Stenopelmatus ater Saussure & Pictet

Costa Rican Black Jerusalem Cricket

Figs. 13–18, Tables 1, 2

1897 Stenopelmatus ater, Biologia Centrali-Americana, Insecta, Orthoptera, 1:291. Apparently 2 adult males in type series, one in NHMUK and other in MHNG Geneva. Lectotype adult male (Fig. 13, with hooks) here selected: (1) red label Holotype (2) R.(iver) Susio (Google Earth notes Sucio River, Heredia Province) Costa Rica, H. Rogers (3) Brit. Mus. 1899-235. (4) green label Stenopelmatus ater Pict Sas. This is the male figured in plate 14, Figs 8 and 9, in original description. In the lectotype, rear leg tibia (Fig. 15) with 3 inner and 3 outer spines. Measurements in mm: Body length 40, hind femur length 15.4, hind femur width 4.4. Face with furrow.

The syntype male (Fig. 14) in MHNG Geneva has similar labels: (1) green label Stenopelmat. ater Pict Ss (2) R. Susio Costa Rica, H. Rogers (3) red label Holotypus Stenopelmatus ater Pict. & Sauss. Hollier (2011) discussed this male, with labels clearly printed for Godman and Salvin for Biologia, according to J. Hollier (pers. comm. to DBW, December, 2019). Face with furrow (Fig. 18).

Adult female (Fig. 16) from Monteverde, Costa Rica, with rear leg tibia (Fig. 17) with 3 inner and 2 outer spines. Ovipositor Fig. 17. Face (Fig. 18) with furrow.

Distribution. Costa Rica with similar looking material seen from Honduras, but nothing known from inter-positioned Nicaragua. In the absence of drum and DNA information, we presently restrict the range of S. ater to Costa Rica.

Recognition characters and drum. Medium to large, almost completely black, wingless, hopping species with variable face furrows (less pronounced in females and smaller specimens). Can be separated from other named, black, medium sized, hopping S. typhlops, from Mexico, by hind tibia with 3 inner spines in S. ater and usually 5 (sometimes 4) in S. typhlops and furrows common in S. ater but rare in S. typhlops . Morphologically similar to a 3 rd black, medium-large sized JC, S. honduras (see p. 46) but Nicaragua in between with no known JCs from there, which clearly reflects a lack of collecting. Plus, ovipositor in S. ater extends well past end of abdomen (compare Fig. 17 with Fig. 63, p. 48) in all adult females that we have seen when compared with S. honduras . Fore leg tibia usually with 3 (rarely 2) ventral spurs, middle leg tibia with 7 calcars, hind tibia with 2 ventral spurs.

Drum. Unknown.

Derivation of name. “ater” is Latin for black.

Habitat. Usually in and occasionally under rotten logs in cloud forests (Monteverde) with passalid and other beetle larvae. Inside of log usually rotten enough to be easily broken apart with hand pick with JCs usually closest to side nearest to substrate, with all individuals at least 3 cm deep.

Behavior. Juveniles and adults jump well. One adult female (S00-21) stridulated. None to oatmeal trails at night at Monteverde, on several occasions, in areas where had collected individuals during daytime.

Variation. See Table 1. Some specimens with only 2 outer hind leg tibial spines.

Specimens examined. Costa Rica, Puntarenas Province, Monteverde, 10° 18’ 01” -84° 47’ 47”, 4956’, 16-vi- 1995 (S95-48) , 10-vi-1996 (S96-71), 13-vii-2001 (S00-21): From INBio: Alaju Province, R. San Lorencito, 5 km N de Colonia Palmarena, 900m, 13-18-vi-1993 , I. Curso. Cartago Province, Tapanti, 1150 m, i-1992 . Puntarenas Province., Est. La Casona, 1520 m, iv-1991, v-1993 ; Monteverde, 1500 m, 17-20, ii, 1992. From ANSP: Pacayas, S.E. slopes of Volcan de Irazú, 6000-6250’, 6-ix-1923 , Rehn & Lankester. Pejivalle, 4-viii- 1927, 600m, M. Valerio.

DNA. F2173 (mtDNA only) is recovered closest to Stenopelmatus chiapas (F2172, Fig. 9).

Karyotype. Unknown.

Discussion. Eat wax worms. Microsympatric with less common S. sartorianus at Monteverde.