Aiolopus thalassinus ( Fabricius, 1781 )

Usmani, Mohammad Kamil, 2008, A new species of the genus Aiolopus Fieber (Oedipodinae: Acrididae) from Libya, Insecta Mundi 2008 (41), pp. 1-14 : 3-7

Aiolopus thalassinus ( Fabricius, 1781)

( Fig. 3 A-H)

Gryllus thalassinus Fabricius, 1781: 367 .

Acridium grossuni Costa, 1836: 25 ( Kirby 1910: 191).

Acridium laetum Brulle, 1840: 77 ( Finot 1895: 423) .

Aiolopus thalassinus (Fabricius) ; Fieber 1853: 100.

Epacromia angustifemur Ghiliani, 1869: 179 ( Kirby 1910: 191) .

Ochrophlebia savignyi Krauss, 1890: 261 ( Storey 1919: 54) .

Epacromia lurida Brancsik, 1895: 250 ( Hollis 1968: 340) .

Aiolopus thalassinus kivuensis Sjostedt, 1923: 18 ( Sjostedt 1929: 24) .

Aiolopus acutus Uvarov, 1953: 111 ( Hollis 1968: 340) .

Aiolopus thalassinus (Fabricius) ; Harz 1975: 554.

Description. Male. Size medium; integument moderately rugose; antennae 22-24 segmented, about as long as head and pronotum together; fastigium of vertex pentagonal, moderately concave, slightly longer than wide; fastigial foveolae trapezoidal, about twice as long as wide, frontal ridge flattened or slightly convex, sparsely punctured; eyes oval, nearly one and a half times as long as wide; pronotum slightly saddle-shaped, constricted in middle; metazona more than one and a half times as long as prozona, posterior margin obtuse- angular; mesosternal interspace almost square; tegmina long, extending beyond apex of hind femur, apex slightly rounded; hind wings hyaline, slightly opaque at apex; hind femur narrow, about four times as long as wide; hind tibia as long as or slightly shorter than hind femur, with 10 outer and 11 inner spines, inner apical spurs about one and a half times as long as outer spurs; arolium half length of claw.

Genitalia. Supra-anal plate elongate-angular, sculptured in middle, lateral margins straight, diverging posteriorly, apex obtusely rounded; cercus narrow-conical with obtuse apex ( Fig. 3G ). Subgenital plate ( Fig. 3H ) short, sub-conical, with obtuse apex. Epiphallus ( Fig. 3E ), bridge moderately narrow, undivided medially; ancorae broad, curved with broadly rounded tips, lophi lobiform; lateral plates and their anterior projections prominent, posterior projections prominent and angular. Aedeagus ( Fig. 3F ), apical valve curved upward, much narrower and shorter than basal valve, apex slightly blunt.

General coloration. Variable, green or brown with ochraceous and black markings; pronotum with or without median longitudinal ochraceous stripe and criss-cross pattern on dorsum; tegmina with costal area generally mottled and without clearly defined darkened bands; hind wing hyaline, bases sometimes weakly yellowish green, with apex darkened; upper surface of hind femur with two triangular black spots, green externally, reddish internally, apex blackish; hind tibia black basally, with broader ochraceous ring, reddish at apical two third.

Female. Similar to male but larger and more robust.

Genitalia. Supra-anal plate short, as long as wide, apex broadly rounded; cercus elongate-conical, incurved, twice as long as wide with obtuse apex ( Fig. 3A ). Subgenital plate ( Fig. 3B ), posterior margin wavy, slightly convex in middle, setose marginally; Jannone’s organs streaked; egg-guide elongate-narrow, almost three times as long as wide. Spermatheca ( Fig. 3C ), apical diverticulum short and tuberclelike, pre-apical diverticulum broad and sac-like. Ovipositor ( Fig. 3D ) valves elongate, moderately robust, acute, curved and slightly shorter than lateral apodeme; dorsal valve moderately broad, three times as long as wide, apical tip elongate-narrow and acute, external edge tuberculate; ventral valve with slope deeply concave, apical tip pointed, mesial tooth distinct, basal sclerite narrow and punctate; mesial valve dilated apically.

