The intraspecific variation of morphology and coloration of field crickets: a taxonomic revision of Chinese Gymnogryllus Saussure, 1877 and Phonarellus Gorochov, 1983 (Orthoptera, Gryllidae, Gryllini)

After extensive sampling of specimens from species found in China, we examined the intraspecific morphological variation of several characters used for species delimitation in two closely related cricket genera, Gymnogryllus Saussure, 1877 and Phonarellus Gorochov, 1983. We found that the characters (male genitalia in Gymnogryllusodonopetalus Xie & Zheng, 2003 and Phonarellusritsemae (Saussure, 1877), and coloration of the hind leg in Phonarellusminor (Chopard, 1959)) exhibit considerable amounts of variation within species, and are thus not reliable characters for species differentiation. Therefore, we revised the taxonomy of these two genera. Five synonyms are proposed: G.yunnanensis (= G.odonopetalus) syn. nov., G.striatus (= G.odonopetalus) syn. nov., G.longus (= G.odonopetalus) syn. nov., G.tumidulus (= G.odonopetalus) syn. nov., and P.flavipes (= P.minor) syn. nov. All species mentioned above are described and illustrated. Keys and a distribution map are provided.