Rhaphidophora bilobata Dorji, Morgan-Richards & Trewick, 2025

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 : 21-22

Rhaphidophora bilobata Dorji, Morgan-Richards & Trewick sp. nov.

( Figure 16A–K )

Holotype. BHUTAN • 1adult male; Tshangkha, Tangsibji , Trongsa; 27.440°N, 90.420°E; 2161 m asl; 6 Jul. 2022; C. Dorji, Karma Chorten & Jigme leg.; Cool broadleaf forest: under fallen tree branches and leaf litter; MPN_ CW5505; NBCB142 .

Paratype. BHUTAN • 1adult female; Namkye, Nabji, Korphoog , Trongsa; 27.166°N, 90.562°E; 2252 m asl; 11 Aug. 2022; Sanjit Rai leg.; Cool broadleaf forest: under fallen tree branches and leaf litter; MPN_CW5544; NBCB151 .

Other material. BHUTAN • 2 nymph males; Tshangkha, Tangsibji, Trrongsa ; 27.440°N, 90.420°E; 2161 m asl; 6 Jul. 2022; C. Dorji, Karma Chorten & Jigme leg.; Cool broadleaf forest: under fallen tree branches and leaf litter.; MPN_CW5506, MPN_CW5507 . BHUTAN • 1 female; Namkye, Nabji, Korphoog , Trongsa; 27.166°N, 90.562°E; 2252 m asl; 11 Aug. 2022; Sanjit Rai leg.; Cool broadleaf forest: under fallen tree branches and leaf litter; MPN_CW5545

Description. Male. Body small in size (<16 mm). Median ocellus oval and lateral ocelli slightly oblong or oval, occupying basal two-thirds of lateral surface of the rostral tubercles. Posterior median margin of 9 th abdominal tergite less rounded, embedded within 8 th abdominal tergite ( Fig. 16F ). Tenth abdominal tergite with obtuse projection at the posterolateral margin with more convex shaped projection in the middle ( Fig. 16F ). Epiproct broad, less strongly curved but with two distinct grooves on the dorsal surface ( Fig. 16F & G ), with a pair of distal projections on the posterior median curved slightly upwards ( Fig. 16E & G ). Ventral basal plate of epiproct quadrate, with a pair of large lobes directed upward away from each other (usually backward when inserted to genitalia cavity) ( Fig. 16E ). These lobes are as long as the length of ventral basal plate of epiproct, with a pair of short sclerotised apical margin spines ( Fig. 16E & H ). Cerci slender and cylindrical, apices obtuse. Subgenital plate much wider than long forming oval lobes with wide space in between. Styli short, conical, arcuate with sclerotised acute apices ( Fig. 16H ).

Linear measures of body elements ( Table 4). Fore and mid leg spine details as per the generic description except mid tibiae with three superior linear spines (one prolateral and two retrolateral). Hind leg spine details ( Table 5).

Colouration. Head and pronotum mostly dark brown or reddish and black dorsally. Body brown with numerous small pale brown or yellowish spots along posterior edges of thoracic and abdominal tergites ( Fig. 16E ), and slightly yellowish brown from beneath. Rostral tubercles dark brown. Cerci blackish in the centre and white on the ends.

Female. Larger than male ( Table 4), body medium in size (> 25 mm). Median and lateral ocelli same as male holotype. Subgenital plate much wider than long, simple, more convex than triangular, basal with small depression in the centre ( Fig. 16J ). Ovipositor base not so broad, long and gradually narrowing towards apex, curved, apices acute. Lower valves serrated on distal area of ventral margin, and upper valves smooth. The general colouration is similar to male except body with more small brown/yellowish spots along posterior edges of thoracic and abdominal tergites. Linear measures of body elements ( Table 4). Fore and mid leg spine details as per the generic description except mid tibiae with only three inferior linear spines (retrolateral). Hind leg spine details ( Table 5).

Etymology. “ Bilobata ” from the Latin for ‘two lobes’– referring to the specialised ventral basal plate of epiproct, which forms a pair of long lobes.

Figures

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.