Changiola perakensis ( Chopard, 1969 )

Tan, Ming Kai, Muhammad, Amira Aqilah & Robillard, Tony, 2021, A review of the genus Changiola (Orthoptera: Grylloidea: Pteroplistinae) and description of the first species from Borneo, Zootaxa 4941 (1), pp. 101-114 : 103-109

Changiola perakensis ( Chopard, 1969)

( Figs. 1 , 3–6 )

Pteroplistes perakensis Chopard, 1969: 232 (original description); Otte, 1988: 284 (record in checklist)

Changiola perakensis — Gorochov, 2004: 386 (transfer to new genus); Tan & Kamaruddin, 2014: 12, 44 (record in checklist, natural history notes)

Changiola nr. perakensis — Tan & Kamaruddin, 2016: 32 (record in checklist)

Type material examined. Female holotype of Pteroplistes perakensis [=? Changiola perakensis ], Malaysia, Perak, “Larut Hill” [= Bukit Larut], 4500 ft. a.s.l., coll. H.M. Pendlebury, 22 February 1932 ( MP).

Other material examined. 1 male (LAR.15.16), Malaysia, Perak, Taiping, near Taiping War Cemetery , circa N4.85812, E100.75697, 46.2±5.0 m a.s.l., young secondary forest edge, along road, calling in hollow branch of tree, coll. M.K. Tan, S.T. Toh, K.N. Kamaruddin, 17 June 2015, 2021–2226 h ( ZRC) ; 1 female (LAR.15.129), same locality, en route and near Sungei Larut , circa N4.85596, E100.75881, 52.2±5.0 m a.s.l., secondary forest/ forest edge, on branch, coll. M.K. Tan, S.T. Toh, K.N. Kamaruddin, 19 June 2015, 2035–2205 h ( ZRC) .

Distribution. MALAY PENINSULA: Malaysia: Perak: Bukit Larut.

Type locality. Malaysia: Perak: Bukit Larut .

Distribution notes. Our specimens were collected in the lowland forest whereas Changiola perakensis ( Chopard, 1969) was described from Bukit Larut lower montane forest (1370 m a.s.l.).

Diagnosis. This species is similar to C. subita in male epiphallus with posterolateral lobes distinctly shorter than C. pahangi , short rachis and shapes of formula and additional sclerite plates; but differs by the male subgenital plate deeply notched at the posterior margin. This species also differs from C. pahangi by shorter posterolateral lobes of epiphallus and male subgenital plate deeply notched (instead of faintly notched). The female differs from C. pahangi by female subgenital plate about as wide as long (rather than longer than wide) and not narrowing anteriorly.

Discussion. In the original description, the holotype was deposited in “ Selangor Museum” [SMKM Selangor] ( Chopard, 1969). However, this museum is no longer functional, and the holotype was transferred to the Muzium Perak (Perak Museum) in Taiping, Perak, Malaysia.

The female holotype specimen is in a poor state, and it was difficult to examine and compare its subgenital plate with our specimens. We describe the species, including the male genitalia for the first time, based on new material collected from Bukit Larut.

Redescription. Body generally brown, with head and pronotum pubescent ( Figs. 3 , 4 ). Head dark brown. Head rostrum slightly wider than scape, with apex truncated (in dorsal view). Scape and pedicel dark brown; scape with apical part black; antennal segments generally yellow brown with brown or dark brown rings. Face uniformly black ( Fig. 3D ). Maxillary palpi elongated, with apical, subapical and third segments about equally long; apical segment brown, subapical and third segments white; apical segment distinctly obliquely swollen. Eyes ovular; median ocellus small; lateral ocelli large, located near eyes posterior to scape. Gena dark brown. Pronotal disk brown, lateral lobes dark brown. Pronotal disk 1.5 times as long as wide, with strong setae along anterior margin; anterior and posterior margins of disk straight; not widening posteriorly ( Figs. 4A, 4C ). Pronotal lateral lobe 1.6 times as long as high, with ventral margin rising posteriorly ( Figs. 4B, 4D ). Anterior tibia with oval tympana on both sides, inner one larger than outer one. Legs generally pubescent. Posterior femur pubescent and flattened, without ventral spines; posterior tibia also pubescent, with about 13 small and stout spines on each dorsal side, with 2 ventral apical spurs; posterior basitarsus with about 5–7 denticles on each dorsal side. Coxa pale; anterior and middle femora pale with a dark brown ring at apical third (more contrasting in middle femur), tibiae pale to yellow brown with yellow brown rings in the middle and at apex, tarsi with basal segment brown. Posterior femur mostly pale with brown setae; brown at apical third and knee area; posterior tibia brown with pale ventral spots with brown spines; posterior tarsus with basal segment pale, apical third brown. Thoracic and abdominal segments yellow brown.

