Rhaphidophorinae

Dorji, Cheten, Morgan-Richards, Mary & Trewick, Steven A., 2025, Little-known wingless crickets of Bhutan (Rhaphidophoridae): discovery and description of nine new species, Zootaxa 5653 (1), pp. 1-32 : 24

Subfamily Rhaphidophorinae :

Key to the known male Bhutanese Rhaphidophora

1) Male epiproct more or less specialised bearing a projection or a curved, narrowed or bifurcate apex ( Fig. 14C , Fig.16H & Fig. 17G )............................................................................................... 2

- Male epiproct simple without long projection, disc oval, carinated all around, only at apex almost flat surface with a pair of short lateral spines directing downwards ( Fig. 15F–G ); ventral basal plate of epiproct triangular, gradually forming into single sclerotised spine ( Fig. 15E ).............................................................. R. bicuspis sp. nov.

2) Male epiproct less specialised, longer than wide; ventral basal plate of epiproct without any evident projections or specialisation........................................................................................ 3

- Male epiproct short slightly curved upward at apex ( Fig. 14E & Fig. 16F ), ventral basal plate of epiproct specialised ( Fig. 14F & Fig. 16H )......................................................................................... 4

3) Male epiproct acute-triangular, disc carinated all around with a longitudinal groove towards apex, apex projecting behind elevated disc and with 2 obtuse dorsal small lobes....................................... R. angulata Ingrisch, 2002

- Male epiproct longer than wide, dorsal surface shallowly curved projecting behind body; basal half broad and almost parallel thereafter with 2 obtuse lateral apices ( Fig. 17F–G ).......................................... R. piscicauda sp. nov.

4) Male epiproct oval, lateral margins not strongly curved but grooved dorsally with a conspicuous pair of projections on distal end directed slightly backwards; ventral basal plate of epiproct with a pair of swollen lobes directed upward and a small triangular sclerotised apical lobes ( Fig. 14E–G )........................................... R. bhutanensis sp. nov.

- Male epiproct oval, lateral margins less curved but deeply grooved in dorsal view and with a pair of projections on the distal end directed slightly upwards; ventral basal plate of epiproct with a pair of large lobes directed upward away from each other, apical with a pair of sclerotised ventral margin spines ( Fig. 16E–H ).............................. R. bilobata sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 14. Rhaphidophora bhutanensis sp. nov. Male holotype (MPN_CW5483; NBCB145): (A) Lateral and (B) dorsal views of body. (C) Anterior view of head showing 4 vertical short black strips on the face. (D) Lateral view of hind femur and basitarsus. (E) Ventral view of lower abdomen showing epiproct projection (blue arrow) and ventral triangular basal plate of epiproct (red arrow). (F) Lateral and (G) latero-posterior views of lower abdomen. Scale bars = 2 mm.

FIGURE 15. Rhaphidophora bicuspis sp. nov. Male holotype (MPN_CW5529; NBCB144): (A) Lateral and (B) dorsal views of body showing pronotal brown spot (pink arrow). (C) Anterior view of head. (D) Lateral view of hind femur and basitarsus. (E) Ventral view of epiproct showing triangular ventral basal plate with triangular sclerotised apical spine (red arrow). (F) Lateral and (G) ventral views lower abdomen showing a pair of sclerotised points (cusps) on distal margin of epiproct (blue arrows). Scale bars = 2 mm.

FIGURE 16. Rhaphidophora bilobata sp. nov. Male holotype (MPN_CW5505; NBCB142): (A) Lateral and (B) dorsal views of body. (C) Anterior view of head. (D) Lateral view of hind femur and basitarsus. (E) Ventral view of lower abdomen showing a pair of distal projections of epiproct (blue arrow) and elongated ventral basal plate lobes of epiproct (red arrow). (F) Dorsal view of lower abdomen. (G) Dorsal part of epiproct. (H) Lateral view of lower abdomen. Female (MPN_CW5544; NBCB151): (I) Lateral view of ovipositor. (J) Ventral view of subgenital plate. (K) Lateral view of hind basitarsus. Scale bars = 2 mm.

FIGURE 17. Rhaphidophora piscicauda sp. nov. Male holotype (MPN_CW5475; NBCB143): (A) Lateral and (B) dorsal views of body. (C) Anterior view of head. (D) Lateral view of hind femur and basitarsus. (E) Ventral view of lower abdomen showing quadrate shaped ventral basal plate of epiproct (red arrow) with a pair of sclerotised apical spines. (F) Lateral and (G) dorsal views of lower abdomen. Scale bars = 2 mm.