New katydids of the genus Asiophlugis Gor. (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae) from Singapore and Malaysia

Abstract

these cerci as the small hook-like or spine-like process at their base (Figs 14, 710, 1314).In the above-mentioned paper, possible belonging of the other Indo-Malayan representatives, originally included in Phlugis, to this genus is supposed. Now Phlugis thai Helfert et Sanger, 1998 from Thailand is added to Asiophlugis; A. thai comb. n. is very similar to A. rete, but it probably has the less curved small process at the base of male cerci and wider space between styles of male genital plate [Helfert & Sanger, 1998: Fig. 4b]. However for all the other Indo-Malayan species, presence (or absence) of any small process at the base of male cerci is not indicated (Ph. thaumasia Hebard, 1922 from Singapore; Ph. borneoensis Jin, 1993 from Kinabalu Mt. in Borneo), or male is unknown (Ph. dubia Karny, 1907 from Borneo; Ph. philippina Jin, 1993 from the Philippines); these species are in need of an additional study, and they are here included in Asiophlugis under question because it is indubitable that they dont belong to the Neotropical genus Phlugis.Asiophlugis temasek Gorochov et Tan, sp.n.Figs 19; 11.

Ultrasonic songs and stridulum anatomy of Asiophlugis crystal predatory katydids (Tettigonioidea: Meconematinae: Phlugidini)

“…Identification was done using descriptions and keys: Hebard (1922); Gorochov (1998Gorochov ( , 2013Gorochov ( , 2019; Gorochov and Tan (2011);Tan (2011). The specimens were first preserved in absolute analytic-grade ethanol and later pinned and dry-preserved (after dissection of the tegmen).…”

“…Since the tooth distributions are similar between the two subspecies of A. temasek, but different between species of Asiophlugis (especially for inter-tooth distance), the morphology of stridulatory files seems to be useful characters in differentiating species and subspecies. Prior to this study, the stridulatory files of only A. rete (as A. thai junior synonym) and A. temasek temasek were described and illustrated using scanning electron microscopy and hand-drawing, respectively (Helfert and Sänger 1998;Gorochov and Tan 2011). However, they were never used for species identification.…”

“…This led us to question whether the two subspecies of A. temasek should more rightly be considered as two different species. Although differences in their morphology (see Gorochov and Tan 2011) and stridulum anatomy are probably not as clear-cut as species differences in Asiophlugis, one can also argue that the differences in the calling songs may be considered species specific. Our hypothesis is that A. temasek temasek and A. temasek tioman probably represent two recently diverged sister species.…”

“…Asiophlugis currently consists of 16 described species (Cigliano et al 2019) but calling song was known for only one species (Helfert and Sänger 1998). Species are delimited using morphological characters on the abdominal apex, pronotum and tegmina length (Kevan and Jin 1993;Gorochov 1998Gorochov , 2012Gorochov , 2013Gorochov , 2019Gorochov and Tan 2011;Tan 2011). Unlike relatives from the Neotropics (see Nickle 2003Nickle , 2005; Chamorro-Rengifo and Olivier 2017), their stridulatory apparatus are rarely examined and used in taxonomy (but see Helfert and Sänger 1998;Gorochov and Tan 2011).…”

Taxonomy and bioacoustics of Meconematinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) <br />from Laguna (Philippines: Luzon)

“…Asiatic Phlugidini consists of the following genera-Asiophlugis Gorochov, 1998;Papuaphlugis Gorochov, 2012;and Stenophlugis Gorochov, 2012-and are generally less well studied than their relatives from the New World (Tan et al, 2019). For example, some species previously described under the genus Phlugis (considered a genus endemic to New World sensu Gorochov [1998]) was transferred to Asiophlugis without verification (e.g., Gorochov & Tan, 2011). This includes Asiophlugis (?)…”