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| B. Female Rugabinthus species in their natural habitats in Acemo, South Manokwari (inaturalist.org) and C. Malagufuk (inaturalist.org). in Tan & Robillard, 2022. DOI: 10.3897/jor.31.73800 Photos: Benoît Segerer. |
Abstract
Brachypterous crickets from the monophyletic group of Lebinthina were traditionally grouped under the genus Lebinthus. However, the morphology and calling song are highly diversified, prompting the erection of numerous genera to reclassify the species. Based on the strong characteristic fold carrying the diagonal vein of the male forewing, a new genus of cricket from the subtribe Lebinthina is described: Rugabinthus gen. nov. This brachypterous genus is endemic to the island of New Guinea and nearby islands. We redescribe the type species Rugabinthus leopoldi (Chopard, 1931) comb. nov. and describe 12 new species, R. manokwari sp. nov., R. kencana sp. nov., R. maoke sp. nov., R. nabire sp. nov., R. albatros sp. nov., R. karimui sp. nov., R. yayukae sp. nov., R. biakis sp. nov., R. mamberamo sp. nov., R. tariku sp. nov., R. faowi sp. nov., and R. baduri sp. nov. We also transferred R. newguineae (Bhowmik, 1981) comb. nov. and provide a key to all known species of Rugabinthus gen. nov.
Keywords: Grylloidea, Lebinthini, new species, Papua, Southeast Asia, taxonomy
Taxonomy
Family Gryllidae Laicharting, 1781
Subfamily Eneopterinae Saussure, 1874
Tribe Lebinthini Robillard, 2004
Subtribe Lebinthina Robillard & Tan, 2021
Genus Rugabinthus Robillard & Tan, gen. nov.
Type species.— Lebinthus leopoldi Chopard, 1931
Diagnosis.— Among the Lebinthina genera, Rugabinthus species are average to large sized and stocky with a dark brown coloration. General shape close to that of Macrobinthus, also from New Guinea, from which it differs by male FWs with a narrow triangular harp (shield shaped in Macrobinthus) occupying half of FW width, with a characteristic and strong diagonal fold carrying the diagonal vein and cell c1, and separating FWs in two distinct areas; file vein area also characterized by a strong bean-shaped sclerotization; harp with a strong transverse oblique vein, bi- or poly-furcated anteriorly; venation posterior to diagonal fold usually faint and reticulated, longitudinal veins only strong at apex. Eyes prominent and large as in Macrobinthus compared to Agnotecous and Centuriarus; face as high as wide (higher than wide in Macrobinthus), close to that of Lebinthus. Microptery in both sexes, FWs not reaching mid-length of abdomen. Mirror not differentiated (slightly differentiated in Macrobinthus). CuA almost straight (clearly curved inwards in Macrobinthus). Male genitalia with pseudepiphallus usually elongate, its posterior apex highly variable in size and shape, rami short; pseudepiphallic parameres made of two main lobes variable in shape and orientation; endophallic sclerite very long, trifid posteriorly. Female: FWs shorter than in males, very slightly overlapping, generally rounded posteriorly. Ovipositor rather long, its apex slightly denticulate on dorsal edge. Female copulatory papilla usually rounded, with a C-shaped basal sclerite; apex rounded, generally folded ventrally.
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| A. Map of New Guinea island showing the distribution of Rugabinthus species; B. Female Rugabinthus species in their natural habitats in Acemo, South Manokwari (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73044465) and C. Malagufuk (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/72638321). Photo credit: Benoît Segerer. |
Etymology.— Genus named after the Latin word “Ruga” for wrinkle or fold, referring to the characteristic fold on the male FW carrying the diagonal vein.
Distribution.— Island of New Guinea: Indonesia (West Papua) and Papua New Guinea (Fig. 3).
Ming Kai Tan and Tony Robillard. 2022. Rugabinthus, A New Genus of Lebinthina (Orthoptera, Gryllidae, Eneopterinae) from New Guinea. Journal of Orthoptera Research. 31(1): 9-40. DOI: 10.3897/jor.31.73800
