Gymnoscirtetes georgiaensis, Hill, 2022

Hill, JoVonn G., 2022, Revision of Gymnoscirtetes (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae): a genus endemic to the grasslands of the southeastern North American Coastal Plain, ZooKeys 1134, pp. 101-127 : 101

Gymnoscirtetes georgiaensis sp. nov.

Figs 5F , 11A-J , 12

Diagnosis.

Differing from other species in the group based on the shape of the internal male genitalia (Fig. 11C-I ). In dorsal view, the dorsal valves form two translucent lobes that are nearly equal in length to the ventral valves and are pointed at their apices. The ventral valves are opaque cylindrical protrusions that are pointed at their apices. In lateral view, the dorsal valves are nearly equal in length to the ventral valves, twist caudally and taper to their apices. In caudal view, the dorsal valves extend above the ventral valves (Fig. 11G ). This species can most easily be separated from G. pusillus by having longer dorsal and more translucent dorsal valves and from G. wadeorum by the more angled apices and the slight caudal twist in the dorsal valves. G. georgiaensis can also be distinguished from these species by their separate geographic distributions (Fig. 12 ).

Male measurements.

(mm): (n = 8) Body length 11.5-14.0 (mean = 12.8); pronotum length 1.7-2.2 (mean = 1.9); hind femur length 5.8-7.2 (mean = 6.6); cerci length 0.7-0.9 (mean = 0.8); basal width of cercus 0.3-0.4 (mean = 0.3); mid-cercal width 0.1-0.2 (mean = 0.2); cerci apex width 0.1 (mean = 0.1) tubercule length 0.1-0.3 (mean = 0.2); tubercule width 0.1-0.3 (mean = 0.2).

Female measurements.

(mm): (n = 1) Body length 13.0; pronotum length 2.0; hind femur 6.6.

Holotype.

GA., Appling Co. Moody Forest N.A., 31°54'24"N, - 82°18'46"W, 13 October 2010, J.G. Hill; open longleaf pine/wiregrass savannah, MEM 446532. (1♂) Deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum.

Paratypes.

Same data as type, except BOLD DNA JGH 0066, MEM 446531 (1♀).

Other specimens examined.

Georgia: Bullock Co. Lily Bog, 1 October 1983, D. Rymal, G. Folkerts (2♂) . Charlton , St. George, 4 August 1939, Hubbell and Friauf (1♂) . Clinch Co., Homerville , 27 August 1911, Rehn and Hebard (1♂) . Ware Co., 10 mi S Waycross, Edge of Okefenokee Swp. 16 August 1964, Gurney (1♂) ; Okeefenokee Swamp , 30 July 1931, J.D Beamer (1♂) . Waycross , 11 August 1903, A.P. Morse (1♂) . Wayne Co., 1.8 mi N Screven , 19 October 1946. T.H. Hubbell (2♂) ; Jessup (1♂) .

Distribution.

All known locations occur on the lower Coastal Plain of Georgia Bulloch County south to Ware and Charlton Counties (Fig. 12 ).

Habitat.

Flatwoods and pitcher plant bogs.

Etymology.

Named after the state of Georgia, from which this species is apparently endemic.

Figures

Figure 5. Caudal view of Gymnoscirtetes male aedeagi A G. morsei B G. rex C G. pusillus D G. pageae E G. wadeorum F G. georgiaensis. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

Figure 11. Gymnoscirtetes georgiaensis: A dorsal view of male terminalia B lateral view of male terminalia C dorsal view of phallic complex D lateral view of phallic complex E dorsal view of aedeagus F lateral view of aedeagus G caudal view of the aedeagus H dorsal view of epiphallus I caudal view of epiphallus J habitus.

Figure 12. Distribution of Gymnoscirtetes species. Green dots = G. morsei, yellow dots = G. rex, dark blue dots = G. pageae, orange dots = G. wadeorum, Light blue dots = G. georgiaensis, red dots = G. pusillus.