Comidoblemmus nipponensis Shiraki 1913

Comidoblemmus nipponensis (Shiraki, 1913)

Figs 1–12

Gryllus nipponensis Shiraki, 1913: 56, Tabl.1, fig. VI A, B (syntypes: 1 male and 1 female, Japan: Gifu; in Taiwan University, not studied); Shiraki, 1930: 211.

Gryllulus nipponensis: Shiraki et al., 1950: 44.

Modicogryllus nipponensis: Chopard, 1961: 274; Randell, 1964: 1586; Chopard, 1967: 84; Otte, 1994: 15; Storozhenko & Paik, 2007: 99.

Comidogryllus nipponensis: Ichikawa et al., 2000: 263, figs. 4 d–f; Ichikawa et al., 2006: 462.

Material examined. Republic of Korea: province Gyeongsangnam, Geojedo Is., 10. IX.1986, 1 male, 2 female (Jong Cheol Paik); province Jeollanam, Gokseong-gun, Temple Tae-an-sa, 3. IX.2008, 1 male, 3 females (S.Yu. Storozhenko & Jong Cheol Paik).

Redescription. Head slightly wider than anterior part of pronotum. The distance between the inner margins of antennal sockets 1.9–2.0 times broader than the width of first antennal segment. Eyes large, oval. Fifth segment of maxillary palps distinctly widened apically, 1.1–1.2 times shorter than the combined length of 4th and 3rd segments. Disc of pronotum with straight anterior and posterior margins. Lateral lobes of pronotum with almost straight lower margin. Tegmina not reaching the top of abdomen; in male with 3 oblique veins and 2 diagonal veins, speculum large, apical field very short; dorsal surface of female tegmina with mostly parallel veins. Fore femora 1.2 times longer than pronotum. Fore tibia with both outer and inner tympana, and fore short spurs at apex. First segment of fore tarsi 1.1 times longer than the combined length of 2nd and 3rd segments (without claws). Hind femora slender, 3.1–3.2 times as long as maximal width. Hind tibiae: 2nd outer dorsal movable spine 1.6 times, 3rd spine 1.7 times, 4th spine 1.2 times as long as 1st outer spine; 2nd and 3rd inner dorsal spines 2.0 times, 4th spine 1.25 times as long as 1st inner spine; outer dorsal spur 1.15 times longer than 4th outer movable spine, outer lateral and ventral spurs longer than the outer dorsal spur (1.6 times and 1.1 times respectively); inner dorsal spur 1.3 times longer than 4th inner movable spine, inner lateral spur reaching the middle of first tarsal segment, inner ventral spur 1.35 times shorter than the outer lateral one. First tarsal segment of hind legs on each side dorsally with 4–6 strong setae and 2–5 small teeth between them. Second tarsal segment short, not widened. Third segment 3.9–4.1 times longer than second one, with a pair of claws at apex, which is 2.2–2.3 times shorter than the inner dorsal spur of first tarsal segment. Male epiproct with broadly rounded posterior margin; cerci almost reaching the middle of hind tibiae, subgenital plate conical. Female epiproct with straight posterior margin, cerci surpassing the apex of ovipositor; subgenital plate trapezoidal, with slightly increased posterior margin. Ovipositor straight, spear-shaped, 1.1 times shorter than hind femur.

Body blackish grey. Head with shining black vertex, frons dark grey, occiput grey, transverse stripe between lateral ocelli light grey. Eyes black. Antennae light grey. First and second segments of maxillary palps grey, 3rd–5th segments blackish. Disc of pronotum black with light marks; lateral lobes black. Tegmina in male black, in female shining black. Fore and mid femora grey with small blackish marks. Hind femora grey with numerous oblique blackish marks on outer surface. All femora blackish with grey spots; spines and spurs brown. Abdomen black, cerci greyish, ovipositor brown.

Measurements (in mm). Length of body male 6.9–9.6, female 7.7–9.3; pronotum male 1.3–1.6, female 1.9–2.0; tegmen male 3.9–5.3, female 2.8–3.6; hind femur male 5.2–6.0, female 5.2–6.4; ovipositor 4.3–5.0.

Distribution. Japan (Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Tsushima), southern part of Korean Peninsula, China (Taiwan).

Habitat. In Korea this species was found in a lawn near the edge of bamboo forest together with other crickets, such as Pteronemobius gorochovi Storozhenko, 2004, Polinemobius taprobanensis (Walker, 1869), Loxoblemmus arietulus Saussure, 1877, Velarifictorus micado (Saussure, 1877), and Teleogryllus emma (Omachi & Matsuura, 1951). The habitat, habit and behavior of C. nipponensis (subfamily Gryllinae) and P. gorochivi (subfamily Nemobiinae) are almost the same, therefore in the field survey a former species was easily confused with the latter.