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| Aryalidonta itishreea Subedi & Kasalo, 2023 |
Abstract
Aryal’s Ten Avatar Groundhopper, Aryalidonta itishreea gen. et sp. nov., named in honor of the late Bhairav Aryal, an iconic Nepali satirist, is a new genus and species of Tetrigidae described as a part of the tribe Thoradontini. The species is native to Nepal, a country with a rich tetrigid fauna in need of taxonomic revisions. This monotypic genus can be easily separated from other Thoradontini genera by its enlarged proximal halves of middle femora, a peculiar lateral lobe morphology (small caudal protrusion in its caudal part and a sharp lateral tip), a triangular, anteriorly narrowing vertex, and by its unique head morphology. The species was observed in its natural habitat. It was found to harbor many color variations that are cryptic in nature. It feeds on detritus, algae, lichen, and moss. Specimens heavily infested by mites were found, as well as those in interaction with wasps (possibly Eulophidae), but the nature of the latter could not be determined.
Keywords: Bhairav Aryal, ecology, Eulophidae, Gorkha, groundhopper, Himalayas, Scelimeninae
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| Type specimens of Aryalidonta itishreea gen. et sp. nov. in their natural habitat. A–C. Holotype (♀); D. Paratype 1 (♂) (left) with Criotettix sp. (middle) and an individual of Aryalidonta itishreea gen. et sp. nov. (right); E. Paratype 1 (♂) in dorsolateral view; F–G. Paratype 2 (♀); H–I. Paratype 3 (♂). |
Family Tetrigidae Rambur, 1838
Tribe Thoradontini Kevan, 1966
Genus Aryalidonta gen. nov.
Justification of the tribal assignment and the genus description.—
The herein described species shares many similarities with members of Thoradontini, the most notable of which are as follows: (i) the u- or v-shaped carinae of the vertex visible in frontal view, (ii) high-placed frontal costa bifurcation and usually low-placed antennal grooves, (iii) a vertex that is usually triangular and narrowing anteriorly, (iv) eyes adjacent to the anterior margin of the pronotum, (v) bilobate lateral lobes, (vi) wings approximately equally long as the pronotum, and (vii) nodulate surface of the pronotum. Although an overview of the material showed that the tribe requires a thorough revision, we place the new genus and species within it to allow for easier revision in the future.
The new species does not fit with the type species of any of the relevant genera and is thus described under its own genus. It is possible that the subsequent revisions will recognize more species that belong in this genus, so it is important that the genus be defined by a well-documented species.
Etymology.— Patronymic. The genus is named in honor of the late Bhairav Aryal (Nepali: भैरव अर्याल), an iconic satirist of Nepali literature popularly known as the Emperor of Laughter (Nepali: हाँस्य सम्राट). The second part of the name, -donta, derives from the Greek word “ὀδών”, meaning “tooth,” and is a reference to Bhairav Aryal’s iconic smile. The genus name is of feminine gender.
Aryalidonta itishreea sp. nov.
Etymology.— The specific epithet is derived from the Nepali word “itishree”, which is the title of one of Bhairav Aryal’s books and translates to “The End”. The name is also a reference to the tragic end of Bhairav Aryal’s life, as well as to his unyielding belief that an end is an invitation to a new beginning. The name is Latinized with the suffix “-a” to form a noun in the nominative case and is feminine in gender.
Common name.— Aryal’s Ten Avatar Groundhopper
(Nepali: अर्यालको दश औतारी भुइँफड्के).
Common name etymology.— Named after one of Bhairav Aryal’s masterpieces, Dash Autar (Nepali: दश औतार; English transl. Ten Avatars). The name symbolically refers to the many color forms observed among individuals of this species.
Type locality.— Amaldarchaur, Ghyalchok, Gorkha, Nepal (Nepali: अमलदारचौर, घ्याल्चोक, गोरखा, नेपाल) situated at an altitude of 465 ± 10 m asl (approximate) ...
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| Individuals of Aryalidonta itishreea gen. et sp. nov. on different food sources. A. Lichen growing on the stones; B. Detritus on a desire path; C. Algal growth on the banks of a freshwater stream (Note: soft algal growth on the body surface indicated by greenish–yellow coloration); D. Moss growth on the desire path. |
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| Variability of coloration in Aryalidonta itishreea gen. et sp. nov. |
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| Different Tetrigidae species found in close proximity to Aryalidonta itishreea gen. et sp. nov. in their natural habitat. A. Coptotettix annandalei; B. Criotettix sp. (bottom left) with Aryalidonta itishreea gen. et sp. nov. (top right); C. Hebarditettix quadratus; D. Teredorus carmichaeli (right) with Aryalidonta itishreea gen. et sp. nov. (left); E. Thoradonta sp. (bottom right) with Aryalidonta itishreea gen. et sp. nov. (top left); F. Xistra angusta. |
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| Different nymphal instars of Aryalidonta itishreea gen. et sp. nov. (Note: the images are not on the same scale). |
Madan Subedi and Niko Kasalo. 2023. Aryalidonta itishreea, A New Genus and Species of Thoradontini (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae) from Nepal honors the Emperor of Laughter. Journal of Orthoptera Research. 32(1): 63-80. DOI: 10.3897/jor.32.94918
