Agroecotettix silverheelsi, Hill, 2024

Hill, JoVonn G., 2024, Desert diversification: revision of Agroecotettix Bruner, 1908 (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae) with descriptions of sixteen new species from the United States and Mexico, ZooKeys 1218, pp. 177-230 : 177-230

Agroecotettix silverheelsi sp. nov.

Figs 2 B , 4 A , 5 A , 7 A – J , 25 , 23 A – C , 25 , 26 A

Diagnosis.

Differentiated from the other species in the group based on the male cerci that have the ventral branch longer than the dorsal branch and by the male aedeagus that has a thickened sheath, and the valves of that are shorter than the sheath with broadly rounded apices (Figs 4 A , 5 A ). Most similar to A. aristus and A. texmex but differs from those by the shape of the male genitalia which in caudal view, has the valves of the aedeagus relatively shorter and broader than in A. aristus (Figs 4 B , 5 B ) and by the having valves that that are parallel (Figs 4 A , 5 A ) as opposed to diverging apically as in A. texmex . (Figs 4 D , 5 D ); in lateral view, the distal edge of the valves is broadly rounded.

Male measurements (mm).

(n = 7) Body length 20.6–24.5 (mean = 22.7); pronotum length 4.4–5.5 (mean = 5.2); tegmen length 2.9–4.0 (mean = 3.4); hind femur length 10.4–12.4 (mean = 11.6); cerci length 1.4–1.7 (mean = 1.6); basal width of cercus 0.5–0.6 (mean = 0.6); mid-cercal width 0.4 (mean = 0.4); cerci dorsal fork length 0.4–0.5 (mean = 0.5); cerci dorsal fork apex width 0.2 (mean = 0.2); cerci ventral fork length 0.6–0.8 (mean = 0.6); cerci ventral fork apex width 0.1 (mean = 0.1).

Phallus measurements (mm).

(n = 3) Length 0.7–0.8 (mean = 0.8); apex width 0.4–0.5 (mean = 0.4); middle width 0.5–0.8 (mean = 0.7); basal width 0.6–0.7 (mean = 0.6); lateral apex width 0.2–0.4 (mean = 0.3); lateral medial width 0.3–0.4 (mean = 0.3); lateral basal width 05–0.7 (mean = 0.6).

Female measurements (mm).

(n = 3) Body length 25.2–27.2 (mean = 26.2); pronotum length 6.5–7.2 (mean = 6.8) tegmen length 4.5–5.1 (mean = 4.8); hind femur length 13.2–15.2 (mean = 14.2); dorsal ovipositor valve length 1.2–2.1 (mean = 1.8); ventral ovipositor valve length 1.2–2.1 (mean = 1.8).

Holotype.

• 1 ♂, USA, Texas, Dimmit Co., Asherton , 28.4559, -99.7778, 19 July 2020, J. G. Hill; open grassland with Opuntia , Cylindropuntia , and Prosopis . Deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum .

Specimens examined.

USA, Texas: • Dimmit Co., Asherton , 28.4559, -99.7778, 19 July 2020, J. G. Hill (1 ♂, 1 ♀) . • Maverick Co., 1.8 mi E Eagle Pass , 18 August 1961, I. J. Cantrall and T. J. Cohn (5 ♂, 2 ♀) .

Habitat.

On Vachellia branches in an open grassland with Opuntia , Cylindropuntia , and Prosopis (Fig. 26 C ).

Distribution.

Known only from the northwestern South Texas Plains region of Texas (Fig. 25 ).

Etymology.

The name silverheelsi is a patronym honoring Jay Silverheels. a Native American athlete and actor who most famously portrayed the fictional character Tonto in “ The Lone Ranger ” television series from 1949–1957. Silverheels was one of the first Native American actors to portray a major Indigenous character on a television series. Throughout his career, Silverheels advocated for more inclusion of Indigenous people in media and founded the Indian Actors Workshop in Los Angeles during the 1960 ’ s. This naming honors Silverheels’ cultural impact and the Texas landscapes where the series was set.

Suggested common name.

Silverheels’ aridland scrub jumper.

Figures

Figure 2. Agroecotettix cerci in lateral view unless noted otherwise A A. aristus B A. silverheelsi C A. xiphophorus D A. xiphophorus ventral view E A. texmex F A. cumbres G A. crypsidomus H A. chisosensis I A. dorni J A. burtoni K A. turneri L A. quitmanensis M A. moorei N A. chiantiensis O A. vaquero P A. forcipatus Q A. kahloae R A kahloae ventral view S A. idic lateral view T A. idic dorsal.

Figure 4. Caudal view of the aedeagus of Agroecotettix A. A. silverheelsi B A. aristus C A. xiphophorus D A. glochinos E A. texmex F A. cumbres G A. crypsidomus H A. burtoni I A. moorei J A. chiantiensis K A. forcipatus L A. quitmanensis M A. dorni N A. chisosensis O A. turneri P A. vaquero Q A. idic R A. kahloae. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figure 5. Lateral view of the aedeagus of Agroecotettix A A. silverheelsi B A. aristus C A. xiphophorus D A. glochinos E A. texmex F A. cumbres G A. crypsidomus H A. burtoni I A. moorei J A. chiantiensis K A. forcipatus L A. quitmanensis M A. dorni N A. chisosensis O A. turneri P A. vaquero Q A. idic R A. kahloae.

Figure 7. Agroecotettix silverheelsi A dorsal view of male terminalia B lateral view of male terminalia C dorsal view of phallic complex D lateral view of phallic complex E dorsal view of aedeagus F lateral view of aedeagus G caudal view of the aedeagus H dorsal view of epiphallus I caudal view of epiphallus J habitus.

Figure 23. Agroecotettix idic A dorsal view of male terminalia B lateral view of male terminalia C dorsal view of phallic complex D lateral view of phallic complex E dorsal view of aedeagus F lateral view of aedeagus G caudal view of the aedeagus H dorsal view of epiphallus I caudal view of epiphallus J habitus.

Figure 25. Distribution of Agroecotettix species.

Figure 26. Distribution of Agroecotettix species A Big Bend region of Texas B zoom in on the area around Monterrey, Mexico at the convergence of the Chihuahuan Desert, Sierra Madre Oriental, and South Texas Plains ecoregions.