Miriatra producta (Bolivar, 1887)

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 : 106-111

Miriatra producta ( Bolívar, 1887)

( Figs. 68 , 69 , Maps 1 and 2)

Mitraria producta Bolívar, 1887: 253. Lectotype, here designated. Female. Peru : Alto Amazonas. Depository: MNCN.

Remarks. This species was originally described apparently based on a female, although París (1994) records two female specimens, which were treated as syntypes. Here, we select as lectotype the specimen with code MNCN_Ent 373460, with type catalog number 79, which has locality data “alt. amaz (= Alto Amazonas), Stauding.[er]” ( Fig. 68 ). The female with code MNCN_Ent 373461, with type catalog number 80, without locality data, and with an additional label “ Syntype?”, is selected as paralectotype ( Fig. 69 ). Both specimens fit the original description and belong to the same species.

Genus Brazitettix Silva, 2024

Brazitettix Silva , in Silva & Pereira, 2024: 3.

Type species: Brazitettix roraimae Silva, 2024 , by original designation.

Remarks. This genus was recently described, and its original description is adequate, so there is no need to redescribe it here. Brazitettix is similar Miriatra in general appearance and both genera could easily confuse. However, with the characters given in the key for identifying Miriatrina stat. nov. genera and species, both taxa are differentiated. The two currently known species are found at two extremes of Brazil, the northernmost in Roraima ( Figs. 70A, B, C ) and the southernmost in São Paulo ( Figs. 70D, E, F ) ( Silva & Pereira, 2024). In this large distributional gap, additional species or records must exist, including in the countries bordering these locations.

Species included. Brazitettix roraimae Silva, 2024 and B. paulista Silva, 2024 .

Distribution. Brazil, Roraima, and São Paulo States (Maps 1 and 3).

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

Type species: Metopomystrum brevifastigiata Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona-Granda, 2015 , here designated.

Description. Body slightly granulated and slender ( Figs. 71A, B ). Head little exserted. In frontal view: vertex almost as wide as the width of an eye; medial carina a little longer than the lateral ones; frontal costa bifurcation located at the middle of the eyes; scutellum narrow, with its branches straight; fascial carinae poorly elevated, ramification of fascial carinae narrow; antennal groves situated lower than the ventral margin of the eyes, in the middle length of each branch of the fascial carinae ( Fig. 71C ), antennae with 14 segments ( Fig. 71D ); lateral ocelli placed between the middle part of the eyes, near the base from where each branch of the fascial carinae diverges; medial ocellus located close to the lower margin of the scutellum; palpi with last three segments flattened, first two segments short and nearly cylindrical ( Fig. 71C ). In lateral view: carinae of the vertex prominent and protruding forward between the eyes; face almost straight; fastigio-fascial angle little convex in front; fascial carinae slightly emerging between the antennae and straight, above and below slightly sinuate; eyes subglobose, with rounded dorsal surface and almost straight ventral margin and slightly elevated higher than vertex ( Fig. 71D ). Thorax. Pronotum slightly surpassing the tip of hind femora; pronotal disc flat, straight anteriorly and acute at apex, median carinae sub-elevated ( Fig. 71A ). Lateral carinae almost straight in dorsal and lateral views; humeral angles concave; angles of the lateral lobes flattened and projected to the sides, triangular-shaped; posterior margin of lateral lobe with a mid-undulation ( Fig. 71B ); infra-scapular area shorth and moderately wider, ending at the level of the second or third abdominal segments; lateral area poorly developed ( Fig. 71A ). Wings. Absent. Legs mostly slender. Fore and mid-femora dorsally and ventrally slightly compressed, with some undulations; fore and mid-tibiae sulcated above. Hind femora with ante-genicular tooth not developed (as a small tubercle); genicular tooth short, triangular, and with apex rounded. Distal portion of hind tibiae not or barely ampliated; the first and third segments of the hind tarsi equal in length. Abdomen. Last segments constricted; cerci conical and reduced; penultimate sternite mid-sized, almost as long as the subgenital plate, slightly rounded in lateral view; subgenital plate triangular-shaped in ventral view, upcurved and apex with a mid-conspicuous notch.

Female. Unknown.

Species included. Rehniatra brevifastigiata ( Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona-Granda, 2015) , comb. nov. only.

Distribution. Colombian Andes (Maps 1 and 2).

Comparison. This new genus resembles Miriatra and Brazitettix due to the pronotum being almost flat, with only the median carina moderately elevated. Likewise, Rehniatra gen. nov. differs from Miriatra and Brazitettix because the scutellum is narrow, tegmina and hind wings are absent, with their branches close together, and the antegenicular and genicular teeth are poorly developed, which makes it similar to Grantiatra gen. nov. In contrast, Miriatra and Brazitettix species are slenderer, with well-developed wings, and well-developed antegenicular and genicular teeth.

Remarks. The type species was originally described in Metopomystrum ( Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona-Granda 2015) . However, Storozhenko (2016) moved it to his new genus Apteromystrum Storozhenko, 2016 (type species A. apterum ).

Recently, Silva et al. (2017) transferred this species to the genus Miriatra and mentioned that the holotype of this species is a nymph, arguing for the non-development of the antegenicular tooth. Still, upon reviewing the type specimen again, we confirmed that it is an adult, probably with neoteny in developing the antegenicular and genicular teeth. Field photographs of the holotype are provided in the Colombian Grasshopper Photographic Guide, Vol. 2 ( Cardona-Granda, 2015) ( Fig. 72A ), and photos from iNaturalist (https://www.inaturalist.org/ observations/10050696) emphasizing the poor development of these teeth in adult specimens ( Fig. 72B ).

