Pleioplectron hudsoni Hutton, 1896

Hegg, Danilo, Morgan-Richards, Mary & Trewick, Steven A., 2019, Diversity and distribution of Pleioplectron Hutton cave wētā (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae: Macropathinae), with the synonymy of Weta Chopard and the description of seven new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 577, pp. 1-46 : 14-17

Pleioplectron hudsoni Hutton, 1896

Figs 2 A–B, 6G, 7B, 8D–F, 10D–F, 14E, 18A, 19

Pleioplectron hudsoni Hutton, 1896: 234 , pl. 13, figs 14, 14a.

Diagnosis

A small brown cave wētā with a yellow median dorsal stripe or band, found in forests throughout the North Island, New Zealand. It could be most easily confused with Miotopus diversus ( Hutton, 1896) or Neonetus variegatus Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1888 , two species with which it is sympatric and shares the forest habitat. From both of these species it is distinguished by the lack of a posterior apical spine on the fore femur. Additionally, it is smaller than M. diversus and lacks dorsal linear spines on the mid tibia.

Etymology

Named after the New Zealand entomologist George V. Hudson (1867–1946), who collected the holotype specimen (a male) in Wellington ( Richards 1959). According to Richards (1959), the holotype is now missing.

Material examined (see also Table 3 in Supplementary Material)

Neotype

NEW ZEALAND • ♂, adult; Wellington (WL), Zealandia Ecosanctuary ; 41.305537° S, 174.736776° E; 250 m a.s.l.; 25 Feb. 2017; Edward (Ted) Trewick, Mary Morgan-Richards and Steve Trewick leg.; in native forest; NMNZ AI.037500 (previously MPN CW3561 ).

Representative female

NEW ZEALAND • ♀, adult; same collection data as for holotype; NMNZ AI.037501 (prev. MPN CW3552 ) .

