Salomona redtenbacheri Brongniart, 1897

Hugel, Sylvain, 2009, Gryllacrididae and Tettigoniidae (Insecta, Orthoptera, Ensifera) from Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, Zoosystema 31 (3), pp. 525-576 : 565-571

Salomona redtenbacheri Brongniart, 1897 ( Figs 18-20 )

Salomona redtenbacheri Brongniart, 1897: 159 .

Salomona haani Brongniart, 1897: 137 , n. syn. (type locality: South western Pacific, Vanuatu).

Salomona magnifica Willemse, 1925: 516 , n. syn. (type locality: South western Pacific, Vanuatu).

TYPE MATERIAL. — Mus. Paris, N[ouve]lles Hébrides [ Vanuatu], F. von Mueller [coll.], 771-93, Salomona redtenbacheri Brong. Type [all manuscript]. [in alcool]. ♂ holotype (MNHN-ENSIF1616). Examined.

TYPE LOCALITY. — South western Pacific, Vanuatu.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Type material of S. haani: Mus. Paris, N [ouve]lles Hébrides [ Vanuatu]-François [coll.], 189-94, Salomona haani Brong [niart]. Type [all manuscript]. ♀ (MNHN-ENSIF1614). Examined.

Type material of S. magnifica: Jan 8 1923, N Hebrides [ Vanuatu], c. 500 ft E.c’st, Esp. Santo I., open forest, nr Hog Harb. dd J.R. Baker, & Percy Sladen, Mem. Fd. 1923; Santo, 8 Jan 1923 [manuscript]; TYPE ♂, Willemse, Salamona [sic] magnifica, Tr.Ent.Soc.L., 1925, p.516 ; Salomona , magnifica nov. sp. [manuscript], Det. C. Willemse;Type [red label]; Salomona ♂ redtenbacheri 1923 Bro[n]gn[iart] [manuscript], Det. Uvarov; [1st label IDEM]; TYPE ORTH: 905 2/3, Salomona , magnifica , Willemse’s [manuscript], HOPE DEPT. OXFORD [printed]. ♂ holotype ( UMO). Examined. — Jan 12 1923, N Hebrides [ Vanuatu], 0-100 ft 3m. E. of Esp. Santo I., Elephant I. open forest, dd J.R. Baker, & Percy Sladen, Mem. Fd. 1923; Santo, 12 Jan 1923 [manuscript]; PARATYPE [female], Willemse, Salamona [sic] magnifica, Tr.Ent.Soc.L., 1925, p.516 .; Salomona , magnifica nov. sp. [manuscript], Det. C. Willemse; Cotype [red label]; Salomona redtenbacheri Brogn [iart] Tettigoniidae [manuscript], Det.in B.M., B Uvarov, 1923; Salomona [female] redtenbacheri Brogn [iart] [manuscript], 1923 Det. B Uvarov; [1st label IDEM]; TYPE ORTH: 905 1/3, Salomona , magnifica , Willemse’s [manuscript], HOPE DEPT. OXFORD [printed]. ♀ allotype ( UMO). Examined.

Vanuatu. (5 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀), Sanma Province, Espiritu Santo Isl., Penaoru, Ortho6, Exped. Santo 2006, X-XI.2006, 1 ♀ (SH-149) (MNHN-ENSIF2301).

Luganville, Site du CTRAV, 15°27’00”S, 167°12’26”E, alt. 2 m, forêt côtière sur sable, Exped. Santo 2006, X.2006, 1 ♀ (SH-150) (MNHN-ENSIF2302).

Penaoru, camp de base, Ortho12, Exped. Santo 2006, 6.XI.2006, 1 ♀ (SH-151) (MNHN-ENSIF2303). — Penaoru, camp de base, Ortho1, Exped. Santo 2006, 10.XI.2006, 1 ♂ (SH-152) (MNHN-ENSIF2304). — Penaoru, 600 m, crottes EB24, Exped. Santo 2006, X-XI.2006, 1 ♂ (SH-153) (MNHN-ENSIF2305).

Peavot, 14°59’37”S, 166°47’04”E, 38 m alt, forêt secondaire, ancien jardin, rive S de la rivière principale, terrasse haute, nuit, enregistré studio le 25.X.2005, Exped. Santo 2006, 21.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1♂ (SH-154) (MNHN-ENSIF2306). — Peavot, 14°59’37”S, 166°47’04”E, 38 m alt., forêt secondaire, ancien jardin, rive S de la rivière principale, terrasse haute, nuit, Exped. Santo 2006, 21.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♀ (SH-155) (MNHN-ENSIF2307).

Luganville, Site du CTRAV, 15°27’00”S, 167°12’26”E, alt. 2 m, forêt côtière sur sable, enregistré studio, Exped. Santo 2006, 29.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♂ (SH-156) (MNHN-ENSIF2308).