The morphological characteristics of R. brevifastigiata comb. nov. suggest a relationship with Miriatra , being a genus of the subtribe, outside the Guyano-Amazonian region. The differences between genera and species can be seen in the key for the subtribe, highlighted for Rehniatra gen. nov. in the absence of wings, brachypronotal condition, poor development of the teeth of the hind femur, and a conspicuous subgenital plate with a notch at the apex (this character is superficially similar to Metopomystrum ).

Etymology. This genus is dedicated to the memory of the illustrious orthopterist James Abram Garfield Rehn, recognizing his significant contributions to orthopteroids worldwide. The ending - atra, which is derived from the genus Miriatra , is added. The gender of the name is feminine.

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

Type species: Grantiatra douglasi Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares , sp. nov., here designated.

Description. Body slightly granulated and robust ( Fig. 73 ). Head little exserted, elongated, taller than wide. In frontal view: vertex almost as wide as the width of an eye; medial carina longer than the lateral ones; frontal costa bifurcation located in the middle of the eyes; scutellum very narrow, with its branches straight; fascial carinae poorly elevated, ramification of fascial carinae narrow; antennae groves situated at level of the lower margin of the eyes, in the middle length of each branch of the fascial carinae; lateral ocelli reduced, poorly developed, placed between the middle part of the eyes, near the base from where each branch of the fascial carinae diverges; medial ocellus tiny, located close on the lower margin of the scutellum; palpi with last three segments flattened, first two segments short and nearly cylindrical ( Fig. 74A ). In lateral view: carinae of the vertex prominent, and protrude forward between the eyes; face almost curved; fastigio-fascial angle slight convex in front; fascial carinae slightly emerging between the antennae and straight, above and below slightly sinuate; eyes subtriangular shaped, with rounded dorsal surface and almost straight ventral margin and not elevated higher than vertex ( Fig. 74B ). Thorax. Pronotum as long as the tip of hind femora or surpassing; pronotal disc moderately projected forward anteriorly and acute at apex, pronotal disc almost tectiform; median carinae moderately elevated ( Figs. 73A, B ). Lateral carinae almost curved in dorsal and lateral views; humeral angles concave; humero-apical carina curved and poorly differentiated; Infrascapular area widened, ending close to abdomen apex ( Fig. 73B ). Angles of the lateral lobes noticeably expanded to sides, more so than in other known genera, triangular shaped and pointed ( Fig. 73C , 74C ). Wings. Absent. Legs mostly slender. Fore and mid-femora slightly compressed, dorsally and ventrally, with some undulations ( Figs. 74D, E ); fore and mid-tibiae sulcate above. Hind femora robust with ante-genicular and genicular teeth moderately developed, triangular, and with apex rounded. Hind tibiae toward the apices not or barely ampliated; the first and third segments of the hind tarsi equal in length ( Fig. 73A ). Abdomen. Last segments constricted ( Fig. 74F ); cerci conical and reduced; penultimate sternite mid-sized, longer than the subgenital plate, little rounded in lateral view ( Fig. 74F ); subgenital plate triangular-shaped in ventral view, upcurved, and apex with a small mid notch ( Fig. 74G ).

Female. As the male, only differing for the ambisexual characters.

Species included. The type species only.

Distribution. Colombian Amazon (Maps 1 and 2).

Comparison. Grantiatra gen. nov. resembles Rehniatra gen. nov. in lacking well-developed wings, having a narrow scutellum, and poorly developed antegenicular and genicular teeth. Grantiatra gen. nov. differs from the other taxa of the subtribe because the median carina is elevated, giving the pronotum a tectiform appearance, in contrast to the other genera with the almost flat pronotal disc. Another characteristic that distinguishes the new genus is the angles of the lateral lobes, which are noticeably expanded to the sides and pointed; this superficially occurs in some species of Miriatra , but in the new genus, it is more notably expanded.

Etymology. This genus is dedicated to the memory of the illustrious orthopterist Harold Johnson Grant Jr., in recognition of his significant contributions to orthopterans worldwide. The ending - atra, which is derived from the genus Miriatra , is added. The gender of the name is being established as feminine.

Figures

FIGURE 68. Miriatra producta (Bolívar, 1887). Female lectotype.A. Habitus in lateral view. B. Frons. C. Head and thorax in lateral view. D. Terminalia in lateral view. E. Labels. Photos: M. París (MNCN).

FIGURE 69. Miriatra producta (Bolívar, 1887). Female paralectotype.A. Habitus in lateral and, B. Dorsal views. C. Terminalia in lateral. D. and ventral views. E. Labels. Photos: M. París (MNCN).

FIGURE 70. Brazitettix species. A–C. Brazitettix roraimae Silva, 2024, male. D–F. Brazitettix paulista Silva, 2024, female. A, D. Habitus in lateral view. B, E. Frons. C, F. Head in dorsal view.

FIGURE 71. Rehniatra brevifastigiata (Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona, 2015) n. gen et comb. nov. Male holotype. A–B. Habitus in lateral and dorsal views. C. Frons. D. Head and thorax in lateral view.

FIGURE 72. Rehniatra brevifastigiata (Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona, 2015) comb. nov. A. Male holotype in live condition. Envigado, Antioquia Departament, Colombia (type locality). Photo: Juan Manuel Cardona Granda. B. Aditional male from Támesis, Antioquia, Colombia. Photo: Carlos Augusto Mesa Londoño https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10050696. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED.

FIGURE 73. Grantiatra douglasi Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares gen. nov. et sp. nov. Male holotype habitus. A–B. Lateral view. C. Habitus in dorsal view.

FIGURE 74. Grantiatra douglasi Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares gen. nov. et 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.