Ermia variabilis Popov, 1957

Figs 43, 44, 45

References for Socotra.

Popov (in Uvarov and Popov (1957)): 380–382, figs 27–32; Wranik 2003: 325, plate 158.

Diagnostic notes.

Ermia variabilis is an unmistakable little, brachypterous, stramineously coloured grasshopper (Figs 43, 45). Its flanks have a dark, reddish-brown and broad stripe, starting behind the eyes and continuing over the lateral lobes of the pronotum, the tegmina and the abdomen. Its relatively large head has a strongly sloping frons, ensiform antennae and large elongated eyes.

Distribution and occurrence.

Ermia variabilis is endemic to Socotra and confined to the Hagher massif, Dixam Plateau, Hamadero hills, Homhil and the Maaleh hills (Cheyrha) (Fig. 44). At Adho Dimello, it is abundant.

Popov collected one of the paratypes at Bijo, positioned on the map presented in Uvarov and Popov (1957) at 185 m a. s. l. It contradicts the statement by the same author that the species occurs above 2000 ft (609 m a. s. l.) (Popov in Uvarov and Popov (1957)). The label information is probably inaccurate and the specimen most likely has been found much higher in the mountains than at Bijo.

For remarks on Guichard’s collecting site on Mt. Shihali on 20 April 1967, see the species account of Dioscoridus depressus .

Habitat and biology.

On Socotra, E. variabilis occurs in dense vegetations of grasses and herbs in Frankincense woodland and forest, montane meadows with Hyparrhenia and Themeda - grasses (Fig. 45) and at lower elevations in savannah woodland (Cheyrha) and submontane grasslands (Dixam). Apart from the probably erroneous record at Bijo (185 m a. s. l), the species is recorded from 400–1100 m a. s. l. Records are from February to April, October and November.

Bioacoustics.

This species possibly produces a song, but it is unknown.