Parahirrius amorosus 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 : 32-35

Parahirrius amorosus Skejo, Patano et Kasalo , sp. nov.

Zoobank ID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7DFBB44D-B65E-4612-85DB-A981105538F1

Vernacular name: Mindanao Yellow Vividhopper ( Figs. 20 , 21 )

Type specimens: 1♀ holotype THE PHILIPPINES: Mindanao : Bukidnon: San Fernando: Mount Natampod 980 m a. s. l. 24.–25.VII.2022. leg. R. Patano ( CMU) ; 1♂ paratype THE PHILIPPINES: Mindanao : Bukidnon: San Fernando: Pantaron Range : Mount Natampod 980 m a. s. l.. 24.–25.VII.2022. leg. R. Patano ( CMU) .

Type locality. THE PHILIPPINES: Mindanao: Bukidnon: San Fernando: Pantaron Range: Mount Natampod.

Type depository. Holotype and paratype are deposited in the Central Mindanao University ( CMU) Orthoptera Collection, Mindanao, Philippines.

Etymology. Named after Academician Victor B. Amoroso, a renowned scientist and a famous Philippine botanist, and our dear friend and collaborator. His excellent mentorship and support to Romeo Patano Jr., author of this study, led to discoveries of many new species of pygmy grasshoppers from Mindanao. Specific epitheton is the second Latin declension masculine adjective, derived from Professor Amoroso’s surname, ‘ amorosus , amorosa, amorosum ’.

Diagnosis. The species is similar to Parahirrius parvus sp. nov., but can be easily separated from that species by (1) larger size, (2) characteristic coloration of pronotum and legs, (3) by a very small ovipositor in females, and (4) by a slightly wider vertex.

Description. Small, smooth, flightless, and dorsoventrally flattened colorful species.

Antennae. Antennae filiform. Antennae with 16 antennomeres; 1st massive scapus, 2nd large pedicel, 3rd to 6th basal segments - about 2-3 times as long as wide; 7th to 9th central segments, about 3-4 times as long as wide, 10th to 11th subapical segments, elongated, about 5 times as long as wide, 12th segment as long as wide, 13th to 16th apical segments, reduced and hard to recognize.

Head. Head color bright yellow, with light brown markings in the frons and clypeal triangle. Eyes in frontal view globose. Vertex in the level of pronotum in lateral view. Frons and vertex forming 45 degrees angle. In frontal view, vertex narrower than a compound eye, at the level of the dorsal margins of the compound eyes. In lateral view, vertex not visible, except for the tip of the frontal costa and medial carina connection. In dorsal view, vertex oblique, not projected before the eyes. Lateral carinae of the vertex slightly elevated above the eyes, so small horns are recognizable. In dorsal view, vertex almost as wide as a compound eye Anterior margin of the vertex truncated. Medial carina of the vertex present, recognizable. 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. Frontal costa bifurcation situated in the lower third of the compound eye height. Frontal costa in lateral view almost not projected forwards at all. 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 a half of a compound eye.

Pronotum. Whole surface of the pronotum characteristically ornamented in yellow and black markings. 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 absent. Humeroapical carina almost non-existent. Tegminal sinus absent. Ventral sinus deep. Infrascapular area widened, 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. Alae absent or reduced and covered by infrascapular area.

Legs. Fore and mid legs elongated, smooth, with brownish markings. Dorsal and ventral carinae of the fore and mid legs smooth, finely granulated, slightly undulated and almost straight. Hind femur basal color dark, with yellow markings. Four to five transverse ridges elevated from the smooth surface. Dorsal carina of the hind femur smooth and straight. Antegenicular teeth small and angular, 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, almost rounded. Proximal and middle almost equal in size, the distal one larger than them. Hind tibia uniformly yellow.

Ovipositor. Ovipositor tiny with strongly armed valvulae. Cerci small and smooth.

Holotype measurements (female). Body length from tip of head to the tip of pronotum 10.85 mm; antenna length 2.90 mm; compound eye width 0.60 mm; vertex width 0.50 mm; pronotum length 8.50 mm; pronotum width (at shoulders) 2.45 mm; fore femur length 2.80 mm; fore femur width 0.65 mm; mid femur length 2.90 mm; mid femur width 0.70 mm; hind femur length 6.05 mm; hind femur width 1.70 mm.

Paratype measurements (male). Body length from tip of head to the tip of pronotum 9.20 mm; antenna length 2.10 mm; compound eye width 0.45 mm; vertex width 0.40 mm; pronotum length 7.60 mm; pronotum width (at shoulders) 2.30 mm; fore femur length 2.50 mm; fore femur width 0.40 mm; mid femur length 2.70 mm; mid femur width 0.55 mm; hind femur length 5.35 mm; hind femur width 1.65 mm.

Distribution and habitat. Endemic to the lower montane tropical rainforests of Mount Natampod, 980 m a. s. l. on the island of Mindanao, the Philippines ( Fig. 2E ).

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 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.