Diestramima matermagna 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 : 10-11

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

( Figure 7A–K )

Holotype. BHUTAN • 1 adult male; Guru Drakphu Nye, Wangphu, Gomdar , Samdrup Jongkhar; 26.982°N, 91.584°E; 1028 m asl; 29 May 2022; C. Dorji & Jigme leg.; Subtropical forest : limestone cave entrance; MPN_ CW5486 ; NBCB146 .

Paratype. BHUTAN • 1 adult female; Guru Drakphu Nye, Wangphu, Gomdar , Samdrup Jongkhar; 26.982°N, 91.584°E; 1028 m asl; 29 May 2022; C. Dorji & Jigme leg.; Subtropical forest : limestone cave entrance; MPN_ CW5487 ; NBCB152 .

Other material. BHUTAN • 2 adult females; Guru Drakphu Nye, Wangphu, Gomdar , Samdrup Jongkhar; 26.982°N, 91.584°E; 1028 m asl; 29 May 2022; C. Dorji & Jigme leg.; Subtropical forest : limestone cave entrance; MPN_CW5485, MPN_CW5488 . • 1 adult male; Yurung bridge, Khar, Pema Gatshel , 27.040°N, 91.380°E; 571 m asl; 31 May 2022; C. Dorji, Tshewang Namgay & Jigme leg.; Subtropical forest : cliff base under leaf litter and small rocks; MPN_CW5489 . • 6 male and 5 female adults; Murang bridge, Khar, Pema Gatshel ; 27.011°N, 91.420°E; 923 m asl; 25 May 2022, 31 May 2022; C. Dorji, Tshewang Namgay & Jigme leg.; Subtropical forest : cliff base under leaf litter and small rocks; MPN_CW5479, MPN_CW5480, MPN_CW5481, MPN_CW5482, MPN_CW5536, MPN_CW5537, MPN_CW5538, MPN_CW5539, MPN_CW5540, MPN_CW5490, MPN_CW5491 . • 3 male and 5 female adults; Khelaphung, Kharungla, Brekha , Trashigang; 27.155°N, 91.628°E; 2039 m asl; 1 Jul. 2022; C. Dorji & Jigme leg.; Cool broadleaf forest: surrounding huge boulders and nearby vegetation; MPN_CW5492; MPN_ CW5493, MPN_CW5494, MPN_CW5495, MPN_CW5496, MPN_CW5497, MPN_CW5498, MPN_CW5499 .

Description.Male. Body small in size(<17mm).Median ocellus oblong and lateral ocelli circular.Posteromedian projection of 7 th abdominal tergite very short never extending beyond tenth abdominal tergite, gradually narrowing when viewed from above ( Fig. 7B & D ), truncate or slightly convex apex ( Fig. 7D ). Paraproct rather short and almost triangular, apices acute ( Fig. 7B & C ). 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 ).

Female. General appearance is similar to male but larger (body> 14 mm long, hind legs 7 mm longer than male’s; Table 2 ). Posteromedian projection of 7 th abdominal tergite short and angular with posteromedial apex obtusely rounded covering 8 th abdominal tergite. Ovipositor narrow and almost straight (slightly curved upward at distal half), and as long as body ( Fig. 7I ). Lower valves are finely serrated at distal end, with acute apices ( Fig. 7J ). Upper valves with equally spaced short hair along dorsal margins (almost starting from the base) ( Fig. 7J ), gradually narrowing with slightly acute apex ( Fig. 7I ). Subgenital plate broad and triangular with obtusely angular apical part ( Fig. 7K ). 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 with abundant short brown-yellow hairs. Body brown with few small yellowish spots along posterior edge thoracic and abdominal tergites, covered in black and brown short hairs. Paraproct black dorsally, and white ventrally. Cerci white with brown spots on dorsal side. The distal half of cerci are covered by short yellowish-brown hair and fewer longer hairs at proximal and mid areas.

Etymology. “ Matermagna ” is Latin for ‘great mother’– because adult females have larger bodies and longer hind legs than males.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Diestramima matermagna sp. nov. Male holotype (MPN_CW5486; NBCB146): (A) Anterior view of head. (B) Lateral view of body showing short 7th abdominal tergite (pink arrow) and paraproct (green arrow). (C) Ventral view of lower abdomen showing short triangular paraproct (green arrow). (D) Dorsal view of lower abdomen showing narrowing 7th abdominal tergite (blue arrow) and truncate or slightly convex apex (pink arrow). (E) Lateral view of lower abdomen. (F) Dorsal view of body. (G) Lateral view of hind femur and (H) basitarsus. Female (MPN_CW5487; NBCB152): (I) Lateral view of ovipositor and (J) finely serrated apex. (K) Ventral view of lower abdomen showing subgenital plate. Scale bars = 2 mm.