Peavot, 14°59’37”S, 166°47’04”E, 38 m alt, forêt secondaire, ancien jardin, rive S de la rivière principale, terrasse haute, nuit, Exped. Santo 2006, 20.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♂ (SH-157) (MNHN-ENSIF2309). — Peavot, 14°59’37”S, 166°47’04”E, 38 m alt., forêt secondaire, ancien jardin, rive S de la rivière principale, terrasse 3, sur plante de 3 m, nuit, Exped. Santo 2006, 20.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♀ (SH-158) (MNHN-ENSIF2310).

DISTRIBUTION. — South western Pacific, Vanuatu: Ambrym, Elephant Island, Epi, Espiritu Santo, Malekula. Some of the Salomona solida ( Walker, 1869) specimens mentioned in the literature from the Banks (North of Vanuatu) might correspond to this species (see Willemse 1959).

HABITAT AND LIFE HISTORY TRAITS. — We found S. redtenbacheri specimens in both secondarized (abandoned garden) and preserved wooden areas from the coastal areas to up to 600 m. In most of such localities, we detected this species by its loud high pitched song. Adult specimens and particularly males seem preferentially stand on tree tops, and are only seldom observed in lower strata.

MEASUREMENTS. — See Table 6.

REDESCRIPTION

Body robust, size medium.

Head ( Fig. 18 A-E). As wide as or slightly wider than pronotum. Frons and anterior part of genae rugosely punctured, forming irregular rugose ridges, without well distinct impressed points. Clypeal area with irregular horizontal wrinkles, clypeal margin subsmooth, supra clypeal area sulci slightly but distinctly impressed on their median edge. Carinae lateralis interna and externa distinct at the ventral base, delimitating a strongly rugose and convex area; superior end of carina lateralis externa (near the ventral external margin of the eye) short, distinctly elevated. Gena posterior part with smooth patches and irregular rugosities, posterior margin subsmooth. Fastigium of the vertex in frontal view: short, exceeding the scrobus superior end, reaching the middle of the scapus, with a median tubercle on the base (on the level of the scrobus ventral margin; the tubercle is variable in size), a short median vertical ridge and connecting the larger fastigium upper part; fastigium apex blunt; in lateral view ( Fig. 18E ): frontal margin with a concavity (concavity variable: weak or more distinct) near the apex, apex blunt, dorsal margin roundly elevated towards the apex, dorsal base of the vertex with a tubercle (variable in size). Occiput regularly rounded, with weak longitudinal wrinkles. Eyes rounded, moderately projecting. Lateral ocelli weakly distinct on the sides of the fastigium.

Thorax. Pronotum (see also “sexual dimorphism” below); surface rugosely punctured, slightly shiny, with shallowly impressed points particularly on the lateral lobe near the borders; anterior margin regularly arched, strait in dorsal view; with two transverse sulci; anterior transverse sulcus restricted to the discus, shallow, U-shaped, ending near the anterior margin; posterior transverse sulcus deep, ending near the infero anterior lateral lobe margin; discus with a weak but distinct sagittal sulcus; discus and lateral lobe posterior margins hemmed; discus prozona regularly arched, mesozona slightly bulging; metazona different in male and female. Prosternum with a pair of diverging spines, slightly flattened dorsally/ventrally, with sub acute apex; mesosternum lobes with a blunt tubercle on each lateral end of the posterior margin; metasternum with a similar lateral tubercle on each side.

Wings. FW exceeding distinctly the abdominal apex, regularly narrowed towards the apex; 4.2 (min: 3.8; max: 5.0) times as long as wide on the middle; apex rounded.