Variation. Measurements (length in mm): Body, male 15.2-21.2, female 19.8-29.3; pronotum, male 2.8- 4.0, female 3.8-5.5; tegmina, male 14.2-20.5, female 17.0-26.3; hind femur, male 9.5-12.2, female 10.9- 16.5.

Material examined. Material deposited in Zoology Museum, Sebha University , Brack. Libya: Al Shati Region: Ashkidah , 2 male, 4 female, on alfalfa, 21.xi.1992 ; Brack Agric. Project , 3 male, 3 female, on alfalfa, 3 male, 6 female, on vegetable field, 18.ii.1993 ; Brack , 2 male, 1 female, on grass, 15.vi.93; Idri, 2 male, 1 female, on alfalfa, 13.iv.1993 ; Mahruqah , 1 male, 1 female, on alfalfa, 6.viii.1992 ; Mansurah , 1 male, 1 female, on alfalfa, 13.iv.93; Qardah, 1 female, on barley, 15.xii.1992 ; Ququm , 10 male, 3 female, on alfalfa, 9 male, 6 female, on mint, 29.x.1992 ; Tamzawah , 5 female, on alfalfa, 2male, 3 female, on grape, 4.xi.1992 ; Tarut , 2 female, on alfalfa, 6.viii.1992 ; Zahra , 4 male, 2 female, on grass, 15.xii.1992 ; Zalwaz , 4 male, 5 female, on alfalfa, 15.v.1993 ; Zuwayyah , 1 female, on grass, 7.iv.1993 ; Wanzarik , l male, 2 female, on barley, 13.iv.1993 . Ghat Region: Al Awaynat , 2 male, 2 female, on vegetable, 20.vii.1995 ; Al Barkat , 2 male, 3 female, on alfalfa & grass, 19.vii.1995 ; Ghat, 5 male, 6 female, on barley/alfalfa, 6.xi.1994 . Murzuk region: Agar-Atabah , 1 male, on grass, 23.vi.1993 ; Bani-Hilal , 13 female, on grass, 27.iv.1993 ; Hammera , 1 female, on alfalfa, 8.i.1994 ; Makhatin , 4 male, 1 female, on grass & dry millet, 27.v.1993 ; Marhaba , 23 male, 23 female, on alfalfa, 11.xii.1993 ; Misquwin , 13 female, on grass, 8.i.1994 ; Murzuq, 30 male, 20 female, on water melon & melon, 5.v.1993 ; Tegrutin , 1 male, on alfalfa, 11.xii.1993 ; Traghan , 22 male, 9 female, on vegetable, 13.iv.1993 and 27.v.1993 ; Tsawah , 5 male, 23 female, on grass, 11.xii.1993 ; Um-Al Aranib , 1 male, on vegetable, 8.i.1994 ; Zuwaylah , 4 male, 1 female, on alfalfa & grass, 8.i.1994 . Sebha Region: Al Zighan , 3 male, 2 female, on millet, 18.v.1994 ; Ghodwa , 2 male, 2 female, on vegetable, 13.iv.1993 ; Samnu , 4 male, 5 female, on alfalfa & vegetable, 18.v.1994 ; Sebha, l0 male, 13 female, on barley & grass, 17.vi.1994 ; Tamanhent , 2 male, 2 female, on grass, 18.v.1994 . Wadi Haya Region: Al Abyad , 7 male, 7 female, on garlic and onion, 2.xi.1992 ; Al Hamarah , 1 male, 2 female, on alfalfa, 2.xi.1992 ; Khalayf , 8 male, 2 female, on millet and groundnut, 16.xi.1992 ; Ben Hareth , 9 male, l 2 female, on grass and tomato, 16.xi.1992 ; Bint Bayyah , 8 male, 3 female, on alfalfa & grass, 16.xi.1992 ; Garagra , 10 male, 6 female, on millet, 27.xi.1992 ; Sidi Ali , 7 male 10 female, on alfalfa/grass, 7.xii.1992 ; Tkerkibah , 2 male, on groundnut, 7.xii.1992 ; Al Garaya , 48 male, 19 female, on alfalfa/egg plant, 7.xi.1992 ; Jarmah , 1 female, on swede, 15.xii.1992 ; Al Breek , 14 male, 7 female, on alfalfa, wild grass, 15.xii.1992 ; Arragabah , 15 male, 3 female, on alfalfa and egg plant, 15.xi.1992 ; Awbari , 9 male, 5 female, on alfalfa & barley, 30.i.1993 ; Ed Disah , 5 male, 4 female, on alfalfa, 15.ii.1993 ; Al Hatiyah , 4 male, 3 female, on carrot and swede, 15.ii.1993 ; Al Gharayfah , 20 male, l 4 female, on barley and wheat, 15.ii.1993 .

