Zebragryllus sp. 2

Tavares, Gustavo Costa, Oya, Beatriz Harumi Kondo, Cadena-Castañeda, Oscar J., Oliveira, Marcus Paulo Alves de & Castro-Souza, Rodrigo Antônio, 2024, New species and records of Zebragryllus Desutter-Grandcolas & Cadena-Castañeda, 2014 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Gryllinae) from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, European Journal of Taxonomy 932, pp. 82-111 : 101-104

Zebragryllus sp. 2

Figs 12–13

Diagnosis

This female is very similar to that of Z. aphonus Tavares, Oya & Cadena-Castañeda sp. nov. in the body shape ( Fig. 12A–B ). Still, it is quickly differentiated in the legs darker chromatic pattern ( Figs 12A– B , 13E–H ). This species does not have the genus characteristic ‘zebra’ pattern on the hind legs or abdomen either ( Figs 12A–B , 13E–H ). Other differences easily noted are the longer tegmina ( Fig. 12A– D ), the large tympana on the outer faces of the fore tibia ( Fig. 13E , in detail), and the tiny tympana on the inner face ( Fig. 13F , in detail). The fore and hind (mid legs lost) legs have no whitish areas ( Fig. 13E–F ). The maxillary palpi are similar to the species described above but differ by the slightly concave fifth segment’s dorsal surface and the slightly longer truncated-medio-distal portion ( Fig. 13D ). The abdominal tergites are dark brown, with no whitish areas ( Fig. 12A–B ). The supra-anal plate is subtriangular, with a distal margin rounded, somewhat longer and wider than in Z. aphonus Tavares, Oya & Cadena-Castañeda sp. nov. ( Fig. 12E ). The subgenital plate is similar to that of the female from Cayenne in Desutter-Grandcolas et al. (2014) (see Desutter-Grandcolas et al. 2014, Fig. 6Q–R ), with the distal margin convex in lateral view and concave in ventral view ( Fig. 12F–G ). The ovipositor is also similar to that of Z. aphonus Tavares, Oya & Cadena-Castañeda sp. nov. but darker ( Fig. 12H–I ), and almost straight, with a triangular apex bearing scale-like texture on the dorsal surface ( Fig. 12J–K ). The dorsal valves dorsally sulcated ( Fig. 12H–I ). The copulatory papilla is also similar to the female from Cayenne in Desutter-Grandcolas et al. (2014) (see Desutter-Grandcolas et al. 2014: Fig. b’–d’) but is more cylindrical and not dorsoventrally flat, like in most species of the genus ( Fig. 13A–C ).

Material examined

BRAZIL • 1 ♀; Tocantins, Araguatins, Fazenda Estiva ; 7°55′31.7″ S, 49°24′11.5″ W; 27 Mar. 2022; pitfall; MPEG. HEX 05050476 .

Description

MEASUREMENTS (mm). ♀. TL: 9.5; LP: 1.5; WP: 2.7; Tg: 2.3; HF: 6.5; HT: 4.8; Ov: 6.5.

New records

This is the first time that Zebragyllus has been recorded in Brazil. Two new species are being added to the genus, and two known species are recorded: Z. guianensis ( Figs 14A–H , 16A ) and Z. nouragui ( Figs 15A–H , 16A ). These two species were only known from their type locality, in French Guiana, where they live in sympatry, and here we extend their distribution ( Fig. 16A ). Five males and five females of Z. guianensis were collected in the Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, municipality of Melgaço, Pará State. Two males, two adult females, and one juvenil specimens of Z. nouragui were collected in Juruti, Pará State. It is plausible that these species occur in Brazil as these two localities are in Northern Pará State, near the boundary between Brazil and French Guiana, but on the other side of the great Amazon River. Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã is about 630 km south of the Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Nourages (type locality), and Juruti is about 770 km southwest ( Fig. 16A ). The other species of Zebragryllus are only recorded in Peru and Colombia. So we expect these known species and new ones to also occur in Brazil as their distribution is unexplored.

The males of Z. nouragui studied here have a different chromatic pattern of the hind femora, a variation of the populations described by Desutter-Grandcolas et al. (2014). The paired whitish oblique bands described for the species, like those seen in the female hind femora ( Fig. 15C ), are absent, and only the ventral whitish band is displayed ( Fig. 15A ).

Species of Zebragryllus may occur in very low populations since just a few specimens were collected, even in considerable collection efforts, like in Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã. This site was monitored for two years, with monthly armed pitfall traps in a 2-acre area. The area was divided into several parcels of 1 m ², each with a pitfall trap installed in the center. Even so, only ten specimens of Z. guianensis were captured.

Figures

Fig. 12. Zebragryllus sp. 2, ♀ (MPEG.HEX 05050476). A–B. Habitus. A. Lateral view. B. Dorsal view. C. Head and thorax in dorsal view. D. Tegmina. E. Supra-anal plate. F–G. Subgenital plate. F. Lateral view. G. Ventral view. H–I. Ovipositor. H. Lateral view. I. Dorsal view. J–K. Detail of ovipositor apex. J. Lateral view. K. Dorsal view.

Fig. 13. Zebragryllus sp. 2, ♀ (MPEG.HEX 05050476). A–C. Copulatory papilla. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C. Lateral view. D. Maxillary palpus, outer view. E–F. Fore leg, tympanal aperture, in detail. E. Outer view. F. Inner view. G–H. Hind leg. G. Outer view. H. Inner view.

Fig. 6. Zebragryllus mebengokre Tavares, Oya & Cadena-Castañeda sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (MPEG. HEX 05050458). A–B. Habitus. A. Lateral view. B. Dorsal view. C. Frons. D. Lateral view of head and thorax. E. Tegmina, arrow = angle of the forewing mirror. F. Sternum. G. Maxillary palpi, outer view. H. Supra-anal plate. I. Terminalia, lateral view. J. Subgenital plate. Abbreviations: see Material and methods.

Fig. 14. Zebragryllus guianensis Desutter-Grandcolas, 2014. A–B. ♂ (MPEG.HEX 05050467), habitus. A. Lateral view. B. Dorsal view. C–D. ♀ (MPEG.HEX 05050469), habitus. C. Lateral view. D. Dorsal view. E–H. ♂ (MPEG.HEX 05050461), phallic complex. E. Dorsal view. F. Ventral view. G. Axial view. H. Lateral view.

Fig. 16. Distribution of species of Zebragryllus Desutter-Grandcolas & Cadena-Castañeda, 2014. A. In the Amazon rainforest of South America, with emphasis on the states of Pará and Tocantins, and the two municipalities that serve as new type localities. B–C. Limits of the Canaã dos Carajás municipality with a highlight on the region where seven caves are located, inhabited by Z. aphonus Tavares, Oya & Cadena-Castañeda sp. nov. D–E. Limits of the Conceição do Araguaia municipality with a highlight on the sampling site where Z. mebengokre Tavares, Oya & Cadena-Castañeda sp. nov. was found.

Fig. 15. Zebragryllus nouragui Desutter-Grandcolas, 2014. A–B. ♂ (MPEG.HEX 05050471), habitus. A. Lateral view. B. Dorsal view. C–D. ♀ (MPEG.HEX 05050473), habitus. C. Lateral view. D. Dorsal view. E–H. ♂ (MPEG.HEX 05050472), phallic complex. E. Dorsal view. F. Ventral view. G. Axial view. H. Lateral view.