Metioche (Superstes) superbus, Hugel, 2012

Hugel, S., 2012, Trigonidiinae crickets from Rodrigues island: from widespread pantropical species to critically endangered endemic species, Zootaxa 3191, pp. 41-55 : 49-51

Metioche (Superstes) superbus n. subgen., n. sp.

( Figs. 5–8, 14, 17, 20, 25–27, 33–34; Tab. 2)

Holotype. Male. Mascarene archipelago, Rodrigues, Grande Montagne Nature Reserve , 344–363 m alt., 19°42'35–39" S 63°27'47 –51"E, 18.IV.2005, Rod 2005 023, S. Hugel leg., MNHN ( MNHN-ENSIF2912 ).

Female. Same as holotype, 18.IV.2005, Rod 2005 028, S. Hugel leg., Allotype, MNHN ( MNHN-ENSIF2911 ).

Paratypes. Males. Same as holotype, 6♂, 18.IV.2005, Rod 2005 024, S. Hugel leg. & coll., Rod 2005 025, S. Hugel leg. & coll., Rod 2005 026, S. Hugel leg. & coll., Rod 2005 027, S. Hugel leg. & coll., Rod 2005 021a[in EtOH], S. Hugel leg. & coll., Rod 2005 021b[in EtOH], S. Hugel leg. & coll., 1♂, 16.II.2008, BIOTAS 2008 055, S. Hugel leg. & coll., 1♂, 23.IV.2009, BIOTAS 2009 029, S. Hugel leg. & coll .

Mascarene archipelago, Rodrigues, Mont Limon , 390 m alt., 19°42'40"S 63°26’42"E, 2♂, 12.II.2008, BIO- TAS 2008 013, S. Hugel leg. & coll., BIOTAS 2008 014, S. Hugel leg., MNHN ( MNHN-ENSIF2910 ) .

Paratypes. Females. Same as holotype, 7♀, 13.IV.2005, Rod 2005 031, S. Hugel leg. & coll., Rod 2005 032, S. Hugel leg. & coll., Rod 2005 021c[in EtOH], S. Hugel leg. & coll., Rod 2005 021d[in EtOH], S. Hugel leg. & coll., Rod 2005 021e[in EtOH], S. Hugel leg. & coll., Rod 2005 021f[in EtOH], S. Hugel leg. & coll., Rod 2005 022, S. Hugel leg. & coll., 5♀, 18.IV.2005, Rod 2005 029, S. Hugel leg., MSIRI, Rod 2005 030, S. Hugel leg., CIRAD, Rod 2005 033, S. Hugel leg. & coll., Rod 2005 034, S. Hugel leg. & coll., Rod 2005 035, S. Hugel leg. & coll., 2♀, 13.II.2008, BIOTAS 2008 035a[in EtOH], S. Hugel leg. & coll., BIOTAS 2008 035b[in EtOH], S. Hugel leg. & coll., 1♀, 16.II.2008, BIOTAS 2008 056, S. Hugel leg. & coll., 2♀, 23.IV.2009, BIOTAS 2009 030, S. Hugel leg. & coll., BIOTAS 2009 031, S. Hugel leg. & coll., 1♀, 24.IV.2009, BIOTAS 2009 036, S. Hugel leg., and coll .

Mascarene archipelago, Rodrigues, Mont Limon , 390 m alt., 19°42'40"S 63°26’42"E, 1♀, 16.II.2008, BIO- TAS 2008 059, S. Hugel leg., and coll .

Diagnosis. Metioche (Superstes) superbus n. subgen., n. sp. is distinguished from Metioche (Superstes) payendeei n. subgen., n. sp. by the following: size smaller ( Table 2); scapus width inconspicuously exceeding rostrum width; hind femora less slender ( Fig. 14); male genitalia with spatuliform left pseudepiphallic parameres (dorsal view, Fig. 25), with one single sclerified pseudepiphallic lophi (that can in first insight be mistaken as the pseudepiphallic paramere); ovipositor strongly up curved; head and thorax cream with dark markings ( Fig. 5–8), forewing angle and posterior veins of the dorsal field blue (pale in dead specimens), other veins of the dorsal field orange, cells black.

Description. Head and antennae: eyes large ( Fig. 5, 7); scapus width inconspicuously exceeding rostrum width; maxillary palpi 4 th article about as long as the 3 rd article, apex of 5 th article moderately enlarged ( Fig. 6).

Thorax. Pronotum wider than long ( Fig. 8) with distinct mesosulcus. Legs. Tympana lacking on both sides of fore tibia. Hind femora wide: about 3.6 times longer than wide ( Fig. 14). Spurs arrangement as in most Trigonidiinae: fore tibia with 1 ventral apical spur; mid tibia with two ventral apical spurs; hind tibia with 3 subapical spurs on sides, 2 inner and 2 outer apical spurs. Hind tibia subapical spurs of medium length ( Fig. 14). Wings. Similar on both genders. Fore wings dorsal field with 6–7 parallel veins and numerous distinct transverse veins ( Fig. 17). Hind wings slightly exceeding fore wings apex. Hind knees exceeding hind wings. Male. Terminalia . SGP apex with two lateral emarginations, leaving a median protrusion ( Fig. 20). Cerci S-shaped, apex of both cerci converging in living specimens. Genitalia. Epiphallic sclerite asymmetrical, with asymmetric lophi. Median lophi membranous; lateral lophi strongly sclerified (these can be mistaken for pseudepiphallic parameres), with numerous spinules. Pseudepiphallic parameres with a median ventral position, strongly asymmetric, left paramere hyperthelic, spatuliform, with numerous spinules ( Fig. 25, 26), exceeding the middle of cerci ( Fig. 20); right paramere much shorter, cylindrical, with an apical spinule. Endophallic sclerite and apodeme distinct ( Fig. 25–27); endophallic apodeme forming a median crest ( Fig. 26). Female. Terminalia . Ovipositor short, distinctly up curved ( Fig. 33). Subgenital plate rounded with a median notch ( Fig 34). Color: back ground color of head, legs and body light grey; head and pronotum with brown patterns ( Fig. 5, 7, 8). Forewing angle and posterior veins of the dorsal field blue (pale in dead specimens), other veins of the dorsal field orange (light brown in dead specimens), cells black. See the discussion section about the blue color.

Biology. Metioche (Superstes) superbus n. subgen., n. sp. was only found in the most humid areas of Rodrigues (mostly on the highest mountains of the island). It occurs in the restored areas of Rodrigues at high densities (up to 0.9 adult specimens /m ² in Grande Montagne Nature Reserve), and in wooded areas invaded by exotic plant species at significantly lower densities. I never observed this species on herbaceous vegetation and/or near the ground. This species is preferably observed in the lower (darker) part of native trees/bushes, mostly Cassine orientalis , Doricera trilocularis and Pittosporum balfourii . As the other endemic Trigonidiinae of Rodrigues, this species is mostly active by day hours.

Etymology. With bright blue and red wings, Metioche (Superstes) superbus n. subgen., n. sp. is among the most beautiful cricket species I have ever seen (see discussion about the blue color).