Material from Libya preserved in Italian Museums recorded by Massa (1998): Homs VII-VIII.13, AA (0/1); Brach VII.31, EZ (0/1); Cufra VII.31 (0/2); El Giof VII.31 (0/1); Buema VII.31 (0/1); Agedabia VII.31 (0/1); Murzuk XI.32, LC (0/1) ( MSNG); Derna 15.VII.24, GK (2/2); Bengasi 25.VII.23, GK (1/0) ( MZUR); Tagiura 4.VIII.37 (0/2) ( DEZAP); Leptis Magna 5.IV.98, BM (3/3); 25 Km N Bengasi 7.IV.98, BM (3/5); At Tmimi 12.IV.98, BM (1 ninfa); Sabrata 15.IV.98, BM (0/1) ( CMUP).

Libyan localities. CYRENAICA: Barca, Bengasi, Derna, Fueihat, Marmarica, Porto Bardia. TRIPOLITANIA: Ain Zara, Mizda, Taguira, Tripoli. FEZZAN: Agar Atabah, Al Abyad, Al Awayynat, Al Barkat, Al Breek, Al Garaya, Al Ghraeayfah, Al Hamarah, Al Hatiyah, Al Zighan, Arragabah, Ashkidah, Awbari, Bani Hilal, Ben Hareth, Bint Bayyah, Brack, Ed Disah, Gragara, Ghat, Ghodwa, Hammera, Idri, Jarmah, Khalayf, Mahrugah, Makhaten, Mansurah, Misquwin, Murzuk, Qardah, Ququm, Samnu, Sebha, Sidi Ali, Tamanhant, Tamzawah, Tarut, Tegrutin, Tkerkibah, Traghen, Tsawah, Um Al Aranib, Wanzarik, Zahra, Zalwaz, Zuwaylah, Zuwayyah.

Distribution. Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Austria, Bahrain, Botswana, Cape Verde Is., Comoro Is., Cyprus, the former Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy (Sardinia), Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Portugal (Madeira), Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa (Cape Province, Natal, Transvaal), Spain (Canary Is.), Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Yemen, the former Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe (COPR 1982).

Remarks. This species is distributed throughout Africa and Europe. It is a common and widely distributed species in the grasslands of Libya. It was previously recorded from Tripolitania and Cyrenaica by Werner (1908), Ghigi (1913), Giglio-Tos (1923), Salfi (1925, 1927a), Jannone (1938), Mellini (1955), La Greca (1957) and Hollis (1968). This is reported as the most widespread species of Aiolopus in Al-Shati, Fezzan by Ajaili et al. (1989).

Figures

Figure 3. Aiolopus thalassinus (Fabricius). A) Female supra-anal plate and cerci. B) Female subgenital plate. C) Spermatheca. D) Ovipositor. E) Epiphallus. F) Aedeagus. G) Male supra-anal plate and cerci. H) Male subgenital plate