Miogryllae Cadena-Castañeda & García García, 2020

Cadena-Castañeda, Oscar J., Tavares, Gustavo Costa & Fernandes, José Antônio Marin, 2022, Studies on Neotropical crickets: Mellogryllus mutus n. gen. et n. sp., an intriguing new genus and species of cricket of the Miogryllae Group (Orthoptera: Gryllidae Gryllinae: Gryllini: Brachytrupina) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Zootaxa 5125 (4), pp. 408-420 : 410

Genus group Miogryllae Cadena-Castañeda & García García, 2020

Comments. This group was created to group the genera Miogryllus Saussure, 1877 ; Faguagryllus Cadena-Castañeda, 2011 ; Kazuemba de Mello, 1990 ; and Gryllita Hebard, 1935 (this last, senior synonym of Rubrogryllus Vickery, 1997 and Geogryllus Otte & Perez-Gelabert, 2009 ). The Miogryllae Group is distinguished from the other groups of the subtribe by the male genital characteristics: lateral lophi longer than pseudepiphallic parameres or with similar length, ectophallic fold medially divided, and rami divided on the posterior region ( Cadena-Castañeda & García García 2020). The wing development and the presence or absence of the tympana are variable. These characters appear and disappear in the different taxa of Gryllidae and other families, varying even in closely related taxa ( Cadena-Castañeda et al. 2021c,d; Gorochov 2014; Randell 1964; Otte & Alexander 1983).

The inclusion of Itarogryllus Gorochov, 2020 in the Miogryllae Group is questionable. Reviewing the original description, the habitus and size are similar to Atsigryllus ( Gryllini : Anurogryllina ), as well as its genital structure. Possibly, Itarogryllus had a secondary reduction of the medial and lateral lobes; in addition, the ectophallic fold has a feature similar to several Anurogryllina species. At the moment, Itarogryllus is not included in any subtribe or genus-group, pending further review of the genus status or study of additional material.

Mellogryllus n. gen. is allocated in the Miogryllae Group, with a genital feature similar to Gryllita s.l., but small and silent, being the second silent genus described so far (after Kazuemba ). However, both genera are distinguished mainly by the feature of male genitalia. Also, we updated the genera group key, including the new genus described here.

Key to Miogryllae genera

(Modified from Cadena-Castañeda & García García, 2020)

1. Small size (9-12 mm). Tegmina reduced, without stridulatory apparatus. Tympana of the first pair of legs usually absent, if present, only on one side of the tibia...................................................................... 2

- Medium size (15-25 mm). Tegmina with variable development, generally covering up to the second abdominal tergite or further in males. Stridulatory apparatus present. Tympana of the first pair of tibiae usually present........................... 3

2. Tegmina reaching the second tergite, with parallel longitudinal veins and anal field slightly overlapping, tympana absent. Main lobe of pseudepiphallus notch deep and wide; pseudepiphallic parameres thin; ectophallic sclerite poorly developed; ectophallic fold divided, well-developed, extending through the pseudepiphallic median lophi....................... Kazuemba

- Tegmina very reduced, reaching only the first tergite anterior border, never touching, without venation, tympana present at least in females on the outer side of the fore tibia. Main lobe of pseudepiphallus notch narrow and not very deep; pseudepiphallic parameres wide and conical; ectophallic sclerite well-developed and divergent; ectophallic fold undivided, poorly-developed, not extending through the pseudepiphallic median lophi....................................... Mellogryllus n. gen.

3. Tegmina with variable development, generally rectangular. Space between the lateral lophi wide. Pseudepiphallic parameres with their postero-apical parts long (strongly projected beyond the posteromedial margin of pseudepiphallus). Ectophallic fold noticeably protruding between lateral lophi, spine-shaped..................................................... 4

- Tegmina ovoid. Space between lateral lophi moderately narrow. Pseudepiphallic parameres with their postero-apical parts not projected beyond the posteromedial margin of pseudepiphallus. Ectophallic fold not protruded between the lateral lophi.................................................................................................. Gryllita

4. Pseudepiphallic parameres with denticulations at apex; ectophallic apodeme divergent, rami with thicky apexes, forming two very close masses, but not merging............................................................. Faguagryllus

- Pseudepiphallic parameres with smooth apex; ectophallic apodeme convergent, rami apexes without modifications.................................................................................................... Miogryllus