Oedaleus Fieber, 1853

Storozhenko, S. Yu. & Benediktov, A. A., 2020, AN ANNOTATED CHECK-LIST OF ORTHOPTERA OF TUVA AND ADJACENT REGIONS. PART 3. SUBRODER CAELIFERA (ACRIDIDAE: GOMPHOCERINAE: GOMPHOCERINI; LOCUSTINAE), Far Eastern Entomologist 402, pp. 1-36 : 17-20

Genus Oedaleus Fieber, 1853

20(84). Oedaleus decorus asiaticus Bey-Bienko, 1941

Oedaleus nigrofasciatus: Miram, 1907: 7 .

Oedaleus asiaticus: Berezhkov, 1951: 20 ; Berezhkov, 1956: 152; Ivanova, 1967: 133.

Oedaleus decorus: Sergeev et al., 1995: 97–98 .

Oedaleus decorus asiaticus: Ritchie, 1981: 126–127 ; Sergeev, 1986: 211; Benediktov, 1997: 117.

MATERIAL. Tuva: W Sayan Mts., Alash Plateau, Ak-Sug River, 51°24ʹN, 90°27ʹE, 1079–1085

m, southern slope, stony semi-desert, 13.VIII 2016, 1 ♀ ( MS); W Sayan Mts. , Alash Plateau, Ak-Sug

River, 51°25ʹN, 91°04ʹE, 800–810 m, southern slope and upper terrace, semi-deserts, 13.VII 2016, 24 ♂, 28

♀ ( MS); W Sayan Mts. , Alash Plateau, Ak-Sug River, 51°25ʹN, 91°04ʹE, 810 m, lower terrace and upper flood-plain, meadows, 13.VIII 2016 , 2 ♂, 2 ♀ ( MS); W Sayan Mts. , Alash Plateau, Ak-Sug River ,

51°30ʹN, 90°12ʹE, 1250–1252 m, lower terrace and upper flood-plain, meadows, pebbles, 14.VIII 2016,

1 ♀ ( MS); Turan-Uyuk Intermountain Basin, Begreda River , 51°59ʹN, 94°18ʹE, 830–845 m, southern slope and piedmont plain, semi-deserts, 12.VIII 2018 , 41 ♂, 13 ♀ ( MS); Turan-Uyuk Intermountain Basin, Begreda River , 51°59ʹN, 94°18ʹE, 829 m, terrace, meadow, 12.VIII 2018 , 1 ♂ ( MS); E Tuva, Academician

Obruchev Range, southern slope, Koptu (Khapto) River, 51°57ʹN, 95°33ʹE, 2005 m, along road (!) in mountain tundra, 10.VIII 2018, 1 ♀ ( MS); E Tuva, Academician Obruchev Range, southern slope,

Koptu (Khapto) River, 51°50ʹN, 95°25ʹE, 1132–1135 m, terrace and flood-plains, meadows, 11.VIII

2018, some specimens observed ( MS); E Tuva, Academician Obruchev Range, southern slope, Koptu

(Khapto) River, 51°37ʹN, 95°21ʹE, 788–843 m, southern slope and upper terraces, steppes, 11.VIII 2018,

some specimens observed ( MS); Chaa-Khol River , 51°34′N, 92°23′E, 570–600 m, dry steppes, 14 –

18.VII 1962, 10 ♂, 10 ♀, 9 larvae ( IS); 14 km SW Shagonar City, Shagonar River , 51°27ʹN, 92°45ʹE ,

583 m, lower terrace, meadow between bushes, 17–18.VI 2017, 28 larvae ( MS); 14 km SW Shagonar

City , Shagonar River, 51°27ʹN, 92°45ʹE, 583 m, upper terrace, dry meadow, 17. VI 2017, 9 larvae ( MS) ;

14 km SW Shagonar City, Shagonar River, 51°28ʹN, 92°44ʹE, 615–629 m, slopes and piedmont plain,

semi-deserts, 21, 23. VI 2017, 52 ♂, 4 ♀, 285 larvae ( MS); 14 km SW Shagonar City, Shagonar River ,

51°28ʹN, 92°44ʹE, 610 m, steppe with Stipa , 23. VI 2017, 3 larvae ( MS); 14 km SW Shagonar City ,

Shagonar River , 51°28ʹN, 92°45ʹE, 585–600 m, semi-desert and dry steppe, 25–26.VI 2017, 10 ♂ , 21

larvae ( MS); 32 km SW Kyzyl City, Elegest River , 51°29ʹN, 94°10ʹE, steppe, 22.VII 2014, 4 ♂, 5 ♀

