A review of Gryllidae (Grylloidea) with the description of one new species and four new distribution records from the Sindh Province, Pakistan
Author
Sultana, Riffat
Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan
riffat.sultana@usindh.edu.pk
Author
Sanam, Surriya
Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan
Author
Kumar, Santosh
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4748-4087
Department of Zoology, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan
Author
R, Sheik Mohammad Shamsudeen
Department of Zoology, Sir Syed college, Kannur University, Kerala, India
Author
Soomro, Fakhra
Department of Zoology, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan
text
ZooKeys
2021
2021-12-15
1078
1
33
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1078.69850
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1078.69850
1313-2970-1078-1
573D406716A24E20859D354DFAF83B4D
7750940F8C815500968DBCC909A8E406
Gryllus septentrionalis F. Walker, 1869
Figures 1
, 2
, 3
, 4
, 5
, 6
, 7
, 8
, 9
, 10
, 11
Material examined.
Pakistan
,
Sindh Prov.
•
1♀
;
Riffat
,
Surriya
;
21 Jul. 2019
; Mahendrani, Umerkot
25.3549°N
,
69.7376°E
.
Description.
Medium size, colouration rufous brown, rather strongly pubescent (Fig.
1G
). Head long, rounded without any ornamentation. Face brown with yellow horizontal band; ocelli big, brown (Fig.
2G
). Pronotum slightly enlarged in front, anterior margin feebly concave, posterior one pointed; disc convex, rufous with two large piriform impressions; lateral lobes with yellowish inferior part (Fig.
4G
). Elytra brownish, reaching to apex of abdomen; dorsal fields with slightly oblique veins, rather projecting. Wings long (Fig.
9A
). Legs pubescent; anterior and medium femora rufous brown; anterior tibia with large slender external tympanum; only internal face depressed. Posterior femora rather long, swollen. Tibia shorter than femora, armed with nine basal spines, four on joint of metatarsus (Fig.
6F
). Abdomen brown; ovipositor moderately long, rather slender with very acute apical valves (Fig.
1G
).
Female
: LH 3.9 (mm), LP 4.2 (mm), LT 18 (mm), LF 12.5 (mm), LT 08 (mm), LT 05 (mm), TBL 26 (mm).
Ecology.
Gryllus septentrionalis
was collected from the village of Mahendrani, Umerkot in August.It was noted that this field was surrounded by
Citrus
(lemon) crops and other wild vegetation. This study suggests that extensive surveys are needed.
Global distribution.
Argentina, Paraguay, Caribbean, Jamaica, Pakistan (
Cigliano et al. 2020
).
Remarks.
This is the first record from the deserts of Thar, Sindh, Pakistan. According to
Saeed (2000)
, this species of cricket occurs in terrestrial habitats throughout the world, and mostly damages cotton, rice, millet, and sugarcane crops. Due to their predatory nature, they are also helpful in biological control, but more detailed investigations are needed to identify this strategy in future.