Parahirrius Skejo, Patano et Kasalo, 2024

Skejo, Josip, Husemann, Martin, Jr, Romeo Patano, Tumbrinck, Josef, Pushkar, Taras I., Pavlović, Marko, Mohagan, Alma, Pamin, Jan-Henrik & Kasalo, Niko, 2024, Revision of the polyphyletic genus Hirrius Bolívar, 1887 (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae), with descriptions of three new genera and insights into antennal sensilla morphology, Zootaxa 5524 (1), pp. 1-61 : 26-27

Genus Parahirrius Skejo, Patano et Kasalo , gen. nov.

Zoobank ID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:64064F4C-D428-4469-BB64-6D5603CACE8B

Vernacular name: Mindanao Pygmy Vividhoppers ( Figs. 2 , 16–21 )

Type species: Parahirrius parvus Skejo, Patano et Kasalo , sp. nov., here designated.

Etymology: The new genus name is a combination of the words para (Ancient Greek παρά), meaning ‘near’ and ‘Hirrius’, the name of the genus Hirrius Bolívar, 1887 under which this new genus and species were hidden for more than 145 years. The genus name is of masculine gender.

Composition and distribution: Two species, Parahirrius parvus sp. nov. and Parahirrius amorosus sp. nov. endemic to Mindanao, the Philippines ( Fig. 2D, 2E ).

Diagnosis. This new genus can be clearly separated from Hirrius by the filiform antennae, the narrow vertex with V-shaped carinae, and by the low position of the antennal grooves. From Zvierckia gen. nov., Parahirrius gen. nov. can easily be distinguished by the lack of wings, lack of pronotal projections, very small size, and narrow vertex with V-shaped carinae. From Guentheracris gen. nov., the new genus can be separated by the lack of wings, wide and long infrascapular area, narrow vertex, low position of the antennal grooves, and very small size. There is no clear affinity between this genus and any of the known Tetrigidae genera, but because of the V-shaped carinae and long fore and mid proximal tarsal segments, this genus may belong to the Xistra genus group, whereas the pronotum shape would point to an affinity to the Melainotettix genus group. From other members of the Xistra genus group and of Melainotettix genus group it can easily be separated by the lack of wings.

Diagnosis. Small, smooth, flightless, and dorsoventrally flattened colorful species from Mindanao, the Philippines.

Antennae. Antennae filiform, with 17 antennomeres.

Head. Head light brown or yellow. Eyes in frontal view globose. Vertex in the level of pronotum in lateral view. Frons and vertex forming acute angle. In frontal view, vertex visibly narrower than a compound eye. In lateral view, vertex and frons not visible. In dorsal view, vertex oblique, not projected before the eyes. Lateral carinae of the vertex slightly elevated above the eyes as small horns. In dorsal view, vertex narrower, slightly wider, or as wide as a compound eye. Anterior margin of the vertex truncated. Medial carina of the vertex present and recognizable throughout its whole length. Fossulae deep, so medial carina of the vertex and lateral carinae seem to be strongly elevated. Lateral and transverse carinae forming V shape in frontal and dorsal view. Frontal costa long and recognizable between the eyes in frontal view. However, the frontal costa is in fact short as whole vertex is depressed in the anterior part, so the strongly recognizable structure similar to frontal costa is in fact median carina. Frontal costa bifurcation situated between the compound eyes or in the lower third. Frontal costa in lateral view not projected forwards. Dorsal margin of the antennal groove placed below the lower margin of the compound eye. Lateral ocelli placed in the lower fourth of the compound eyes height, just below the frontal costa bifurcation. Maxillary palps yellow, smooth, elongated. Occipital area as wide as half of a compound eye.

Pronotum. Pronotum color species-specific. Pronotum covering whole abdomen. Pronotum smooth, finely granulated. Anterior margin of the pronotum very weakly projected forwards, almost truncated. Median carina continuous. Pronotal discus in lateral view straight, plain. Prozonal carinae weak, parallel. Interhumeral carinae present or absent. Humeroapical carina weak. Tegminal sinus absent. Ventral sinus deep. Infrascapular area widened, extended to the tip of the pronotum in lateral view, but still narrow and with parallel margins. Lateral area very narrow. Lateral lobes directed sidewards, without projections. Apex of the lateral lobe truncated. Pronotal tip acute, reaching hind knees.

Wings. Tegmina absent or reduced and covered by infrascapular area. Hindwings absent or reduced and covered by infrascapular area.

Legs. Fore and mid legs elongated, smooth. Dorsal and ventral carinae of the fore and mid legs smooth, finely granulated, slightly undulated and almost straight. Hind femur of species-specific coloration. Dorsal carina of the hind femur smooth and straight. Antegenicular teeth small and blunt, genicular teeth long and sharp. Hind tibia with 4-5 large spines on the outer and inner margins and with many minute teeth. First tarsal segment slightly shorter than the third Tarsal pulvilli oblique or obliquely angular, distal being the largest one. Hind tibia uniformly yellow.

Ovipositor. Ovipositor small and with strongly armed valvulae. Cerci triangular and hairy

Key to species of Parahirrius

1A) Vertex visibly narrower than an eye. Smaller species, body length 8.80–9.00 mm. Pronotum base color brown, paranota and lateral carinae with bright yellow lines. Females with larger ovipositor, about 0.45 mm long.... Parahirrius parvus sp. nov.

1B) Vertex almost as wide as an eye. Larger species, body length 9.20–10.85 mm. Pronotum base color yellowish and with many dark patches/blotches. Females with tiny ovipositor, about 0.35 mm long................. Parahirrius amorosus sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Distribution of the species belonging to the genera Hirrius and Parahirrius gen. nov., both endemic to the island of Mindanao. A) H. punctatus, B) H. mindanaensis, C) H. ruber sp. nov., D) P. parvus sp. nov., E) P. amorosus sp. nov.

FIGURE 16. Parahirrius parvus Skejo, Patano et Kasalo sp. nov. ♂ paratype (= paratype of Arulenus punctatus Stål, 1877) A) dorsal view), B) broken antenna glued on a paper, C) right lateral view, D) head in frontal view, E) labels. Photo E. Nguyen.

FIGURE 17. Parahirrius parvus Skejo, Patano et Kasalo sp. nov. ♀ holotype, from Mount Balatukan rainforest. A) ventral view, B) left lateral view, C) dorsal view, D) head and pronotum detail in dorsal view, E) abdominal apex in lateral view, F) head in frontal view. Photo R. Patano Jr.

FIGURE 18. Parahirrius parvus sp. nov. living ♀ holotype in natural habitat, from Mount Balatukan rainforest. A) dorsal view, B) right lateral view. Photo R. Patano Jr.

FIGURE 19. Parahirrius parvus sp. nov. living ♀ holotype in natural habitat standing on mosses (A–F, J–L) or on stem (G–I), from Mount Balatukan rainforest at 1 300 m. a. s. l. Photo R. Patano Jr.

FIGURE 20. Parahirrius amorosus sp. nov. from Mount Natampod ♀ holotype. (A–G) and ♂ paratype (H) deposited in CMU. A) right lateral view, B) ventral view, C) dorsal view, D) head in frontal view, E) head and pronotum detail in lateral view, F) head and pronotum detail in dorsal view, G) ♀ abdominal apex in lateral view, H) ♂ abdominal apex in lateral view.

FIGURE 21. Parahirrius amorosus Skejo, Patano et Kasalo sp. nov. living ♀ holotype in dorsolateral view, standing on a leaf in natural habitat, Mount Natampod. Photo R. Patano Jr.