Tegmen not pubescent, brown, extending beyond abdominal apex, with dorsal field distinctly longer than lateral field ( Fig. 5A ). Dorsal field with five oblique veins in harp area. Tegminal mirror large, 1.2 times as wide as long, with anterior margin angular, with posterior margin widely rounded, and with two parallel dividing veins which gently-curved and located close to one another; anal area of tegmen distinctly shorter than length of mirror ( Fig. 5A ). Tegminal lateral field wide, with 16 branches of Sc and about 12 cross-veins (anterior ones are less distinct) between R and M; R and M diverge anteriorly, then run parallel, strongly converging towards the apex. Hind wings slightly surpassing tegmina.

Subgenital plate stout, hexagonal, slightly wider than long, anterior margin wide, posterior margin truncated, with a distinct deep angular notch ( Fig. 5B ).

Male genitalia as shown in Figs. 5 C–E: epiphallus (ep) with strongly transverse median part broad, anterior margin concaved in the middle, with posterolateral lobes strongly sclerotized, stout, gently curved and apex obtuse. Rachis (ra) strongly sclerotized, short and triangular, apex narrow and subacute. Ectoparamere (ec) long, straight and slender, surpassing posterolateral lobes of epiphallus, apex hooked in dorsal view. Endoparameres (en) strongly sclerotized, slender, with apex curved and subacute. Formula (f) elongated and lamellate; rami (r) strongly Sshaped, not lamellate. Additional sclerite plate (p) characteristic of Changiola triangular.

Female. Subgenital plate triangular, about as wide as long, small; lateral margins tapering into a subacute apex angularly notched ( Fig. 5F ). Ovipositor as shown in Fig. 5G .

Measurements (in mm). male BL = 12.9; PL = 2.4; PW = 3.5; TL = 9.6; TW = 4.8; HFL = 8.5; HTL = 5.0; female BL = 12.9; PL = 2.9; PW = 3.8; TL = 8.5; TW = 3.9; HFL = 8.4; HTL = 5.0; OL = 7.1.

Natural history. A male was found calling at night while hiding in the crevice of a tree branch ( Fig. 6 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map of parts of Southeast Asia showing the distribution of Changiola.

FIGURE 3. Female holotype of Pteroplistes perakensis [= Changiola perakensis]: habitus in dorsal (A) and lateral (B) views; specimen with label (C); head in anterior view (D); head and pronotum in lateral view (E); ovipositor in lateral view (F). Scale bars: 1 mm (D), 2 mm (A, B, E, F).

FIGURE 4. Changiola perakensis male (A, B) and female (C, D) habitus in dorsal (A, C) and lateral (B, D) views. Scale bars = 5 mm.

FIGURE 5. Changiola perakensis: male tegminal dorsal field in dorsal view (A); male subgenital plate in ventral view (B); male genitalia in dorsal (C), ventral (D) and lateral (E) views; female subgenital plate in ventral view (F); ovipositor in lateral view (G). Scale bars: 2 mm (A); 1 mm (others).

FIGURE 6. Changiola perakensis male calling while remaining cryptic in the hollowed tree branch.