Metioche (Superstes) payendeei, Hugel, 2012

Hugel, S., 2012, Trigonidiinae crickets from Rodrigues island: from widespread pantropical species to critically endangered endemic species, Zootaxa 3191, pp. 41-55 : 51-52

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

( Figs. 9–12, 15, 18, 21, 28–30, 35–36; Tab. 3)

Holotype. Male. Mascarene archipelago, Rodrigues, Grande Montagne Nature Reserve , 358–363 m alt., 19°42'36–37" S 63°27'49 –50"E, 26.IV.2009 BIOTAS 2009 068, S. Hugel leg., MNHN ( MNHN-ENSIF2909 ).

Female. Same as holotype, 26.IV.2009 BIOTAS 2009 067, S. Hugel leg., Allotype, MNHN ( MNHN- ENSIF2908 ).

Paratypes. Males. Same as holotype, 2♂, 16.II.2008 BIOTAS 2008 051, S. Hugel leg. & coll., 23.IV.2011 MauRod 2011 002, S. Hugel leg., and coll .

Paratypes. Females. Same as holotype, 1♀, 12.II.2008 BIOTAS 2008 015, S. Hugel leg. & coll., 4♀, 13.II.2008 BIOTAS 2008 031c, S. Hugel leg. & coll., BIOTAS 2008 031b, S. Hugel leg. & coll., BIOTAS 2008 031a, S. Hugel leg., CIRAD, BIOTAS 2008 030 [in EtOH], S. Hugel leg. & coll., 1♀, 16.II.2008 BIOTAS 2008 052, S. Hugel leg., MSIRI, 1♀, 26.IV.2009 BIOTAS 2009 069, S. Hugel leg. & coll., 2♀, 23.IV.2009 BIOTAS 2009 028, S. Hugel leg. & coll., 23.IV.2011 MauRod 2011 003, S. Hugel leg., and coll .

Diagnosis. Metioche (Superstes) payendeei n. subgen., n. sp. is distinguished from Metioche (Superstes) superbus n. subgen., n. sp. by the following: size larger ( Table 3); scapus width distinctly exceeding rostrum width; hind femora slender ( Fig. 15); male genitalia with two well sclerified pseudepiphallic lophi on both sides;

pseudepiphallic lophi and pseudepiphallic parameres pointing (dorsal view, Fig. 25); ovipositor weakly up curved; head and thorax orange with pale whitish markings ( Fig. 9–12), forewing angle and posterior veins of the dorsal field white (very rarely blue; pale in dead specimens), other veins of the dorsal field brown, cells black.

Description. Head and antennae: eyes large ( Fig. 9, 11); scapus slightly larger than rostrum; maxillary palpi 4 th article as long as the 3 rd article, apex of 5 th article moderately enlarged ( Fig. 10). Thorax. Pronotum wider than long ( Fig. 12), mesosulcus slightly distinct. Legs. Tympana lacking on both sides of fore tibia. Hind femora slightly elongated ( Fig. 15). 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 relatively long ( Fig. 15). Wings. Similar on both genders. Fore wings dorsal field with 7–9 parallel veins and numerous distinct transverse veins ( Fig. 19). Hind wings slightly exceeding fore wings apex. Hind knees exceeding hind wings. Male. Terminalia . SGP apex with two lateral emarginations ( Fig. 21). Cerci S-shaped, apex of both cerci converging in living specimens. Genitalia. Epiphallic sclerite asymmetrical, with two distinct well sclerified asymmetric lophi on both sides ( Fig. 28). Lateral pseudepiphallic lophi strongly asymmetric, left lophi hyperthelic, pointing in dorsal view, with spinules ( Fig. 28, 29), exceeding the middle of cerci ( Fig. 21); left lophi much shorter, cylindrical. Pseudepiphallic parameres present, asymmetrical, with a ventral median position: left paramere pointing backwards, right paramere falciform, pointing to the right side (ventral view, Fig. 30). Endophallic sclerite and apodeme distinct ( Fig. 28–30); endophallic apodeme forming a median crest ( Fig. 29).

Female. Terminalia . Ovipositor long, moderately up curved ( Fig. 35). Subgenital plate with a median notch ( Fig 36). Color: back ground color of head, legs and body orange; head and pronotum with white patterns ( Fig. 9, 11, 12); in one specimens, these patterns were light blue. Forewing angle and posterior veins of the dorsal field white (very rarely light blue; pale in dead specimens), other veins of the dorsal field brown, cells black.

Biology. Metioche (Superstes) payendeei n. subgen., n. sp. is only known by very few specimens, all collected in the plots of Grande Montagne Nature Reserve managed by the Mauritius Wildlife Fundation since more than 20 years. It was mostly found on Pittosporum balfourii at various heights, never on or near the ground. As the other endemic Trigonidiinae of Rodrigues, this species seems mostly active by day hours.

Etymology. Metioche (Superstes) payendeei n. subgen., n. sp. is named after Richard Payendee, one of the first native of Rodrigues involved in the restoration of Grande Montagne.