( SS); Ulug-Khem Intermountain Basin , 25 km SW Kyzyl City, Ulug River, 51°35′N, 94°09′E , 650–700

m, piedmont plain, dry steppe, 6.VII 1978, 2 larvae ( MS); Ulug-Khem Intermountain Basin, 25 km SW

Kyzyl City, Ulug River, 51°35ʹN, 94°09ʹE, 630–830 m, mountain slopes and piedmont plain, semi-deserts

Nanophyton grubovi , 19.VII 1995, 27 ♂, 19 ♀, 8 larvae ( MS); Ulug-Khem Intermountain Basin, 25 km

SW Kyzyl City, Ulug River, 51°35ʹN, 94°08ʹE, 608 m, upper terrace, semi-deserts Nanophyton grubovi ,

20.VII 1995, 16 ♂, 16 ♀, 2 larvae ( MS); Ulug-Khem Intermountain Basin , 25 km SW Kyzyl City, Ulug

River, 51°36ʹN, 94°09ʹE, 600–605 m, lower terrace and upper flood-plain, meadows, 20.VII 1995, 1 ♂

( MS); Ulug-Khem Intermountain Basin, 25 km SW Kyzyl City, Ulug River, 51°34ʹN, 94°10ʹE, 800–900

m, southern slope and piedmont plain, semi-deserts Nanophyton grubovi , 22.VII 2003, 7 ♂, 9 ♀ ( MS) ;

Ulug-Khem Intermountain Basin , Elegest River, middle part, 51°22ʹN, 94°04ʹE, 695 m, upper terrace, dry steppe, 16. VI 2017, a specimen observed ( MS); Kaa (Malyj Yenissei) River , right side, near Boyarovka settlement, 51°32ʹN, 95°21ʹE, 703 m, plain, dry steppe, 12.VIII 2018, 3 ♂, 6 ♀ ( MS) ; 6 km SE Baj-Haak settlement, Sosnovka settlement, 51°08ʹN, 94°32ʹE, slope of balka with steppe, 20–21.VII 2014, 3 ♂, 1 ♀

( SS); Ulug-Khem Intermountain Basin, 8 km N Cheder Lake, 51°32ʹN, 95°21ʹE, 750–760 m, steppes,

12.VIII 1962, 1 ♂ ( IS); SE Ulug-Khem Intermountain Basin, Uzun-Kharagan River , near Balgazyn settlement, 50°57ʹN, 95°16ʹE, 940 m, upper terrace, meadow with Caragana bushes , 8.VII 1978, 1 larva

( MS); W Tannu-Ola Mts. , 5 km N Khandagajty settlement, 50°48ʹN, 92°05ʹE, 1300–1350 m, piedmont plain, stony steppes with Caragana , 16.VIII 1985, 2 ♂, 1 ♀ ( MS) ; W Tannu-Ola Mts. , NW Khandagajty settlement, near Solchur settlement, 50°46ʹN, 92°01ʹE, 1150–1200 m, agricultural fields including abandoned and plots along canal and roads, 21.VIII 1978, 3 ♂, 1 ♀, 3 larvae ( MS) ; W Tannu-Ola Mts. , 5

km N Khandagajty settlement, 50°47ʹN, 92°03ʹE, 1193 m, piedmont plain, lower terrace of stream,

meadow, 21.VIII 1985, 1 larva ( MS); W Tannu-Ola Mts. , 5 km N Khandagajty settlement, 50°47ʹN ,

92°05ʹE, 1200–1250 m, piedmont plain, lower part, stony steppes with Caragana and dry meadow,

21.VIII 1985, 2 ♀, 2 larvae ( MS); W Tannu-Ola Mts. , 5 km N Khandagajty settlement, 50°50ʹN, 92°05ʹE ,

1500-1550 m, piedmont plain, upper part, steppe, 21.VIII 1985, 2 ♀ ( MS); W Tannu-Ola Mts. , 4 km E

Khandagajty settlement, 50°45ʹN, 92°09ʹE, 1150–1200 m, southern slope and piedmont plain, stony semi-desert with Nanophyton grubovii , 24.VIII 1985, 16 ♂, 14 ♀, 4 larvae ( MS); W Tannu-Ola Mts., near

Khandagajty settlement, 50°44′N, 92°09′E, 1140 m, northern slope, stony semi-desert, 24.VIII 1985, 1 ♀

( MS); W Tannu-Ola Mts. , near Khandagajty settlement, 50°43′N, 92°04′E, 1170–1200 m, piedmont plain ,

desert with Nanophyton grubovii , 24.VIII 1985, 4 ♂, 1 ♀ ( MS); W Tannu-Ola Mts. , near Khandagajty settlement, 50°43′N, 92°03′E, 1200–1250 m, piedmont plain and northern slope, semi-desert with

