Melanoplus walkeri, Hill, 2023

Hill, JoVonn G., 2023, Diversification deep in the heart of Texas: seven new grasshopper species and establishment of the Melanoplus discolor species group (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae), ZooKeys 1165, pp. 101-136 : 101

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1165.104047

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0F260E39-BDA6-4243-85AB-BCBF6D8F8D0D

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3F32C8A6-106F-4D0E-8668-317787654E45

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:3F32C8A6-106F-4D0E-8668-317787654E45

treatment provided by

ZooKeys by Pensoft

scientific name

Melanoplus walkeri
status

sp. nov.

Melanoplus walkeri sp. nov.

Figs 2E View Figure 2 , 3G View Figure 3 , 4G View Figure 4 , 11A-J View Figure 11 , 14 View Figure 14 , 21 View Figure 21

Type material.

Holotype: 1♂, USA, TX, Kendall Co., 7 mi NE Sisterdale, 30.0073, -98.5515, 22 July 2019, J. G. Hill, MJT, BSD; Collected on Ashe juniper hill; 281,486. Deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum.

Other specimens examined.

Texas: Kendall Co., 7 mi NE Sisterdale, 30.0073, -98.5515, 22 July 2019, J. G. Hill, M.J. Thorn, B.S. Dunaway (3♂, 3♀) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Male cerci that are falcate with a very steeply curving ventral edge (Figs 2E View Figure 2 , 11A, B View Figure 11 ), internal male genitalia with the valves of the aedeagus projected dorsally with trifid, thinly sclerotized dorsal valves. (Figs 3G View Figure 3 , 4G View Figure 4 ). Most similar to M. corniculatus , but M. walkeri is easily separated from that species by having more steeply curving male cerci (Fig. 2D, E View Figure 2 ), aedeagal valves that are produced dorsally instead of caudally (Figs 10C-F View Figure 10 , 11C-F View Figure 11 ), and the shape and level of sclerotization of the dorsal valves (Figs 10C-G View Figure 10 , 11C-F View Figure 11 ).

Measurements.

Male measurements. (mm): (n = 4) Body length 21.4-22.1 (mean = 21.7); pronotum length 4.2-5.0 (mean = 4.7); tegmen length 4.5-5.7 (mean = 5.1); hind femur length 11.2-11.9 (mean = 11.6); cerci length 0.9 (mean = 0.9); basal width of cercus 0.8-0.9 (mean = 0.9); mid-cercal width 0.5 (mean = 0.5); cerci apex width 0.3 (mean = 0.3).

Female measurements. (mm): (n = 3) Body length 22-24.2 (mean = 22.8); pronotum length 5.5-5.7 (mean = 5.6); tegmen length 6.0 (mean = 6.0); hind femur length 13.3-13.5 (mean = 13.4); Dorsal ovipositor valve length 1.4-1.6 (mean = 1.5); ventral ovipositor valve length 1.3-1.5 (mean = 1.4).

Habitat.

Ashe juniper/live oak savanna.

Distribution.

Found in the central eastern edge of the Edwards Plateau along the Balcones Escarpment (Fig. 14 View Figure 14 ).

Etymology.

Named in honor of Jerry Jeff Walker an iconic Texas musician whose most influential album was recorded near the type locality of this species in the Luckenbach. Walker’s songs such as Hill Country Rain, Leavin’ Texas, and Sangria Wine brought me and my field team joy while traveling between field sites and added to the amazing ambiance of the Edwards Plateau.

Suggested common name.

Walker’s pouncer.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Orthoptera

Family

Acrididae

Genus

Melanoplus