Other material

NEW ZEALAND – Wellington (WN) • 1 ♂, 1 nymph; Wellington, Zealandia Ecosanctuary ; 41.30554° S, 174.73678° E; 250 m a.s.l.; 17 Aug. 2004; R. Goudswaard leg.; MPN CW135 , CW136 • 1 ♀, 1 nymph; same locality as preceding; 22 Aug. 2006; R. Goudswaard leg.; MPN CW477 , CW478 • 8 ♂♂, 14 ♀♀; same locality as preceding; 25 Feb. 2017; E. Trewick, M. Morgan-Richards and S. Trewick leg.; native forest; MPN CW3549 to CW3551 , CW3553 to CW3560 , CW3562 to CW3564 , CW3566 , CW3567 , CW3571 , CW3573 , CW3575 , CW3578 to CW3580 • 1 ♀; Wellington, Khandallah Reserve ; 41.23884° S, 174.78733° E; 200 m a.s.l.; 12 Aug. 2004; S. Trewick leg.; logs and sticks in native forest; MPN CW138 • 2 ♂♂; Wellington, Newlands ; 41.23335° S, 174.82746° E; 160 m a.s.l.; 17 Sep. 2016; S. Trewick leg.; night search; MPN CW3125 , CW3126 • 2 ♀♀; Wellington, Eastbourne, Butterfly Creek ; 41.30599° S, 174.90046° E; 50 m a.s.l.; 16 Apr. 2006; M. Morgan-Richards and S. Trewick leg.; MPN CW364 , CW365 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Wainuiomata River, Catchpool Campsite ; 41.35207° S, 174.92389° E; 50 m a.s.l.; 21 Oct. 1999; S. Trewick leg.; under rocks at base of beech tree; MPN CW171 A, CW171 B • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Kapiti Island ; 40.85336° S, 174.92955° E; 100 m a.s.l.; 14 Nov. 2011; B. Taylor-Smith and S. Trewick leg.; MPN CW1993 , CW1995 • 2 ♂♂; Tararua Forest, Otaki Forks ; 40.88085° S, 175.21887° E; 150 m a.s.l.; 4 Nov. 2017; D. Hegg leg.; in roots of uprooted tree; night search + insect net; MPN CW3889 , CW3890 • 1 ♀; Levin, Lake Papaitonga ; 40.6444° S, 175.23394° E; 10 m a.s.l.; 20 Sep. 2004; S. Trewick leg.; MPN CW161 • 1 nymph; Tararua Forest, Makahika Stream ; 40.63057° S, 175.41321° E; 200 m a.s.l.; 20 Mar. 2004; M. Morgan-Richards leg.; MPN CW71 • 1 ♀; Palmerston North, Turitea Road ; 40.41566° S, 175.6639° E; 100 m a.s.l.; 15 Nov. 2004; S. Trewick leg.; on ground under gorse bush; MPN CW186 • 1 ♂; same locality as preceding; 18 Nov. 2004; M. Morgan-Richards and S. Trewick leg.; under porch of house; MPN CW187 • 2 ♂♂; Palmerston North, Turitea Reserve ; 40.43039° S, 175.67276° E; 150 m a.s.l.; 2008; M. Morgan-Richards and S. Trewick leg.; MPN TD17 (1)A, TD19(1)A • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same locality as preceding; 15 Aug. 2010; S. Trewick leg.; near boat shed; MPN CW1440 to CW1442 • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same locality as preceding; 19 Nov. 2010; S. Trewick leg.; night search; MPN CW1454 , CW1457 , CW1464 , CW1465 • 1 ♀; Palmerston North, Esplanade ; 40.37222° S, 175.61740° E; 25 m a.s.l.; Apr. 2006; J. Goldberg leg.; MPN CW434 • 1 ♀; Manawatu Gorge ; 40.31936° S, 175.78692° E; 300 m a.s.l.; Apr. 2006; J. Goldberg leg.; MPN CW441 . – Rangitikei (RI) • 1 ♂; Pohangina River, Totara Reserve ; 40.12239° S, 175.85601° E; 150 m a.s.l.; 22 Aug. 2004; E. Trewick and S. Trewick leg.; MPN CW131 • 1 ♀, 1 nymph; Ruahine Forest, Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge ; 39.95591° S, 176.01522° E; 700 m a.s.l.; 28 Oct. 2018; D. Hegg leg.; on clay bank on side of track; night search + insect net; MPN CW4134 , CW4140 • 1 ♀; Ruahine Forest, Gold Creek Track; 39.76367° S, 176.19614° E; 700 m a.s.l.; 25 Mar. 2014; M. Lusk leg.; in standing dead wood; MPN CW2678 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Ruahine Forest, Parks Peak Track ; 39.68° S, 176.25° E; 9 Mar. 2012; M. Lusk leg.; MPN CW1916 , CW1917 • 1 ♂; Rangitikei River, Mangaweka campsite; 39.81084° S, 175.80666° E; 300 m a.s.l.; 11 Sep. 2004; E. Trewick and S. Trewick leg.; in decaying log; MPN CW143 . – Wanganui (WI) • 2 ♀♀; Bushy Park ; 39.79690° S, 174.93084° E; 250 m a.s.l.; 29 Dec. 2013; M. Morgan-Richards and S. Trewick leg.; night search; MPN CW2496 , CW2499 . – Taranaki (TK) • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Lake Rotokare ; 39.45409° S, 174.40923° E; 200 m a.s.l.; 2008; J. Fitness leg.; pitfall trap; LCR LR-L5-b, LR17-live-a, LR19(6)-live . – Wairarapa (WA) • 1 ♂; Bideford ; 40.86653° S, 175.86795° E; 150 m a.s.l.; 18 Sep. 2004; M. Morgan-Richards and S. Trewick leg.; under rotting logs; MPN CW157 • 1 ♂; Puketoi Range, Towai Road ; 40.41614° S, 176.14002° E; 600 m a.s.l.; 22 Oct. 1999; R. Brown leg.; MPN CW85 . – Hawkes Bay (HB) • 1 ♂; Elsthorpe Reserve ; 39.91961° S, 176.81603° E; 150 m a.s.l.; 29 Dec. 2005; S. Trewick leg.; MPN CW263 • 1 ♂; Mohi Bush ; 39.85725° S, 176.90068° E; 450 m a.s.l.; 27 Nov. 1995; M. Morgan-Richards and S. Trewick leg.; inside log; MPN CW60 • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; same locality as preceding; 1 Jan. 2012; M. Morgan-Richards and S. Trewick leg.; MPN CW1755 , CW1759 , CW1762 • 1 ♀; same locality as preceding; 8 Oct. 2012; M. Morgan-Richards and S.Trewick leg.; MPN CW1861 • 1 ♀, 1 nymph; Waipatiki Reserve ; 39.28256° S, 176.96400° E; 100 m a.s.l.; 27 Jun. 2011; M. Lusk leg.; MPN CW1972 , CW1973 • 1 ♀; Kaweka Range, Smith-Russell Track ; 39.37815° S, 176.33550° E; 600 m a.s.l.; 4 Feb. 2014; M. Lusk leg.; under log; MPN CW2680 • 1 ♀; Kaweka Range, Kuripapango Lakes ; 39.36148° S, 176.36078° E; 700 m a.s.l.; 16 Feb. 2014; M. Lusk leg.; under log; MPN CW2682 • 1 ♂; Kaweka Range, Makahu ; 39.2184°S, 176.48407°E;460ma.s.l.; 6Jan.2014; M.Luskleg.;underlog;MPNCW2692 • 1♂; Maungahuru Range, Maungahuru Track ; 39.20474° S, 176.68408° E; 750 m a.s.l.; 10 May 2011; M. Lusk leg.; MPN CW1609 . – Bay of Plenty (BP) • 1 ♀; Manganuku Campsite, Waioeka River ; 38.29081° S, 177.38637° E; 200 m a.s.l.; 12 Apr. 1998; S. Trewick leg.; MPN CW56 A • 1 ♂; same locality as preceding; 2 Jan. 2011; M. Morgan-Richards leg.; MPN CW1984 • 1 ♂; Opotiki, Hukutaia Domain ; 38.06943° S, 177.26368° E; 50 m a.s.l.; 3 Nov. 2018; Y. Mori leg.; MPN CW4131 .

