Stalitettix spinifrons ( Stål, 1861 ), Cadena-Castañeda & Quintana-Arias & Infante & Silva & Tavares, 2025

Cadena-Castañeda, Oscar J., Quintana-Arias, Ronald Fernando, Infante, Ivette Coque, Silva, Daniela Santos Martins & Tavares, Gustavo Costa, 2025, Studies on pygmy grasshoppers: On the current Metrodorinae sensu lato classification (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) with emphasis on American and Malagasy taxa, Zootaxa 5597 (1), pp. 1-265 : 140-144

Stalitettix spinifrons ( Stål, 1861) , comb. nov.

( Figs. 93–95 )

Tettix spinifrons Stål, 1861: 346 .

Metrodora spinifrons : Bolívar, 1887: 249.

Otumba spinifrons : Hancock, 1907: 45.

Remarks. This species has a wide distribution in Brazil and was originally described as Tettix spinifrons . Bolívar (1887) moved it to Metrodora and Hancock (1907) to Otumba , remaining so until now when it is being moved within this new genus.

Genus Garciaitettix Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares , gen. nov.

Type species: Garciaitettix mirabilis Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares , sp. nov., here designated.

Description. Body robust and granulated ( Fig. 96 ). Head exserted above pronotum ( Fig. 96A ). In frontal view: vertex almost as twice the width of an eye; medial carina short and not elevated; frontal costa bifurcation near the top of the vertex, between the compound eyes; scutellum slightly narrow; fascial carinae slightly elevated, with branches parallel and slightly separated; lower margin of the antennal grooves between of the lower margin of the compound eyes; antennae with 10 segments, moderately expanded from the fifth antennal segment to the apex ( Figs. 97B, C ); lateral ocelli ovoid, placed at level of the lower part of the eyes, near the base from where each branch of the fascial carinae diverges; medial ocellus rounded and close to the lower margin of the scutellum; palpi with all segments flattened and last two longer and rounded ( Fig. 97A ). In lateral view, fascial outline rounded; carinae of the vertex not produced between the eyes; fastigio-fascial angle little convex in front; fascial carinae slightly emerging between the antennae and rounded, above and below slightly sinuate; eyes globose and exerted at level of pronotal shoulder ( Fig. 97B ). Thorax. Pronotum short, not surpassing the tip of hind femora ( Fig. 96A ); anterior margin straight, not produced and pointed at apex ( Fig. 96B ); pronotal disc tuberculated and with post humeral spots; median carinae undulated and conspicuous ( Fig. 96B ), anterior section of the pronotal disc with the most conspicuous hump-like undulation, followed by a lower and longer undulation ( Figs. 96A , 97B ). Lateral carinae undulated in dorsal and lateral views; humeral angles concave and narrow; lateral shoulder carina rounded; lateral lobe flattened, sub-triangulated, and pointed apically; posterior margin of lateral lobe with a mid-undulation ( Fig. 97C ); infrascapular area wide and covering from the humeral notch to pre-apex portion in lateral view; lateral area narrow and extend to the apex of the pronotum in lateral view ( Fig. 96A ). Wings absent. Legs. Fore and mid legs mid-sized, dorsal and ventral margin carinated and without dorso-apical spine ( Figs. 97D, E ); dorsal and ventral margins of hind femur slightly undulated; ante genicular and genicular teeth well-developed; chevrons ridges in the external surface well visible with six ridges; ventro-external carina of the chevron space with a lappet, at level of the third and fourth ridge ( Fig. 96A ). Hind tibia dorsally with spines and serrulations between them; apex slightly dilated ( Fig. 96B ); first segment of the hind tarsus very little longer than the third one. Abdomen. Last segments constricted ( Fig. 96F ), with a dorsal furrow; penultimate male sternite unmodified, rounded at apex ( Fig. 97F ); male subgenital plate slender and upcurved; with apex divided ( Fig. 97G ); cerci conical and straight ( Fig. 97F ).

Female. Unknown.

Species included. The type species only.

Distribution. Colombian Andes (Map 6).

Comparison. This new genus is the most differentiated of the tribe, being the only one with a unique morphology of the antennae, a reduced number of segments, and also lacking wings. This contrasts with the other genera with filiform antennae, with more than 10 segments, and all the others have well-developed wings.

Remarks. The morphology of the antennae is reminiscent of the antennal structure of the Lophotettiginae , with a flattened shape and a similar number of antennomeres, possibly a case of convergence between these two groups of tetrigids.

At this time, the genus is monotypic. Still, two additional undescribed species appear to be distributed in the Andes between Colombia (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/148727420) and Ecuador (https://www. inaturalist.org/observations/174022777), this last morphospecies has more flattened and almost moniliform antennal segments. Among the localities of these morphospecies are distributional gaps, which may contain species that have yet to be discovered.

Etymology. This genus is dedicated to Professor Alexander García García of the Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, Bogotá, Colombia, a great friend and mentor of the first author, in recognition of his tireless and selfless contributions to the operation of the Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, one of the best professors of invertebrates I have known. The ending - tettix common in the genera of pygmy grasshoppers is added. The gender of the name is being established as femenine.

Figures

FIGURE 93. Stalitettix spinifrons (Stål, 1861) comb. nov. Male holotype habitus. A–B. Lateral views. Photos. J. Tumbrinck.

FIGURE 94. Stalitettix spinifrons (Stål, 1861) comb. nov. Male holotype. A. Habitus in dorsal view. B. Frons. C. labels. Photos. J. Tumbrinck.

FIGURE 95. Stalitettix spinifrons (Stål, 1861) comb. nov. Male. A–B. Habitus in lateral views. C. Frons. D. Labels. Photos. J. Tumbrinck.

FIGURE 96. Garciaitettix mirabilis Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares sp. nov. Male holotype habitus. A. Lateral views. B. Habitus in dorsal view.

FIGURE 97. Garciaitettix mirabilis Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares sp. nov. Male holotype. A. Frons. B–C. Head and thorax in lateral and dorsal views respectively. D. Fore femur. E. Mid femur. F–G. Terminalia in lateral and axial views respectively.