Tmethis pulchripennis (Serville, 1838)

Massa, Bruno, 2013, Pamphagidae (Orthoptera: Caelifera) of North Africa: key to genera and the annotated check-list of species, Zootaxa 3700 (3), pp. 435-475 : 440

Tmethis pulchripennis (Serville, 1838)

Material examined. Algeria, El Kantara, 1♂, 2♀; Libya, Tolemais 24. IV.05, 1 ♂; U. Caàm, 2♂, 2♀; Mizda, 3♂, 2♀; Tinaiat ben Galan, 2♂, 3♀; Sebha, 1♂; Egypt, 1♂, 1♀ (BMCP).

According to Uvarov (1943), we may separate males of T. pulchripennis from T. cisti by the shape of epiphallus, which in the former has hind lobes relatively small and narrowly separated ( Figs. 59 b, 59c), whereas in the latter they are large, broadly separated ( Figs. 54 a, 55a). The shape of the lower valves of the ovipositor, claimed by Uvarov (1943) as diagnostic, actually revealed to be much variable (cf. La Greca 1969). In addition, both sexes of the two species should be separated by spurs of hind tibiae, shorter and stouter in T. pulchripennis ( Fig. 59 a), long and slender in T. cisti ( Fig. 54 b). Finally, first tarsal joint in T. pulchripennis is short, its second pulvillus is not longer than the first or the third ( Fig. 59 a), while in T. cisti the first tarsal joint is long, and its second pulvillus is longer than the first or third ( Fig. 54 b). Three subspecies have been described, namely pulchripennis (type locality: Egypt) ( Figs. 52, 53 ), asiaticus (type locality: Khedeira, Palestine) and algericus (type locality: Algeria); the latter was found to belong to T. cisti (see above). I would preliminary confirm that the shape of lower valve of females cannot separate T. cisti from T. pulchripennis , being a very variable character. T. pulchripennis has been cited from Algeria (e.g., Maurel 2008, Benkenana et al. 2012, as algerica , which resulted to belong to T. cisti ). However, following diagnostic characters above listed, the presence of T. pulchripennis is here confirmed in Algeria, at least in the eastern area; following the same criteria, future researches might confirm its presence in other areas of the country. In accordance with Uvarov (1943), the Egyptian taxon is smaller than that living in the Middle East, and is characterized by red hind tibiae and edges of inner hind femurs. Nevertheless, biometrics reported in Table 1 show that measurements of North African specimens are bigger than those of Middle East, which in turn show a higher s.d., depending on the higher variability. In addition, among specimens from North Africa some have yellow hind legs.

Figures

FIGURES 54 – 59. Some of the taxa described in the genus Tmethis, view from above to show the pattern of wing colour pattern and the ratio between the length of wings and the body. Figs. 58 a and 58 b show the pattern of pronotum and wings of male and female of T. harterti n. status. Figs. 54 a and 55 a show the apical lobes, large and broadly separated, of epiphallus of T. cisti, while Figs. 59 b and 59 c show the relatively small and narrowly separated lobes of epiphallus of T. pulchripennis (after Uvarov 1943). Figs 54 b and 59 a show the differences in the spurs of hind tibiae, long and slender, with the first tarsal joint long, and its second pulvillus longer than the first or third in T. cisti; shorter and stouter, with first tarsal joint short, its second pulvillus not longer than the first or the third in T. pulchripennis (after Uvarov 1943).

FIGURES 40 – 53. Lateral view of males and females of some taxa described in the genus Tmethis, here revised.