Meloimorpha japonica (Haan, 1844)

Chinese name: PţḛDz

(Figs. 1B, 4A, B; 5A–C)

Gryllus japonica Haan, 1844: 236

Homoeogryllus japonicus, Bhowmik, 1985:63

Meloimorpha japonica, Gorochov, 2003: 83; Gu et al., 2018:16

Material examined. CHINA. 2♂, Zhejiang, Suichang Co., Wangcunkou Town; 28.32°N, 118.93°E; 16.ix.2022, N. Wang leg.; ZJ-2209-426 / 427 (SNNU); 1♂, Zhejiang, Lishui, Baiyun National Forest Park; 28.48°N, 119.92°E; 14.ix.2022, N. Wang leg.; ZJ-2209-364 (SNNU); 1♂; Zhejiang, Tiantai Co., Guoqing Scenic Spot; 29.17°N, 121.04°E; 8.ix.2022; N. Wang leg.; ZJ-2209-193 (SNNU); 1♂; Yunnan, Shiping Co., Huanwen Park; 23.68°N, 102.48°E; 28.viii.2021; N. Wang leg.; YN-2108-765 (SNNU); 2♂; Hunan, Zhangjiajie, Wulingyuan National Scenic Spot District; 29.35°N, 110.53°E; 14.viii.2022; N. Wang leg.; HuN-166 / 167 (SNNU); 2♂; Hunan, Changsha, Daweishan Town; 28.45°N, 114.01°E; 24.viii.2022; N. Wang leg.; HuN-405 / 408 (SNNU); 2♂; Guangdong, Ruyuan Co., Nanling Mountain; 24.83°N, 113.04°E; 1.ix.2020; Z. X. He leg.; GS-2008-051 / 116 (SNNU); 1♂; Sichuan, Chengdu; 30.70°N, 103.86°E; 3.ix.2021; W. Yuan leg.; SC-2108-002 (SNNU); 1♂; Hubei, Luotian Co., Tiantangzhai village; 30.79°N, 115.37°E; 14.viii.2005; Z. G. Cai leg.; XLD-0652 (SNNU); 2♂; Beijing, Wangping Town; 39.96°N, 116.08°E; 19.ix.2013; L. B. Ma leg.; BJ-1309-003 / 006 (SNNU).

Description

Body blackish, smaller body of Meloimorpha (Fig. 4A, B).

Head. The vertex broad and flat, without transverse groove. Eyes oval and extremely prominent; the ocellus absent. Frontal rostrum narrow and distinctly protruding from the face, about 1/5 the width of the antennal scape. Antennal scape stout, wider at the base. Anteclypeus oval, slightly concave ventrally; postclypeus expanded in the middle and narrower on both sides. The fifth segment of the maxillary palpus slightly longer than the third segment.

Pronotum. Pronotal disc transversely broad, anterior margin narrower than the posterior margin, with distinct transverse and longitudinal grooves. Forewings. Forewings longer than the abdomen with six or seven oblique veins, with the innermost one connecting to the Cup vein and diagonal vein, three chord veins, and the inner one connected to the mirror by a transverse vein. Mirror rectangular with two dividing veins. Legs. Anterior tibiae with tympana, both ovoid and almost equal in size. The posterior tibiae armed with three dorsal spurs on both the inner and outer sides and a large number of short spines. Three apical spurs on both sides, with the inner apical spurs much longer than the outer ones. Male genitalia. In the dorsal view, the middle lobe broad with a ridge in the middle of the epiphallus, and the posterior margin with a notch. In the lateral view, the lateral lobe of the epiphallus broad, without protuberances or setae, posterior margin more transparent than the anterior; ectoparamere curved, with the anterior part broader and wrapped by the epiphallus, pointed at the tip (Fig. 5A–C).

Female. Similar to male but smaller in size, the superior margin of the frontal rostrum depressed; the maxillary palpus distinctly enlarged at the end of the fifth segment. Ovipositor lanceolate.

Coloration. Body black.Anteclypeus yellow to yellow-brown.Antennal scape and pedicel of the antennae black, the flagellum alternating between yellow, white, and black, apical end black. Legs yellow and black alternating, cercus yellow.

Measurements. Male (n = 18). BL 9.47–14.55, HL 0.78–1.60, HW 1.62–2.44, PL 1.11–1.96, PW 2.58–3.88, FWL 11.11–14.74, HFL 8.58–11.28.

Remarks. Morphological characters of this species are similar to those of M. cincticornis, but the two species can be distinguished by coloration, and middle lobe of epiphallus. The antennae of this species are white and the two first segments are black, while the annulations are yellowish. In addition, the middle lobe of the genitalia of this species is wider and the posterior margin protuberance is less pronounced, but M. cincticornis is narrower and the protuberance is more pronounced.