Brazitettix paulista Silva, 2024

Pereira, Daniela Santos Martins Silva Marcelo Ribeiro, 2024, A new genus of horn-like tetrigids (Orthoptera: Caelifera: Tetrigidae) from South America, Insecta Mundi 2024 (72), pp. 1-15 : 9-13

Brazitettix paulista Silva , new species

( Fig. 4 )

Etymology. The specific epithet is an adjective referring to São Paulo state.

Material examined. A unique female holotype, male unknown.

Type locality. Brasil, São Paulo state, U.H.E. Porto Primavera, XI – XII – 1998, A. Brevicovit et al. col. (label data) ( Fig. 6A, C ).

Preservation status. Missing parts (antennae, and some tarsus).

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from the other species of genus by the following combination of characters: (i) horn - like projection in the head with the lateral margins strongly notched, the middle one pointed at tip (dorsal view); (ii) well - marked fascial carinae widely divergent, fascial carinae forming a scutellate frontal structure with a “U” shape, almost parallel structures; (iii) antennal scape and pedicel not significantly more robust than other segments; (iv) elongated, almost ovoid tegmina; (v) fore femur arc - shaped in upper and lower margin, almost shield - like; middle femur dorsal margins undulated, with lappets in the ventral margin; (vi) ventro-external carina with light brown dots in the hind femur; (vii) dorsal external area of hind femur with black pits/protuberances; (viii) posterior apex of the pronotum upward directed.

Description. Body thin, elongated, and slightly flattened dorsoventrally. Head. Strongly oblique with finely granulose integument, brownish gray. Lateral view ( Fig. 4A – B ): head and compound eye insert exerted bellow the pronotal disc; vertex visible; fastigium of vertex and frontal costa forming the horn - like projection in the head with the lateral margins strongly notched, and the middle one tapered at tip, that is longer than the compound eye, measured from its most frontal point to the apex; occipital area short and granulated; antennal groove situated in the same level of the lower margin of eyes. Frontal view ( Fig. 4D ): medial carina and frontal costa forming a “cross”; fastigium of vertex and frontal costa forming the long horn directed forwards; scutellum width smaller than antennal groove; scape and pedicel not protuberant; frontal costa bifurcation at the top third of an eye height; well - marked fascial carinae, widely divergent, forming a scutellate frontal structure with a “U” shape, then the fascial carinae converts almost parallel structures; horn - like projection in the head with the lateral margins strongly notched, the middle one pointed at tip; medial ocellus situated distinctly below the lower margin of eyes and antennal grooves; antennal grooves situated below at level of the lower margin of eyes; paired lateral ocelli situated between the compound eyes, slightly below the frontal costa bifurcation. Dorsal view ( Fig. 4C – E ): occipital area granulated; medial carina of the vertex present in the anterior part of the elongated horn - like projection; vertex between the eyes wide as a compound eyes horizontal diameter; fastigium of vertex forming long projection; horn - like projection in the head with the lateral margins strongly notched, the middle one tapered at tip; occipital area longer than a compound eye’s vertical diameter; fastigium and vertex between the compound eyes light brown; ventral side of the fastigium brownish - gray. Pronotum. Macropronotal, surpassing abdominal apex, finely granulose integument, with small tubercles throughout length. Lateral view ( Fig. 4A – B ): anterior margin does not extend over the head; median carina almost straight and well - marked; prozonal carina present; extralateral carina visible; humero - apical and interhumeral carina visible; sulci on the pronotum inconspicuous; ventral sinus and tegminal sinus present; infrascapular area as “obtuse triangle” shape; internal lateral carina elongated, continuum with humero - apical carina, from lateral lobe of pronotum reaching to the apex of pronotum; lateral area wide; lateral lobe of pronotum truncate at tip, directed downward; elongated, almost ovoid tegmina; membranous wing the same length as the pronotum; apex of the pronotum upward directed. Frontal view ( Fig. 4D ): shoulders not projected, lateral pronotal lobes directed downwards. Dorsal view ( Fig. 4C, E ): dorsum rich in fine granules; anterior margin of the pronotum truncated; median carina, prozonal carina and interhumeral carina visible; internal and external lateral carina conspicuous; pronotal process without irregular dots; external lateral carina, with a serrated aspect; extralateral carina conspicuous; median carina not elevated; narrow and long infascapular area; lateral pronotal lobes directed downwards; lateral area wide; pronotum narrowed in the apex; pronotum apex truncated; dorsal light brown band from fastigium to pronotum apex. Sternomentum. ( Fig. 4D ) [= modified prothoracic sternum]: sternomentum collar - like, necklace - shaped, well visible in frontal and ventral view, brown in color. Wings. ( Fig. 4A – B ): tegmina and wing visible; wings surpassing the hind femurs; tegmina as long as the middle femur; tegmina surface similar to the rest of the body. Legs. Surface with small tubercles throughout length. Fore legs ( Fig. 4A – B ): fore femur arc - shaped in upper and lower margin, almost shield - like; dorsal margins undulated, with lappets in the ventral margin; femur slightly longer than tibia; fore tibia thin, hairless, and less carinate than fore femur; distal tarsal segment longer than the proximal, at its apex with two claws. Middle legs ( Fig. 4A – B ): femur distinctly carinate and slightly undulated in dorsal and ventral margins, not shield - like with dorsal, and ventral margins finely tuberculated; tibia thin and carinate; distal tarsal segment longer than the proximal, at its apex with two claws. Hind legs ( Fig. 4A – B ): dorsal and ventral margins finely granulated; femur robust; femur dorsal and ventral margin without lappets or projections; genicular and antigenicular teeth small; external surface finely granulate, with transverse ridges in external surface; ventroexternal carina with light brown dots; hind femur robust, almost the same length of tibia; hind tibiae slender, shorter than hind femur; tibial sulcus (= the depression on the ventral side of the hind femur in which the tibiae are placed when the grasshopper is walking) darker than the other parts of the body; dorsal external area of hind femur black pits; proximal segment of the hind tarsus long, middle segment short, distal segment shorter than proximal, having two claws in its apex. Abdomen: Lateral view ( Fig. 4A – B ): visible parts of sternites dark brown, similar to pronotum; ovipositor valves slender, hirsute, with pointed tooth.

