Anacridium melanorhodon melanorhodon (Walker, 1870)

Usmani, Mohammad Kamil, 2008, Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) with some new records from Fezzan, Libya, Zootaxa 1946, pp. 1-41 : 18-19

Anacridium melanorhodon melanorhodon (Walker, 1870)

(Sahelian Tree locust)

Diagnosis: This species is similar to A. aegyptium in general appearance but distinguishable by its light brown colour, broadly obtuse-angular pronotum with rounded apex, hind wing basally light pink or yellow, with a short dark narrow median basal fascia, not covering entire hind wing.

Habitats: The usual habitat is xerophilous open woodland, the trees and shrubs. The natural food plants are various trees, especially Acacia spp . and Capparis decidua . Also recorded feeding on Sorghum and herbaceous plants. Young hoppers feed on grasses but later stages, like adults are arborivorous.

Material examined: Ghat region: Al Barkat, 2 ♂, 5 ♀, on millet, 19.vii.1995; Ghat, 1 ♂, 3 ♀, on millet, 18.vii.1995 . Murzuk region:Al Qatrun, 4 ♂, 4 ♀, on great millet and millet, 15.v.1993, 2.vi.1993. Sebha region: Samnu, 4 ♂, 5 ♀, on grass, 18.v.1995; Sebha, 3 ♂, 5 ♀, on grape, 8.vi.1995 .

Localities: Cyrenaica: Libyan desert, Wadi Haya ;Tripolitania; Fezzan: Al Barakat,Al Qatrun, Ghat , Samnu, Sebha.

Distribution: Morocco, Nigeria, Sahara, Cape verde island, Rio de Oro, Mouretania, Senegal, French sudan, Niger Colony, Niger, Chad, Eritrea, Libyan Desert near Wadi Howa, Ethiopia, Socotra.

Remarks: This species is known as Sahelian Tree Locust. It was recorded from Libyan Desert by Shaw (1933). This monimate subspecies is recorded for the first time from Fezzan.