Spathosterninae, Rehn, 1957

Sultana, Riffat & Song, Hojun, 2024, Annotated catalogue of Pakistani Acrididae (Orthoptera: Caelifera: Acridoidea), Zootaxa 5486 (1), pp. 1-47 : 32

Spathosterninae

( Fig.7 )

Geographical Distribution: Pakistan ( Moeed 1966; Ahmed 1980; Hashmi 1994; Yousuf 1996; Wagan 1990; Wagan & Baloch1997; Wagan & Sultana 2013; Suhail et al. 2000; Sultana et al. 2013; Sultana & Wagan 2015; Kumar et al. 2022; Lal et al. 2019; Nawab et al. 2022; Prince et al. 2022)

Comments

Spathosterninae is one of the smallest subfamilies within the Acrididae , consisting of 12 valid species within a single tribe and three genera: two species of Spathosternum ( S. prasiniferum and S. venulosum ) are found in Pakistan. These species are characterized by their common occurrence, wide distribution, and typical habitat preferences in damp grassy areas. They are commonly found in habitats associated with the margins of seasonal and more permanent marshes, as well as along riverine swamplands and drawdown areas. Several members of the genus seem to exhibit the same infraspecific wing polymorphism as Hieroglyphus daganesis . It is worth noting that both genera are associated with similar marshy habitats ( Rowell & Hemp 2017). Spathosterninae are widely distributed in West and Central Africa and are well known in South Asia and Australia ( Dirsh, 1975, Mestre, 1988, Mestre & Chiffaud 2006, Seino 1989). It was observed that S. prasiniferum and S. venulosum are common species, but the latter was not reported from Sindh. Neither of these species was encountered in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. The present study suggests that more surveys should be planned in northern areas.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Distribution of Melanoplinae, Spathosterninae, Teratodinae, Tropidopolinae, Coptacrinae in various ecological zones of Pakistan