Longchuanacris curvifurcula Mao, Ren et Ou, 2007

Mao, Ben-Yong, Niu, Yao, Ou, Xiao-Hong, Zheng, Zhe-Min & Scott, Matthew B., 2011, A taxonomic study of the genus Longchuanacris Zheng et Fu (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Catantopinae), with descriptions of two new species from Yunnan, China, Zootaxa 3118, pp. 51-61 : 58-60

Longchuanacris curvifurcula Mao, Ren et Ou, 2007

Longchuanacris curvifurcula Mao, Ren et Ou, 2007: 52 , 58–61, Figs. 37–48, 55–56.

Materials examined. Thirty six males and 36 females (including holotype and all paratypes), CHINA: Mt. Gaoligongshan, Tengchong County, Yunnan Province, 24º48’ N, 98º45’ E, 2200 m, 9 Aug. 2005, collected by Benyong Mao, Jishan Xu and Haibo Pu; 52 males and 75 female, CHINA: Zhen’an, Longling County, Yunnan Province, 24º41’ N, 98º52’ E, 2030 m, 5 Aug. 2010, collected by Yazhi Zhang; 7 males and 6 female, CHINA: Mt. Xiaoheishan, Longling County, Yunnan Province, 24º31’ N, 98º51’ E, 1883 m, 4 Aug. 2010, collected by Yazhi Zhang. Specimens are deposited in CADU.

Distribution. China: Yunnan (Tengchong, Longling).

Notes. The species L. guangxiensis Zheng et Ren, 2007 from Guangxi Province was previously included in the genus Longchuanacris , mainly based on the features of “absence of external apical spine on hind tibiae”, “lateral lobes of pronotum with posterior margin distinctly excised”, “male furculae on 10th abdominal tergite small, triangular, horizontal” and “male cerci conical, apex acute”. However, after the holotype (deposited in the Museum of Hebei University, Hebei Province, China) of L. guangxiensis being carefully examined, it was confirmed that the specimen had a small external apical spine on left hind tibia (right hind leg lost), and the feature of “lateral lobes of pronotum with posterior margin distinctly excised” seems to be intermediate between indistinctly and distinctly excised ( Fig. 17 ). The latter two features of “male furculae on 10th abdominal tergite small, triangular, horizontal” and “male cerci conical, apex acute” precisely prove that the specimens do not belong to Longchuanacris . Moreover, considering the two type specimens were deposited in an alcohol solution before being pinned, colour fading is likely to lead to an erroneous description, e.g., the hind tibia of the holotype is pink in comparison to the yellowish green described by Zheng & Ren (2007) ( Fig. 17 ).

When L. guangxiensis was compared with Caryanda neoelegans Otte, D. 1995 , we found that they showed substantial similarity in external morphology and male genitalia structures, and were surely the same taxon. In this paper, L. guangxiensis Zheng et Ren, 2007 is proposed as a new junior synonym of Caryanda neoelegans Otte, D. 1995 .

Distribution ( Fig. 18 ). So far the genus Longchuanacris has been known as a Yunnan endemic with six known species that are squamipterous and unable to fly. All six species have limited distributions in the high mountains of south-western Yunnan, where several large rivers, deeply-incised valleys, and inter-mountain lowlands ecologically isolate mountain habitats. The most widespread species so far seems to be L. virida which distributed in Tengchong, Baoshan, Dali, Yunlong, Ruili, Mt. Gaoligongshan; interestingly, in Mt. Gaoligongshan it is commonly sympatric with L. curvifurcula . The distribution of the other species is probably restricted to small areas in southwestern Yunnan, such as L. macrofurcula from Ruili and Lianghe, L. bidentata from Gangfang and Pianma (Lushui County), L. curvifurcula from Mt. Gaoligongshan (Tengchong County), Zhen’an and Mt. Xiaoheishan (Longling County), both of L. lobata and L. microfurcula from Tongbiguan and Xima (Yingjiang County), near to Burma. Although the genus may have a highly restricted distribution, it is not unlikely that additional species may occur in Burma side of the border with Yunnan. The species of the genus usually live in tussock grass under subtropical bushes and broad-leaf trees which grow in the wet and half-shady zone at medium elevation in southwestern Yunnan. The food plants of these species have been unknown in field, but in laboratory, they appear to feed on some grasses, such as Arthraxon hispidus (Thunb.) Makino , Oplismenus compositus (Linn.) Beauv. and Echinochloa crusgalli (Linn.) Beauv .. It must be emphasized that weed invasions and deforestation might destroy their natural habitats and lead to species extinctions.

Figures

FIGURE 18. Localities of the Longchuanacris species (1. L. macrofurcula; 2. L. lobata, sp. nov.; 3. L. microfurcula, sp. nov.; 4. L. virida; 5. L. curvifurcula; 6. L. bidentata). Scale bars = 100 km.

FIGURES 13 – 17. Habitus, lateral view. 13 – 14. Longchuanacris lobata Niu et Ou, sp. nov., male, female; 15 – 16. Longchuanacris microfurcula sp. nov., male, female; 17. Longchuanacris guangxiensis Zheng et Ren, 2007 (= Caryanda neoelegans Otte, D. 1995), male. Scale bars = 1 mm.