Description

MEASUREMENTS. See Table 1.

HEAD. Frons dark brown, covered with very sparse setae; vertex glabrous and of variegated colour. Eyes dark, bulging and large compared to size of head. Fastigium dark, with a white spot on either side. Scapes and peduncles pale and pilose; antennae reddish brown, covered in fine setae. Maxillary and labial palpi light brown, with fine tomentum.

THORAX. Pronotum variegated brown; dark with pale bars next to posterior margin; covered in sparse, fine tomentum. Pronounced yellow median line. All margins of pronotum slightly rounded.

LEGS. Moderately long; hind femora of approximately equal length as body in both males and females. Hind tibiae 5% to 20% longer than body in females, 10% to 30% longer than body in males. Coxae and trochanters mottled light and dark brown. Fore and mid femora and tibiae with alternating conspicuous light and dark bands; hind legs variegated. Fore coxae with a pronounced lateral spine. Fore femora without linear spines above or below, but armed with one prolateral spine at apex. Fore tibiae armed below, generally with one linear spine on anterior edge, two linear spines on posterior edge. Fore tibiae armed with two long spines below (one prolateral and one retrolateral) and two short spines above (one prolateral and one retrolateral) at apex. Mid femora without linear spines above or below, but armed with one prolateral and one retrolateral spine at apex. Mid tibiae armed below, with one to three linear spines on anterior edge, zero to two linear spines on posterior edge. Mid tibiae armed with two long spines below (one prolateral and one retrolateral) and two short spines above (one prolateral and one retrolateral) at apex. Hind femora often armed with one small retrolateral linear spine below on interior edge, but without apical spines. Hind tibiae armed with approximately 20 linear spines above, of varying length, on both anterior and posterior edges. Hutton (1896) described these as “eight outer and 12 inner spines, and several minute teeth between them”. Hind tibiae with two superior subapical spines (one prolateral and one retrolateral), two superior apical spines (one prolateral and one retrolateral) and two inferior apical spines (one prolateral and one retrolateral). Superior subapical spines and inferior apical spines of approximately equal length, superior apical spines approximately three times as long as inferior apical spines. Hind tarsi with four segments, first and second segments with a pair of spines on distal end. First segment with 7–11 small, alternate dorsal spines. Second segment with 2–4 small, alternate dorsal spines. Second and fourth segments one third of length of first segment. Third segment one third of length of second and fourth segments.

ABDOMEN. Colour variegated brown, often with dark, nearly black patches on sides of second, fourth, fifth and eighth tergites; covered in sparse, fine tomentum. Yellow median dorsal line usually pronounced, of varying width, occasionally as a yellow band occupying middle third of dorsum.

MALE TERMINALIA. Cerci long, pointed at apex, brown in colour, clothed in setae. Styli short and broad at base, almost triangular, not extending beyond end of subgenital plate. Subgenital plate as wide as long in a triangular shape; terminates in a blunt point between styli; slightly keeled. Terminalia appear tricuspidate at apex when seen from above.

FEMALE TERMINALIA. Subgenital plate with three rounded points, outer two wider at base and longer than middle one. Ovipositor brown, recurved above, tapering very gently until near apex; relatively short (approximately three quarters of body length). Upper valve smooth above; lower valve with 7 to 9 blunt teeth at apex on ventral edge. Dorsal view of terminalia as in Pleioplectron simplex ( Fig. 12A ).

Figures

Fig. 2. Phylogenetic relationships of Pleioplectron Hutton, 1896 cave wētā based on mtDNA sequence. A. Bayesian analysis using a mtDNA sequence alignment of 1429 bp spanning the majority of COI, with a minimum individual sequence length of 1330. Posterior probabilities are shown by nodes. B. Maximum Likelihood tree using PhyML with a COI alignment that contained sequences ranging from 483bp to 1429 bp, although the majority were>850 bp at the 3′ end of the gene. C. Map of New Zealand entomological (Crosby) regions. These codes are indicated in the Material examined section for each species.

Fig. 12. Adult female terminalia of cave wētā in the genus Pleioplectron Hutton, 1896, dorsal view (suranal plate). A. P. simplex Hutton, 1896, Hinewai Reserve, Banks Peninsula (MPN CW4114). B. P. crystallae sp. nov., Salisbury Lodge, Mt Arthur (MPN CW3941). C. P. caudatum sp. nov., Brewster Hut Track, Haast Pass (MPN CW4040). Scale bars = 1 mm.