Stenopelmatus nuevoguatemalae Weissman, 2024

Weissman, David B., Song, Hojun & Vandergast, Amy G., 2024, Phylogenomics, male internal genitalia, a new species, and other notes on New World Stenopelmatus Jerusalem crickets (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatoidea: Stenopelmatini), Zootaxa 5443 (2), pp. 237-252 : 245-247

Stenopelmatus nuevoguatemalae Weissman , n. sp.

Guatemala Jerusalem Cricket

Figs 1 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Recognition characters. Unique specimen (F2332) that was first sequenced in Vandergast et al. (2017), and also reported in Weissman et al. (2021), and here ( Fig. 1 ). Medium-large sized JC ( Fig. 7 ) with apparent dark brown/black body, head, and pronotum but all legs and antennae reddish. Combination of color, size, and rear leg tibial spines separate this taxon from all current species of Stenopelmatus (see Weissman et al. 2021, Table 1 ). S. nuevoguatemalae differs from S. guatemalae and S. vicinus , the only Stenopelmatus species previously known from Guatemala (and both described from there), by having 4 inner and 4 outer rear leg tibial spines while S. guatemalae has 4 inner and 3 outer and S. vicinus has 3 inner and 3 outer rear leg tibial spines. The latter two taxa were described by Brunner von Wattenwyl, in 1888, and both were subsequently designated nomen dubium by Weissman et al. (2021). Genetically similar, but distinct, from S. cusuco Weissman , from Honduras (see Weissman et al. 2021), which it probably closely resembles in color when alive. S. cusuco has 3 or 4 inner rear leg tibial spines and 4 or 5 outer rear leg tibial spines. The type (and only known) localities of S. nuevoguatemalae and S. cusuco are separated by some 320 km. Documentation of different calling drums would be important in confirming that they are not conspecific.

Holotype. Adult female ( Fig. 7 ), in alcohol. Guatemala, Department Huehuetenango, Barillas Unión Las Palmas , 15.931100° -91.299310°, 1444m, 15-v-2012, collected as adult. F2332. Collectors J. Monzón & F. Camposeco. Deposited California Academy of Sciences ( CAS), CASENT type #20223. Measurements in mm: Body length 36.19, hind femur length 14.08, hind femur width 4.65. Fore leg tibia with 3 ventral spurs; middle leg tibia with 7 calcars, 2 ventral spurs; rear leg tibia ( Fig. 8 ) with 4 outer (most proximal represented by a bump on both legs) and 4 inner spines, 2 ventral spurs. Ovipositor Fig. 9 . Outline of furrow on face ( Fig. 10 ).

Male. Unknown.

Drum. Unknown.

Derivation of name. Since the name S. guatemalae is preoccupied, we choose this variation to indicate its country of origin.

Habitat. Mountain forests, according to the collectors.

Behavior. We predict that this species will hop.

Life cycle and seasonal occurrence. Unique adult holotype collected 15-v-2012.

DNA. F2332 recovered ( Fig. 1 ) in a subclade with S. ater , S. cusuco , and S. honduras .

Karyotype. Unknown.

Discussion. Despite absence of a drum and karyotype, we nevertheless name this taxon because its DNA, precise locality, and distinctive set of morphological characters will permit future identification.

We thank Oscar Cadena-Castañeda for giving us permission to describe this new taxon, and for donating the holotype to the CAS .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Orthoptera-specific target enrichment (OR-TE) analysis. We find both families Anostostomatidae and Stenopelmatidae (as indicated by an *) to be paraphyletic. Family Schizodactylidae is shown to be distantly related to both Anostostomatidae and Stenopelmatidae.

FIGURE 7. Holotype adult female S. nuevoguatemalae. Photo Dan Weissman.

FIGURE 8. Left hind leg tibia, holotype female S. nuevoguatemalae. Photo Dan Weissman.

FIGURE 9. Ovipositor, holotype adult S. nuevoguatemalae. Photo Dan Weissman.

FIGURE 10. Face, holotype adult female S. nuevoguatemalae. Photo Dan Weissman.