Stenopelmatus typhlops Rehn

Blind Jerusalem Cricket

Figs 174–180, Tables 1, 2

1903. Stenopelmatus typhlops . Rehn, J.A.G. 1902 (Journal date 1903). Transactions of the American Entomological Society 29(1): 15. Holotype adult female (Fig. 174): (1) Mexico (2) Qacualtipan Cape or Cope. ’85 (3) Red label Stenopelmatus typhlops Rehn Type NO. 5074. Stenopelmatus nieti Sauss. Det. Hebard 1931 . Measurements in mm: Body length 25.3, hind femur length 12.7. There are 3 outer and 5 inner hind tibial spines (Fig. 175). Ovipositor Fig. 175. Deposited ANSP Type No.5074. There is no Mexico locality with this name. Hebard (1932), when he synonymized S. typhlops under S. nieti, gives the spelling for the type locality as Cacualtipan in the state of Hidalgo. Currently, this locality is spelled Zacualtipan, and we found specimens near there as discussed below. New status: removed from junior synonomy of S. nieti, because on p. 59, we designated S. nieti as nomen dubium.

Adult male (Figs 176, 177) from near type locality (S08-44) with following measurements, in mm: Body length 36.96, hind femur length 14.07, hind femur width 5.73. Fore leg tibia with 3 ventral spurs; middle tibia with 8 calcars, 2 ventral spurs; rear leg tibia (Fig. 178) with 5 inner and 3 outer spines, 2 ventral spurs. Face (Fig. 178) with minimum furrow.

Recognition characters. Medium to large, jumping, almost all black JC whose calling drum consists of single drums delivered around 5.7 drums/second. This species is one of three, medium to large sized, almost all black described Stenopelmatus taxa. Stenopelmatus typhlops differs (Table 1, p. 16) from the medium-large sized S. ater, described from Coast Rica, by having more rear leg inner tibial spines, 8 vs 7 middle leg tibial calcars, and prominence of furrow. It differs from S. honduras, described from Honduras, by DNA, drum, and having 8 vs 7 middle leg tibial calcars.

Drum: Calling drum (Fig. 179, R08-1) of only adult male recorded. This male, from near the type locality (S08- 44) spontaneously drummed twice, in 3 hours, producing 36 drums each time over 6.2 and 6.3s, at 20°C, for a rate of 5.71-5.80 drums/second.

Derivation of name. “typhlops” is Greek for blind, perhaps in reference to the opaque looking, yellowish eyes of the holotype.

Habitat: Oak-pine forest (S08-44). Steep logged hillsides with tall oaks still on ridgetop. Understory grazed grasses with damp soil. Both 2008 adults under boards, 2 nymphs under boards and 1 nymph inside log with passalid beetles and millipedes. 2015 adult female inside log, 1 late female in small piece of wood and 1 late female in base of cut tree stump.

Behavior: Adults and juveniles readily jumped.

Life cycle and seasonal occurrence. See Specimens examined below.

Specimens examined: All Mexico, Hidalgo, Zacualtipan, 6500’, 11-viii-1938, H.R. Roberts, Ƌ 4 ♀ 4, 7 nymphs, ANSP . Hwy 105 6 km S. Zacualtipan, km post 103.7, 20° 39’ 49” -98° 42’ 3.5”, 2020m, 4-vi-2008, S08-44, DBW, DC Lightfoot, Ƌ 1 ♀ 1, 3 mid instar males; 18-vi-2015, S15-47, DBW, DW Weissman, ♀ 1, late instar ♀ 2. Tianguistengo, 5500’, 13-viii-1938, HR Roberts, ♀ 1, ANSP .

Questionable placement: Mexico, Morelos, Lake Zempoala [now Lagunas de Zempoala National Park], above Cuernavaca, 9500’, 28-vii-1940, HR Roberts, ♀ 2. The latter 2 individuals appear narrower and without the narrow, gold band readily visible (see Fig. 176) on the posterior aspect of the abdominal tergites. On the other hand, this site is close to the type locality of S. typhlops . The measurements for these 2 females are provided in Table 1 (p. 16) .

DNA. Nuclear F2443 (Fig. 10) and mtDNA F2011, F2012, and F2096 (Fig. 9) all indicate S. talpa as closest relative.

Karyotype: 2nƋ=25 (Fig. 180), with 7 pairs metacentric autosomes and 5 pairs rod shaped autosomes. X metacentric and largest of chromosomes.