Caragana bushes, 24.VIII 1985, 3 ♂, 2 ♀, 1 larva ( MS); E Tannu-Ola Mts. , Shivelig River, 50°45ʹN ,

94°34ʹE, 1330–1340 m, lower terrace, steppe, 12.VIII 1978, 1 ♂ ( MS); N Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin ,

Iribitej River , 50°44′N, 93°08′E, 938–973 m, 24.VI 1978, piedmont plain, stony semi-deserts with

Nanophyton grubovii , 65 larvae ( IS, MS); N Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, Iribitej River , 50°45′N ,

93°09′E, 1030–1040 m, 29.VII 1978, upper terrace, semi-desert, 29.VII 1978, 2 ♂, 1 ♀ ( MS); N UvsNuur Intermountain Basin, Iribitej River , 50°44′N, 93°08′E, 984 m, 29.VII 1978, upper terrace, stony semi-desert, 29.VII 1978, 2 ♂, 5 ♀ ( MS); the same locality, lower terrace, meadow, 29.VII 1978, 1 ♀

( MS); N Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, Iribitej River , 50°44′N, 93°08′E, 938 m, 30.VII 1978, lower terrace and flood-plains, steppe, 30.VII 1978, 21 ♂, 15 ♀ ( MS); N Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin ,

Iribitej River , 50°44′N, 93°08′E, 938 m, 30.VII 1978, upper terrace and piedmont plain, semi-desert with

Nanophyton grubovii , 26 ♂, 14 ♀ ( MS); N Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, Iribitej River , 50°44′N, 93°08′E ,

973 m, 30.VII 1978, piedmont plain, upper part, semi-desert with Nanophyton grubovii , 22 ♂, 21 ♀ ( MS) ;

N Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, 50 km E Amdaygyn-Khol, semi-desert with Nanophyton grubovii ,

26.VII 1962, 1 ♂, 1 larva ( IS); NE Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, Khol-Oozhu River , 50°43ʹN, 94°17ʹE ,

931 m, piedmont plain, lower part, semi-desert with Nanophyton grubovii , 30. VI 1978, some specimens observed ( MS); NE Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, Khol-Oozhu River, 50°43ʹN, 94°17ʹE, 930 m,

piedmont plain, lower part, meadow, semi-desert with Nanophyton grubovii , 16.VII 1978, 7 ♂, 3 ♀

( MS); NE Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, Shivelig River , 50°39ʹN, 94°28ʹE, 990–995 m, flood-plain and terraces, dry steppes with Caragana , 28. VI 1978, 127 larvae ( MS); the same locality and habitats ,

18.VII 1978, 146 ♂, 32 ♀, 114 larvae ( MS); the same locality and habitats , 10.VIII 1978, 112 ♂, 52 ♀

( MS); NE Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, Shivelig River , 50°43ʹN, 94°33ʹE, 1215 m, lower terrace, dry steppe, 15.VII 1978, 10 ♂, 5 ♀ ( MS) ; the same locality and habitats, 11.VIII 1978, 13 ♂, 1 ♀ ( MS) ; the same locality, lower terrace, wet meadow, 11.VIII 1978, 1 ♀ ( MS) ; NE Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin,

Shivelig River, 50°43ʹN, 94°33ʹE, 1200–1300 m, southern slopes and piedmont plain, steppes with

Caragana , 24.VII 2003, 12 ♂, 3 ♀ ( MS); NE Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, Shivelig River , 50°45ʹN ,

94°34ʹE, 1280–1301 m, terraces, dry meadows, 8.VII 2017, some specimens observed ( MS); NE UvsNuur Intermountain Basin, Shivelig River, 50°43ʹN, 94°33ʹE, 1259 m, piedmont plain, dry steppe with

Caragana , 8.VII 2017, 2 ♂, 8 ♀, 42 larvae ( MS); NE Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, Shivelig River ,

50°43ʹN – 50°45ʹN, 94°33ʹE – 94°34ʹE, 1200–1650 m, mountain slopes, piedmont plains, terraces, dry meadows and steppes, often with bushes and stones, 24.VI–12.VIII 1978,> 100 specimens, including larvae

( T. Myagkaya, A. Lee); Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, Tes River, 50°33ʹN, 94°31ʹE, 932–934 m,

terraces, dry meadows and steppes, 27.VI 1978, 1 ♂, 6 larvae ( MS); Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, Tes

River, 50°32ʹN, 94°31ʹE, 930–932 m, upper flood-plain, meadows, 13.VII 1978, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 2 larvae

( MS); Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, Tes River, 50°33ʹN, 94°31ʹE, 932–934 m, terraces, steppes,

