Hidden in the Shadows: Grunagryllus, a New Genus of Paragryllina (Orthoptera: Phalangopsidae) Reveals the First Occurrence of the Subtribe in the Brazilian Semiarid

Paragryllina currently comprises more than 30 species of predominantly dendrophilous crickets, all previously recorded exclusively from tropical rainforests environments. Over the past three decades, the taxonomy of this subtribe has undergone successive reevaluations, highlighting the need for additional taxonomic studies to improve the understanding of its diversity and distribution patterns. Herein, we describe a new genus and two new species of Paragryllina collected at cave entrances in the Brazilian states of Bahia and Minas Gerais: Grunagryllus aquaeclarae gen. et sp. nov. and G. sanctijosephi gen. et sp. nov. Grunagryllus aquaeclarae gen. et sp. nov. constitutes the first record of the subtribe from the Caatinga, a semi-arid biome endemic to Brazil, considerably expanding the known ecological and biogeographic range of Paragryllina. Both species were recorded in environments currently subjected to multiple anthropogenic threats, particularly mining activities and deforestation. The discovery and description of these taxa contribute substantially to the knowledge of Brazilian Orthoptera diversity and reinforce the importance of subterranean and ecotonal habitats as refuges of poorly known biodiversity.