Diestramima samkhara 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 : 15-17

Diestramima samkhara Dorji, Morgan-Richards & Trewick sp. nov.

( Figures 12A–K )

Holotype. BHUTAN • 1 adult male; Samkhar bridge, Gelephu , Sarpang; 27.009°N, 90.581°E; 942 m asl; 22 May 2022; C. Dorji & Jigme leg.; Subtropical forest: under boulders above bridge; MPN_CW5541 ; NBCB150 .

Paratype. BHUTAN • 1 adult female; Samkhar bridge, Gelephu , Sarpang; 27.009°N, 90.581°E; 942 m asl; 22 May 2022; C. Dorji & Jigme leg.; Subtropical forest: under boulders above bridge; MPN_CW5478 ; NBCB155 .

Other material. BHUTAN • 2 adult females; Samkhar bridge, Gelephu, Sarpang; 27.009°N, 90.581°E; 942 m asl; 22 May 2022; C. Dorji & Jigme leg.; Subtropical forest : under boulders above bridge; MPN_CW5542, MPN_CW5543 .

Description. Male. Body small (<14 mm). Median ocellus oblong and lateral ocelli circular. Posteromedian projection of 7 th abdominal tergite short covering only proximal part of paraproct ( Fig. 12B & E ), shallowly grooved from dorsomedial until apex ( Fig. 12C ), barely wider, almost parallel lateral edges and truncate with small notch at median part of apex ( Fig. 12C ). Paraproct rather short and almost triangular on lateral view, apices acute ( Fig. 12D & E ). Cerci conical, apices acute, Subgenital plate similar to D. tsongkhapa . Linear measures of body elements ( Table 2 ). Fore and mid leg spine details as per the generic description. Hind leg spine details ( Table 3 ).

Colouration. Head dorsally brown covered by brown-yellow hairs. Rostral tubercles brown from above. Maxillary palps brown with white in mid region of each segment. Body brown with few small brown/white spots along posterior edges of thoracic and abdominal tergites, covered in black and brown short hairs.A pale, thin median line present but inconspicuous extending only up to 2 nd or 3 rd tergites ( Fig. 12F ). Paraproct black when viewed dorsally. Cerci white with black spots on dorsal side of distal half, and with short yellowish-brown hair and fewer longer hair at proximal half.

Female. General appearance is similar to male, but body colour can be lighter with reddish brown on dorsal parts of thoracic tergites. White spots dorsomedial or along posterior edges of thoracic and abdominal tergites ( Fig. 12J ). Posteromedian projection of 7 th abdominal tergite short and angular with posteromedial apex obtusely rounded completely covering 8 th abdominal tergite. Ovipositor narrow and almost straight, and shorter than body, slightly curved at apex. Lower valves without serration, acute. Upper valves with hair along the margins, slightly acute at apex. The size of body elements and combination of leg spines are similar to male.

Etymology. The species is named after the type locality Samkhar, Sarpang district.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Diestramima samkhara sp. nov. Male holotype (MPN_CW5541; NBCB150): (A) Anterior view of head. (B) Lateral view of body showing short projection of 7th tergite (pink arrow). (C) Dorsal view of lower abdomen showing dorsal shallow groove (pink arrow) and little notched apex (blue arrow) on projection of 7th abdominal tergite. (D) Dorsal and (E) lateral views of lower abdomen showing short triangular paraproct (green arrow). (F) Dorsal view of body. (G) Lateral view of hind femur and (H) basitarsus. Female (MPN_CW5478; NBCB155): (I) Dorsal view of body. (J) Female variation: Dorsal view of body showing metanotum and 1st tergite dorsomedial white spots (blue arrows). (K) Lateral view of ovipositor. Scale bars = 2 mm.