Legs. TI: with cleft-like similar inner and outer tympana opened dorsally; tympanal area with dorsal paired proximal and distal cuticular invaginations, distal invaginations very deep; non tympanal tibial area with dorsal carinae, sub parallel on the apical third, after the apical third, the inner carina approaches the outer dorsal carina (corresponding to head outline position on resting specimens); with distinct inner and outer carinae delimitating a convex ventral area; with 1 inner and 1 outer apical spur; with 5 inner subapical spurs (2 on one anomalous leg of specimen SH-156); with 5 outer subapical spurs; without dorsal spurs. FI: knees lateral lobes with 1 apical spine on each side, the inner the longer; laterally flattened; dorsally rounded, without dorsal carina; with distinct ventral carinae delimitating a convex ventral area; with 3-6 (usually 6) inner ventral spines on the inner ventral carina; with 4-7 (usually 5 or 6) outer ventral spines on the outer ventral carina. Inner spine on coxa I long and sharp. TII: laterally flattened; dorsally rounded except on the flattened distal end; flattened ventrally; with one ventral apical spur on each side; with 8 or 9 spurs on the ventral anterior margin; with 5-7 spurs on the ventral posterior margin, the proximal the smaller; without dorsal spur. FII rounded dorsally; laterally flattened; knee lateral lobes with one spine on each side, the anterior minute, the posterior longer; with 1 anterior and 1 posterior ventral carina delimitating a flat ventral area; with 4-6 anterior ventral spines; with 1-3 (usually 2) small proximal posterior ventral spines. Anterior dorsal spine on coxa II short, thorn like. TIII with dorsal carinae delimitating a flat dorsal area; with a distinct outer ventral carina; with inner ventral carina on the first distal third; with 2 inner ventral, 2 outer ventral, 1 inner dorsal, 1 outer dorsal apical spurs; with 4-8 (usually 5-7) inner ventral subapical spurs; with 10-14 outer ventral subapical spurs; with 11 or 12 inner dorsal subapical spurs; with 7-10 outer dorsal subapical spurs. FIII: length 4.2 (min: 3.9; max: 4.5) times longer than FIII maximal width (lateral view); with 1 apical spine on each knee lateral lobe; with distinct inner and outer ventral carinae; ventral outer carina with 7-9 spines, the proximal the smaller.

Colour

The general coloration is variable, from green to brown with or without black elements and darkening on the occiput, the pronotum and the legs. Face coloration relatively stable: brown reddish on the inferior area, of the general body coloration on the superior area; clypeal area black; clypeus white; labrum black except the white apex; top of the face black (on the superior end of carina lateralis externa,

A

B

C

D

below the eyes, on the scrobus, on the fastigium, on the scapus); on few specimens, median vertical lines are descending from this superior black area. Eyes surrounded by black. Occiput with more or less extended lateral black bands coming from the eyes posterior margin; wrinkles of darker coloration; sometimes occiput entirely darkened. Pronotum of general body colour (green to brown), with various extent of black patterns (from entirely lacking to shiny black with only the sagittal sulcus lighter). FW veins colour lighter than the general body colour; with darker cells; with weakly defined irregular brown spots. Legs of general body colour, always with black on the tibial knee joint (not visible when legs are extended); specimens with black on the occiput and pronotum usually with darkened/ black legs.

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM

Body size and wing length similar in males and females. Apart from primary sexual characters, the pronotum discus metazona of both genders is strongly different.

Male

Pronotum metazona elevated posteriorly, with a transversal step separating the anterior and posterior parts of metazona; metazona covering most of the stridulum; with rounded convex posterior margin; with inconspicuous shallow concavity on the median axis. Singing apparatus: file vein (A1) is well distinct (dorsal view) on the left FW ( Fig. 18M, O ); file with 59.6 ± 5.3 (min: 52; max: 65) lamellar teeth (variation due to the number of small teeth on the inner A1 end, Fig. 18H ). Left and right FW tympanum membranous ( Fig. 18 M-P), well defined, about 0.82 ± 0.03 (min: 0.78; max: 0.86) times as long as wide on the right FW. Terminalia: tergite X (last) anterior margin with a median emargination (visible on specimens with extended abdomen) posterior margin widely concave dorsally; epiproct hidden by tergite X. Cerci ( Fig. 18F, G ) apex pointing anteriorly, blunt; with a shallow dorsal internal protrusion before the middle; with a basal internal protrusion, perpendicular to cerci axis, dorsally/ventrally flattened; with 1-3 apical teeth. SGP ( Fig. 18 I-L): shape depending on preservation (lateral lobes more or less visible in ventral view); 1.7 ± 0.1 (min: 1.6; max: 1.9) times as long as wide on the apex; with a distinct V-shaped posterior emargination 0.21 ± 0.02 (min: 0.19; max: 0.24) times as deep as the maximal SGP length; with distinct lateral carinae, slightly converging towards the apex; with a longitudinal carina distinct on the apex; with distinct styli 1.8 ± 0.2 (min: 1.6; max: 2.0) long.

Female

Pronotum metazona distally flattened, squared, with strait or shallowly concave posterior margin. SGP ( Fig. 19B ) short; wider than long; convex on the apex. Ovipositor ( Fig. 19A ) strait on the base and regularly falciform after the base; without denticulations; apex pointing; 7.3 ± 0.45 (min: 6.5; max: 7.8) times as long (apex to base of the ventral margin) as ovipositor median width.

CALLING SONG ( FIG. 20 )

Males call during night hours. Th e song consists either of a short series (sometimes one single, Fig. 20A ) of echemes of various lengths, or of echeme-sequences with long trains of echemes of increasing duration ( Fig. 20 B-D). The echemesequence duration is 41.9 ± 30.1 s (min: 7.7; max: 87.6), and the echeme-sequences are separated by 22.6 ± 16.6 s (min: 1; max: 55.5). The echeme duration is 379.1 ± 100.8 ms (min: 112.6 at the beginning of the train; max: 721.7 at the end of the train). Within echemes, the poorly isolated syllables ( Fig. 20B below) are repeated at a rate of 14.8 ± 0.7/s (min: 13.4; max: 15.6).

