur as well as along ventral edges of middle and hind femora); anal plate also partly darkened, similar to that of nominotypical subspecies (see Gorochov & Tan [2014: fig. 25]); genital plate as in Fig. 91 ; genitalia distinguished from those of nominotypical subspecies only by ectoparameres slightly shorter and somewhat wider in profile as well as with apical parts less angularly curved, by formula insignificantly narrower and having somewhat longer posterolateral tongues, and by posterior parts of rami significantly thinner ( Figs 96–98 ).

Female. General appearance as in male, but: body somewhat larger; dorsal tegminal field almost entirely brownish grey with small light spot at base; humeral stripe of tegmen barely less light, consisting of light yellowish longitudinal veins (Sc stem, R and M) and light grey membranes between them having dense whitish crossveins in proximal half of this stripe; rest of lateral tegminal field also with light grey membranes, barely darker Sc branches, as well as very small and sparse darker (greyish brown) spots and dots between proximal halves of these branches; anal plate light brown, lacking distinct semimembranous area; venation of tegmina similar to that of all females of this genus previously considered here. Genital plate as in Fig. 99 ; ovipositor very long (almost 1.4 times as long as hind femur), with drilling apex typical of Varitrella s.l.

Length in mm. Body: ♂ 18.3, ♀ 27; body with wings: ♂ 25.7, ♀ 33; pronotum: ♂ 3.5, ♀ 4.4; tegmina: ♂ 18.5; ♀ 23; hind femora: ♂ 13.5, ♀ 17; ovipositor 24.

COMPARISON. The new subspecies differs from the nominotypical one in more spotted coloration of head, pronotum, tegmina and legs (vs head with two pairs of darkened spots near lateral ocelli and on upper parts of antennal cavities only, pronotum and legs almost uniformly coloured, tegminal lateral field with only Sc-R area darkened), as well as in the above-mentioned small characters of the male genitalia. From V. (C.) variabilis , known only in Palawan I. and most similar to V. (C.) robusta , the new subspecies is distinguished by almost the same characters of body coloration and by the male genitalia with the following features: a somewhat longer posteromedian epiphallic notch, a wider anterior part of this notch, intermediate (between V. r. robusta and V. variabilis ) in length and wider (in profile) ectoparameres, a distinctly wider and longer formula, a somewhat shorter anterior ribbon of this formula, and clearly thinner proximal parts of the rami.

ETYMOLOGY. The new subspecies is named after the Luzon Island where it was collected.

Figures

Figs 85–95. Varitrella, male: 85–88 — V. (Cantotrella) paraiso sp.n.; 89–91 — V. (C.) robusta luzoni subsp.n.; 92–95 — V. (C.) exculta sp.n. Head with pronotum, fore leg and parts of spread tegmina from above (85); fore part of body from above/side and slightly in front (89, 92); anal plate (86) and its partial reconstruction (94) from above and slightly behind; genital plate from below (87, 91, 95); right tegmen (88, 93) and its dorsal field (90). Рис. 85–95. Varitrella, самец: 85–88 — V. (Cantotrella) paraiso sp.n.; 89–91 — V. (C.) robusta luzoni subsp.n.; 92–95 — V. (C.) exculta sp.n. Голова с переднеспинкой, передней ногой и частЯми расправленных надкрылий сверху (85); переднЯЯ часть тела сверху/сбоку и слегка спереди (89,92);анальнаЯпластинка (86) и ее частичнаЯреконструкциЯ (94) сверху и слегкасЗади; генитальнаЯ пластинкасниЗу (87,91, 95); правое надкрылье (88, 93) и его дорсальнаЯ плоскость (90).

Figs 96–102. Varitrella: 96–99 — V. (C.) robusta luzoni subsp.n.; 100–102 — V. (C.) exculta sp.n. Male genitalia from above (96, 100), from below (97, 101) and from side (98, 102); female genital plate from below (99). Рис. 96–102. Varitrella: 96–99 — V. (C.) robusta luzoni subsp.n.; 100–102 — V. (C.) exculta sp.n. Гениталии самца сверху (96, 100), сниЗу (97, 101) и сбоку (98, 102); генитальнаЯ пластинка самки сниЗу (99).