Rhaphidophora bicuspis 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 : 19-21

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

( Figure 15A–G )

Holotype. BHUTAN • 1 adult male; Botanical Park, Lamperi , Thimphu; 27.498°N, 89.767°E; 2761 m asl; 22 Aug. 2022; C. Dorji leg.; Cool broadleaf forest: forest floor under leaf litter; MPN_CW5529 ; NBCB144 .

Description. Male. Body small in size (<15 mm). Median and lateral ocelli almost oval and same in size. Lateral surface of a pronotum with central dark brown spots but inconspicuous (oval) ( Fig. 15A ). All abdominal tergites without distinct posterior projections. Posterior margin of tenth abdominal tergite concave. Epiproct simple, broad, oval, narrowing towards apex with carinated margin bearing a pair of sclerotised ventral spines ( Fig. 15F & G ). Ventral basal plate of epiproct triangular, forming a large single sclerotised apical spine ( Fig. 15E ). Cerci slender, conical and three times longer than epiproct. Styli stout and cylindrical with obtuse apex. Linear measures of body elements ( Table 4 ). Fore and mid leg spine details as per the generic description. Hind leg spine details ( Table 5 ).

Colouration. Body yellowish brown with dark brown irregular patches along the posterior of abdominal tergites dorsally ( Fig. 15A & B ) and slightly yellowish brown from beneath. Cerci and styli with dense yellowish brown short hair and fewer longer hair along the cerci.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. “ Bicuspis ” is Latin for ‘two sides’ or ‘two cusps’– derived from the paired spines on the ventral margin of male epiproct.

Figures

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.