REMARKS

Three Salomona species have been described from Vanuatu:

– S. haani Brongniart, 1897 described from “Nouvelles Hebrides ” [ Vanuatu] after a single female.

– S. redtenbacheri Brongniart, 1897 described from “Nouvelles Hebrides ” [ Vanuatu] after a single male. Th e MNHN collections contain additional Salomona specimens from Vanuatu identified by Willemse as belonging to S. redtenbacheri which have been collected in Malekula, Epi and Ambrym.

– S. magnifica Willemse, 1925 described after one male and one female from Espiritu Santo, and one female from Elephant island. Additional specimens (at least one male; see below) identified as S. magnifica are mentioned by the same author from Malekula ( Willemse 1959).

Brongniart described the first two Salomona species from Vanuatu in the same work ( Brongniart 1897). This author distinguished S. haani and S. redtenbacheri after coloration characters, particularly that of femora (entirely dark in the former, with yellow in the latter).These differences in coloration have been reused in Willemse (1959) key. Willemse (1959) distinguished S. redtenbacheri from his new species S. magnifica by the frons width “ about as wide at the base as at the eyes” in the former; “broader at the base than at the eyes” in the latter. Nevertheless, Brongniart (1897) states that the frons is almost as wide near the eyes as near the mandibles. In both type specimens, the narrowing of the frons from the mandibles towards the eyes is moderate but distinct and similar.

The 10 Salomona collected during the SANTO 2006 survey display both size and colour variations. The size variation is clear, but no distinct classes can be distinguished in all measured parameters, and all measured parameters are varying together in an isometric way (the genae bulging and face widths as well, Fig. 19C ). By contrast, the coloration differences (occiput, pronotum, legs, tegmina), are rather binarious: specimens have either black pattern on pronotum and darkened occiput and legs, or are almost entirely lacking black coloration (except around the eyes, where black surrounding is always present, Fig. 18 A-D). All other available morphologic characters are appearing as homogeneous, and apart from coloration and the above-mentioned isometric size variations, males are not distinguishable from S. redtenbacheri and S. magnifica male holotypes, and females are not distinguishable from S. haani female holotype and S. magnifica female allotype.

The cercus basal inner teeth of S. redtenbacheri holotype corresponds to that of S. magnifica holotype, and to that of the five specimens collected in Espiritu Santo during the SANTO 2006 survey. In his monography, Willemse (1959) illustrated the ventral view of a non type specimen cercus from Malekula (N.B. in the present article, dorsal views of the cerci are illustrated).

For all the above mentioned reasons, as first reviser ( ICZN 1999: article 24.2.2), I consider S. redtenbacheri as a valid species (I prefer to keep as valid the species with a male holotype rather than S. haani having a female holotype), and I consider S. haani and S. magnifica as junior synonyms of S. redtenbacheri .

Figures

FIG. 18. — Salomona redtenbacheri Brongniart,1897: A-D face in frontal view; E, fastigium in left lateral view; F, G, left cerci in dorsal view (not exactly the same angle for both); H, SEM picture of the file; I-L, male subgenital plate in ventral view,lateral lobed are visible or not depending on the specimen preservation; M, O, male left forewing in dorsal view; N, P, male right forewing in dorsal view. A, K, M, N, specimen MNHN-ENSIF2305 and B, L, O, P, specimen MNHN-ENSIF2304 both from Penaoru, note the strong difference in size; C, G, I, holotype of S. magnifica Willemse, 1925 (UMO); D, J, holotype of S. haani Brongniart, 1897 (MNHN-ENSIF1614); E, holotype of S. redtenbacheri (MNHN-ENSIF1616). Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIG. 19.— Salomona redtenbacheri Brongniart,1897:A, B, female holotype ofS.haani Brongniart,1897 (MNHN-ENSIF1614);ovipositor in right lateral view (A); subgenital plate in ventral view (B); C, head width below the eyes as a function of head maximal width. Note that although strongly variable,these two parameters are strongly correlated. Scale bars: A, 10 mm; B, 1 mm.

FIG. 20. — Calling song of Salomona redtenbacheri Brongniart,1897: A, isolated call, studio recording, specimen MNHN-ENSIF2306, 1H00, 21°C; B, specimen not collected, recorded near Butmas, down to the Tankara plateau, 17.X.2006, 20H30, 22°C; C, studio recording 6.XII.2006, specimen MNHN-ENSIF2308, 22H00, 20°C.