Truxalis nasuta (Linnaeus, 1758)

Usmani, Mohammad Kamil, 2008, Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) with some new records from Fezzan, Libya, Zootaxa 1946, pp. 1-41 : 39

50. Truxalis nasuta (Linnaeus, 1758)

Diagnosis: It can easily be identified by its large size, long head, pronotum sellate, hind wing strongly dark brown tessellate, and ensiform antennae.

Habitats: This species commonly occurs in old farmland. Also recorded in grassland habitats. It is found in dry grasses and sparse, tufty gramineous vegetation. Also occurs amongst denser vegetation and even in cultivated fields. They are always associated with graminae and most of them are graminivorous.

Material examined: Al Shati Region: Idri , 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 13.iv.1993 ; Mahruqah , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, on vegetable, 2.xii.1992 ; Tamzawah , 1♂, on grape, 4.xi.1992 ; Tmassan , 1 ♂, on grape, 13.iv.1993 . Ghat Region: Ghat, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, on dry grass and wild grass, 18.vii.1995 . Sebha Reion: Ghodwa , 1 ♂, 2 ♀, on grape-wild grass, 1.iv.1993 ; Samnu , 2 ♀, on vegetable, 18.v.1994 ; Sebha, 2 ♂, 4 ♀, on Alfalfa, 4.xii.1994 ; Tamanhant , 3 ♂, 5 ♀, on grassgrape, 18.v.1994 . Wadi Haya Region: Al Hamarah , 2 ♀, on wild grass, 2.xi.1992 ; Ben Hareth , 1 ♂, on dry grass, 16.xi.1992 ; Al Tanahmah , 1 ♂, on grass, 7.xii.92; Al Breek, 2 ♂, on dry grass, l 5.xii.1992 ; Awbari , 3 ♀, on alfalfa-wild grass, 30.i.1993 . Murzuk region: Marhaba , 1 ♂, 2 ♀, on dry grass, 11.xii.1993 ; Murzuq, 1 ♂, on dry barley, 17.iv.1993 ; Traghan , 1 ♂, on dry grass, 13.iv.1993 .

Localities: Cyrenaica: Barka, Bardia, Bengasi, Dernah, Fueihat, Ghemines, Gialo, Giarabub, Golfo di Bomba, Marmarica, Oasi di Giarabub , Porto Bardia, Tocra; Tripolitania: Bu Karnesh, Castel Benito, Gharian, Khoms, Leptis Magna, Misurata, Mizda, Tripoli, Uadi Caam; Fezzan: Al Hamarah, Al Tanahmah, Awbari, Ben Hareth, Brak, Ghat, Ghodwa, Idri, Mahrugah, Marhaba, Murzuk, Samnu, Sebha, Tamanhant, Tamzawah, Tibesti, Tmassan, Traghen .

Distribution: Canary Is., Spain, Sardinia, Sicily, Italy, Greece, Crete, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Sahara, Hoggar, Tebesti, Nigeria, Senegal, Mouretania, Cameroon, Niger, Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somaliland, Socotra, Tanganyika, Eritrea, Angola, N. Rhodesia, Congo, Cape, Transvaal, Madagascar, Cape Verde Is.

Remarks: This species is widely distributed in Libya. Recorded earlier by Werner (1908), Ghigi (1913), I. Bolivar (1915), Giglio-Tos (1923), Zanon (1924), Capra (1929), Salfi (1925, 1928) and Dirsh (1951). This species was recorded from Fezzan by Salfi (1935a) and Ajaili et al. (1989).