Hemigryllus ankeri, Cadena-Castañeda, 2025

Cadena-Castañeda, Oscar J., 2025, Studies on Neotropical crickets: On the Hemigryllus Saussure, 1877 taxonomic placement (Orthoptera: Grylloidea), with comments on Gryllidae classification, including new species and records, Zootaxa 5661 (2), pp. 151-177 : 164-165

Hemigryllus ankeri sp. nov.

( Figs. 6–8 )

Etymology. Dedicated to Arthur Anker, a great researcher, photographer, and specialist in Decapods. In recognition of his constant willingness to help and share his knowledge.

Type material. Holotype. Male. COLOMBIA, Amazonas , PNN Amacayacu, 3°46'21.6"S 70°16'28.2"W. 20 June 2024, 70 m. R. Quintana leg. ( CAUD).

Description. In addition to the characters of the genus: Male. Medium-size (14 mm.) ( Fig. 6 ). Coloration. Body predominantly ochre ( Fig. 6 ); cephalic capsule with brown longitudinal and interlaced stripes on the vertex, frons with two rounded spots at the level of the lower margin of the antennal sockets ( Fig. 7A ); in lateral view, with a diffuse postocular stripe; eyes blackish yellow and ocelli pale yellow ( Fig. 7B ); rest of head, including mandibles and palpi ochre ( Fig. 7A ). Pronotal disc with two transverse light-yellow stripes; rest of pronotal disc mostly brown pigment with some diffuse ochre strips and spots ( Fig. 7C ); lateral lobe of pronotum light yellow ( Fig. 7B ). Forelegs ochre, with two small brown stripes on dorsal margin near the femur apex, tibial spurs ochre with black apex ( Figs. 7D, E ); middle femur with a brown and conspicuous stripe near the apex. Middle tibia with two stripes over first basal third. Hind femur with chevrons of the distal half outlined in brown, also with stripes covering dorsal edge ( Fig. 6A ); hind tibia with two stripes between first pair of spurs and base of tibia ( Figs. 7F, G ), all spurs with basal and distal edges black. Tegmina brown, veins in the dorsal and lateral fields yellowish ( Fig. 7H ). Sternum light ochre. Abdomen ventrally ochre, tergites dark brown with posterior margin yellowish outlined. Head round, of medium size, compared to the body, smooth, and shiny, with only a few scattered hairs and located mainly on the vertex ( Fig. 7A ); lateral ocelli circular ( Fig. 7B ), central ocellus half the size compared to the lateral ones, ovoid, three times wider than high ( Fig. 7A ). Legs. Coxae well-developed, rectangular-shaped, laterally compressed, margins rounded, dorsal inner margin unarmed. Fore tibia with a conspicuous tympanum only on inner side, occupying half of the tibia ( Fig. 7D ). Middle tibia with two apical spurs on the inner margin and two on the outer margin. Hind tibia with inner dorsal and medial apical spurs of similar length, the ventral spur smaller ( Fig. 7F ); outer dorsal and ventral spurs of similar length, the medial spur twice longer than the other two ( Fig. 7G ). Hind basitarsus serrulated with five spines on the outer dorsal margin ( Fig. 7G ); inner margin with one preapical spine ( Fig. 7F ); apex with a spur on each side, the inner one being twice as long as the inner one. Wings. Tegmina not surpass the abdomen, reaching the eighth tergite; space between the AA vein and PCuP without accessory veins. Harp with four veins running through it and mirror without a dividing vein ( Fig. 7H ). Lateral field with a reduced lanceolate cell, three C veins, and seven Sc veins ( Fig. 7I ). Abdomen. Last segments unmodified. Epiproct covered by many hairs, with a mid-grove from the base to apex. Cerci almost as long as the hind tibiae, covered by abundant long hairs. Subgenital plate rectangular, longer than wide, posterior margin rounded. Male genitalia. Pseudepiphallus conical and long; ventral margins of pseudepiphallus wavy and close together and armed with small denticulations ( Figs. 8A, D ); inner surface of median lobe smooth ( Fig. 8A ). Median lobe in dorsal view with a short incision running only one-quarter of the length of the lobe ( Fig. 8B ). In lateral view, the median lobe curves upwards, and the apex is sharp ( Fig. 8C ). Pseudepiphallic parameres with the base falciform, moderately flattened laterally, posterior process cylindrical and long ( Figs. 8A, D ). Ectophallic fold short compared to pseudepiphallic parameres, lanceolate, and rounded posterior edge ( Fig. 8A ).

Female. Unknown.

Measurements (in mm.) male: LB: 14.0; Pr: 2.0; Teg: 9.0; HF: 8.0; HT: 4.5.

Comparision. This new species is related to the species of the genus that do not have the mirror of the tegmina divided by any vein.Among these, the most similar species is H. sharovi , as both share a long apical area and reduced lanceolated cell on the tegmina. As well the male genitalia with rather long pseudepiphallus. These characteristics distinguish both species from H. woronovi and H. gorochovi sp. nov.

H. ankeri sp. nov. and H. sharovi differ in the following characteristics: H. sharovi have the harp with five veins crossing it, whereas H. ankeri sp. nov. has only four. The ventral margins of pseudepiphallus to H. sharovi are nearly straight and moderately separated, exposing much of the pseudepiphallic parameres. In contrast, the pseudepiphallus of H. ankeri sp. nov. ventral margins are wavy and close together, covering the pseudepiphallic parameres. The median lobe in dorsal view of H. sharovi have a deep incision running from the apex to near the basal margin. Still, to H. ankeri sp. nov. the median lobe only has a short incision running only one-quarter of the length of the lobe. Another distinguishing character between the two species is the structure of the pseudepiphallic parameres: to H. ankeri sp. nov., are long, and the posterior process is cylindrical and prolonged, while in H. sharovi the posterior process is conical and poorly elongated.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Hemigryllus ankeri sp. nov. male habitus. A. Lateral. B. Dorsal and C. Axial views.

FIGURE 7. Hemigryllus ankeri sp. nov. male. A. Frons. B. Head and pronotum in profile. C. Head and pronotum in dorsal view. D. Fore leg inner side and E. outer side. F. Hind leg inner side and G. outer side. H. Tegmina. I. Lanceolate cell detail.

FIGURE 8. Hemigryllus ankeri sp. nov. male genitalia. A. Ventral. B. Dorsal. C. Lateral and D. Axial views, respectively.