Stenopelmatus minor Saussure

Weissman, David B., Vandergast, Amy G., Song, Hojun, Shin, Seunggwan, Mckenna, Duane D. & Ueshima, Norihiro, 2021, Generic relationships of New World Jerusalem crickets (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatoidea: Stenopelmatinae), including all known species of Stenopelmatus, Zootaxa 4917 (1), pp. 1-122 : 57

Stenopelmatus minor Saussure

Small Jerusalem Cricket

Figs 84–88

1859. Stenopelmatus minor . Revue et Magasin de Zoologie 2(11): 210. Lectotype adult male, with hooks, here selected ( Fig. 84 ): (1) Cordova [Córdoba, state of Veracruz, Mexico] (2) St. minor Sss (3) 91 (4) Stenopelmatus minor Sauss (5) red paper Allotypus Stenopelmatus minor Sauss. THH. Measurements in mm (courtesy J. Hollier): Body length 19.5, hind femur length 8.0, hind femur width 2.2. Left hind tibia ( Fig. 85 ) with 1 outer and 3 inner spines. Face Fig. 86 . Deposited in MHNG Geneva along with allotopotype.Allotopotype adult female ( Fig. 87 ) with same label data except (3) 92. Measurements in mm: Body length 15.6, hind femur length 7.8, hind femur width 2.6. Hind tibia with 3 outer and 4 inner spines ( Fig. 88 ). Face Fig. 86 . The female is in better condition because the male is missing both the middle and hind right legs, which is why Hubbell (1960) preferred that the female be designated the lectotype and attached an “ Allotypus ” label to the male. Nevertheless, when given a choice between an adult male vs adult female as lectotype, we choose the former because the presence of mature hooks will absolutely confirm adult status. Additionally, if there are distinctive characters in the articulated ringlet of 6 calcars, then those characters may be more prominent in males. Both specimens are mentioned in the original description. In any case, we declare a New status: nomen dubium, in the absence of DNA and drum.

Derivation of name. We assume “minor” in reference to its small size. In fact, as Table 1 demonstrates (p. 16), there are several smaller Stenopelmatus taxa in Mexico.

Discussion. We were tempted to let this name stand since it would have page priority over other small black species S. nieti and S. histrio , if all three should be synonyms. Nevertheless, the diversity of small, black Stenopelmatus , in Mexico, while unknown, easily exceeds 6 ( Table 1 ). This situation will be unresolvable without the behavioral information of hop vs no hop, and drumming pattern. If karyotype and DNA information can be included in future systematics, then even better.

Figures

FIGURE 84. Lectotype adult male S. minor (photo J. Hollier).

FIGURE 85. Hind tibia lectotype adult male S. minor showing 3 inner (left photo) and 1 outer (right photo) spines. He is missing his right rear leg. Given that the allotype female from the same locality has 3 outer tibial spines, we suspect that the lectotype male suffered some damage to his left tibia when an earlier instar.

FIGURE 86. Lectotype adult male (left photo) showing lateral wall of furrow (arrow). Allotopotype adult female (right photo) without furrow.

FIGURE 87. Allotopotype adult female S. minor.

FIGURE 88. Left hind leg tibia of allotopotype adult female S. minor showing 4 inner (left photo) and 3 outer (right photo) spines.