Gymnobothrus lineaalba I. Bolivar , 1889

Popov †, George B., Fishpool, Lincoln D. C. & Rowell, C. Hugh F., 2019, A review of the Acridinae s. str. (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Acrididae) of eastern Africa with taxonomic changes and description of new taxa, Journal of Orthoptera Research 28 (2), pp. 37-105 : 70

Gymnobothrus lineaalba I. Bolivar, 1889 Figs 166-180

Gymnobothrus linea alba I. Bolívar, 1889.

Chortoicetes subparallelus Rehn, 1914 (syn. Dirsh 1970).

Chortoicetes albomarginatus Karny, 1915 (syn. Uvarov 1953).

Pseudochirista houyi Ramme, 1931 (syn. Uvarov 1953).

Orthochirista variegata Sjöstedt, 1931. syn. n. (Fig. 166A).

Orthochirista elgonensis Sjöstedt, 1931, syn. n.

Material.

-GUINEA: Mamou (type locality of Chortoicetes albomarginatus Karny). Central African Republic: Pama Quelle, (type locality of Pseudochirista houyi Ramme). UGANDA: Entebbe; Kakumiro; Mubende; Lake Rudolf (now KENYA); Buddu Kakuto; Lwango Buddu; Bugwere; Kapeka; Masaka Lwango; Kalisizo; Lango; Kabwe; Ankole; Lubale-Lwentobo; Ankole Lwasamaire, Koki; Lake George; Kazinga Channel; Kibale; Tororo; Chiawante Lango. KENYA: Donyo Sabuk; Thika; Mombasa; Baringo; Masai Mara; Witu Forest Res. Maralal; Emali range S. of Sultan Hamud; Emsu dist. 00˚41'S, 37˚28'E; Chyulu hills S.E. end, 77 kms from Makutano; Taita hills. ETHIOPIA: Addis Ababa; Lake Zwai; Sire; Harrar; Lake Bishoftu. ZAMBIA: Chyanga; Chingola, Mbala, Ndola. D.R. CONGO: Bunia upland 4500'; Gety; Kasenyi. ANGOLA: 3 mi. N. Sta. Comba. SOUTH AFRICA: Free State, Witzeishoek, 6100' (1860 m); Kwa-Zulu Natal; Transvaal (Gauteng).

Description.

-Relatively slender build; size medium to below medium for genus. Integument smooth, matte. Antennae thick, weakly flattened and dilated basally; as long as, to slightly longer than head and pronotum in male, somewhat shorter in female. Antennae with conspicuous white annuli in life. Frontal ridge broad with low thick margins weakly divergent towards clypeus; fastigial constriction weak (Fig. 167). Fastigium of vertex oblong, weakly concave with low margins, longer than wide in male (Fig. 176), shorter in female; temporal foveolae narrowly elongate (Fig. 175). Pronotal disc broad, weakly tectiform, somewhat variable in shape as in Figs 168-174; lateral carinae straight and weakly divergent caudad, or parallel, more or less slightly inflexed in prozona and more divergent in metazona. Lateral carinae vary from weak to strong and callose; first transverse sulcus weak, second strong, cutting lateral carinae (Fig. 166). Wings extend beyond hind knees and in some specimens (notably from Uganda ) are exceptionally long. Genital structures as in Figs 179-180. Coloration variable in shades of brown, stramineous, and grey; dorsum usually paler than sides; face sometimes speckled, bearing an oblique ochraceous stripe below ocellus; pronotal disc uniformly colored, or sometimes with narrow dark brown stripes bordering contrastingly pale medial carina; lateral pronotal lobes often with a broad dark stripe and a large yellowish spot below (Fig. 166). Costal area of tegmina often with a contrasting white stripe and medial area with a chain of alternating dark and light spots. Wings hyaline, slightly infumate apically. Hind femur with dark knee and three more or less distinct oblique stripes across upper face; lower outer face greyish, inner ochraceous. Hind tibia greyish, with pale sub-basal ring. Measurements (in mm): total length males 12.0-16.5, female 17.0-24.0.

Discussion.

-Our material exhibited considerable structural and color variation. Much of this occurs within sympatric populations. On this basis G. variegatus ( Sjöstedt) and G. elgonensis ( Sjöstedt), are variants of G. lineaalba and become new synonyms of it. (cf. Fig. 166A vs. Figs 168-174).

Distribution.

-SIERRA LEONE, GUINEA, GHANA, IVORY COAST, CAMEROON, UGANDA, KENYA, SOUTH SUDAN, TANZANIA, ANGOLA, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE, MALAWI, ETHIOPIA, LESOTHO, NAMIBIA, SOUTH AFRICA.