Description of two new species of the africana-group of the Genus Gryllotalpa, with a redescription of Gryllotalpa africana Beauvois (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae)

Abstract

Three species of the africana-group of the Genus Gryllotalpa (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) were recorded from Cameroon during an investigation from March 2016 to March 2018: Gryllotalpa africana Beauvois from Buea and Tombel, and two new species, Gryllotalpa tombelensis Simeu-Noutchom and Kekeunou sp. nov. from Tombel and Gryllotalpa babetensis Simeu-Noutchom and Kekeunou sp. nov. from Babété. Gryllotalpa tombelensis is characterised by short wing morphology, vestigial hind wings, small phallic complex, short internal processes, and dorsoventrally flattened body. Gryllotalpa babetensis is distinct from other species of the africana-group by the mesoscutum being more exposed between the pronotum and the base of the fore wings, having a very large phallic complex, with very long internal processes of ectophallus (3 mm long). Both new species were collected in crop fields, but which differ in their habitat
characteristics, such as soil moisture, pH and granulometry. A key and comments on the africana-group species of the genus Gryllotalpa and their habitat characteristics are also provided. The finding of the present study aims to help species identification and will help future taxonomists concerned with biodiversity of this group from Cameroon.

Keywords: Cameroon, Mole Crickets, morphology, pitfall