Measurements (mm). BL:15.38, FL:0.92, FW:1.07, P:13.90, TL:1.86, HFL:5.81, and HFW:1.91.

Remarks. This new genus is unique in South America, and notably distinguished from other horn - like tetrigids by the unusual morphology of head projection. The two new species described are easily distinguished from each other mainly due to two characteristics: (i) the head horn - like shape ( Fig.1E , 2E , 4E , 5A–C, 5E ), and (ii) fascial carinae profile ( Fig.1D , 2D , 4D , 5D, F ). It is also important to emphasize that there are some distinctions between males and females in Brazitettix roraimae Silva, 2024 new species. Females differ somewhat from males in the horn-like morphology, in male this structure is slightly more rounded ( Fig.5A ) than females ( Fig. 5B – C ); females are also darker in color ( Fig.1 – 3 ), and they are bigger, and more robust. Regarding the Asian genera, in terms of morphology, this new genus resembles to Rostella Hancock, 1913 ( Fig. 5G ) and Dravidacris Bhaskar and Kasalo, 2022 ( Fig. 5H ), being the head similar to the previous genus.

Distribution. The genus has a large gap in the known distribution between Roraima and São Paulo state ( Fig. 6 ). Based on the wide and discontinuous distribution of the known species, further species of this genus ought to be present in the regions that haven’t been explored yet. There is no exact information about the habitat characteristics of Brazitettix paulista Silva, 2024 new species because it was collected in a region where there is presently a hydropower facility ( Fig. 6C ).

Figures

Figure 1. Brazitettix roraimae new species. A–B) Holotype male, lateral view. C) Dorsal view. D) Head details, frontal view. E) Head details, dorsal view. Scale bar = 5 mm.

Figure 2. Brazitettix roraimae new species. A–B) Allotype female, lateral view. C) Dorsal view. D) Head details, frontal view. E) Head details, dorsal view. Scale bar = 5 mm.

Figure 4. Brazitettix paulista new species. A–B) Holotype female, lateral view. C) Dorsal view. D) Head details, frontal view. E) Head details, dorsal view. Scale bar = 5 mm.

Figure 5. Head details, dorsal view (images not to scale). A) holotype Brazitettix roraimae new species. B) paratype female 4 Brazitettix roraimae new species. C–D) Allotype Brazitettix roraimae new species. E–F) Brazitettix paulista new species. G) Rostella processus (Hancock, 1907) from ANSP. H) Dravidacris annamalaica Bhaskar and Kasalo, 2022.

Figure 6. Distribution of Brazitettix Silva, 2024 new genus. A) Map highlighting the two new species. B–C) Google Maps images of type localities of new species. B) Brazitettix roraimae new species. C) Brazitettix paulista new species.