14.VII 1978, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( MS); the same locality, upper flood-plain and terraces , 11.VIII 1978, 5 ♂, 1 ♀

( MS); Dyttyg-Khem River , 12 km SW Samagaltai settlement, 50°38ʹ N, 95°19ʹ E, 17.VII 2014, 1 ♂, 1 ♀

( SS); Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, 7 km S Erzin settlement, Tes River, 50°11ʹN, 95°12ʹE, 1097 m,

lower terrace and upper flood-plains, dry meadows and steppes, 22.VII 1978, 8 ♂, 8 ♀ ( MS); Uvs-Nuur

Intermountain Basin, 7 km S Erzin settlement, Tes River, 50°11ʹN, 95°12ʹE, 1097 m, lower terrace,

steppes, 23.VII 1978, 2 ♂, 1 ♀ ( MS); Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, E Shara-Nuur, Yamalyg farwell rocks, 50°14ʹN, 94°45ʹE, 1150 m, piedmont plain, dry steppe, 6.VII 2017, numerous specimens observed

( MS); Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin , near Shara Lake, 50°13ʹN, 94°32ʹE, 902–904 m, plain and upper terrace, sands, semi-desert and grassland with Achnatherum , 6.VII 2017, 1 ♂, 2 ♀ ( MS); 25 km SW

Erzin settlement, Tes River, 50°05ʹN, 95°21ʹE, 14–15.VII 2014, 4 ♂, 4 ♀ ( SS); Tore Lake, 50°06ʹN ,

95°06ʹE, 1100 m, steppe, steppe, 12.VII 2014, 4 ♂, 1 ♀ ( SS); Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, S Tore

Lake, 50°01′N, 95°04′E, 1154-1166 m, 07.VII 2017, sand semi-desert and upper terraces with birch forest, 4 ♂, 3 ♀ ( MS); Uvs-Nuur Intermountain Basin, S Tore Lake , 50°05′N, 95°09′E, 1174 m, sandy semi-desert with Caragana bungei , 7.VII 2017, 12 ♂, 19 ♀ ( MS); 31 km NEE Erzin settlement, Erzin

River, 50°21ʹN, 95°34ʹE, 1100 m, flood-plain, meadow near cliff, 18.VII 2014, 2 ♂, 2 ♀ ( SS). Khakassia:

W Sayan Mts. , Bolshoj On River, 51°52′N, 89°48′E, 1200 m, upper terrace, opening, old gravel quarry ,

15.VIII 2016, 4 ♀ ( MS) .

REMARKS. Oedaleus asiaticus was described by Bey-Bienko (1941) from S Transbaikalia, Tuva and Mongolia. Later Ritchie (1981) revised the genus Oedaleus Fieber and considered that Oe. asiaticus is conspecific with Oe. decorus . He diplomatically suggested a subspecific rank for the former taxon, but actually mentioned very significant variability of specimens of Oe. decorus from different parts of its range. Our data support this point of view. In the mountains of South Siberia, strong variations in sizes, shapes of the pronotal disc, hind wing fascia appearance don't allow to differ these forms. Besides, their habitat and trophic preferences are almost the identical.

Some orthopterists (Ma et al., 1991; Zheng & Xia, 1998; Chen, 2005) follow Ritchie's proposal, but some others (Cigliano et al., 2019) prefer to differ these two taxa as the separate species. Unfortunately, molecular data don't allow us to solve this problem explicitly. Fries et al. (2007) showed that these two forms are similar but should be considered as the separate species (estimated time of their divergence is about 34.7 Mya). Kindler et al. (2012)

hypothesized that in the complex of decorus – asiaticus , there are three distinct, but closely related species or subspecies, namely Western European Oe. decorus , Eastern European Oe.

decorus and Oe. asiaticus . Later Schmid et al. (2018) also showed similarity between Oe.

decorus from Europe and Oe. decorus asiaticus . These slightly contradictory estimations may be resulted from either deep genetic splits between different spatial population groups of

Oe. decorus (see Kindler et al., 2012) or misidentification of specimens from East Asia where some other species of the genus Oedaleus occur. That is why we continue to follow the most comprehensive revision of the genus (Ritchie, 1981).

S Europe, S Siberia (up to Amur Region); N Africa, Asia Minor, Levant, Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Iran, Tien Shan, Pamiro-Alay, Kopetdagh, N Afghanistam, Mongolia, NW, N, NE, E

China ( ssp. asiaticus Bey-Bienko occurs in the easthern part of the species range, from the

Altay-Sayan Mts. and NW Mongolia).

ECOLOGY. One of the most common and widely distributed species in the dry steppes.