Melanoplus parvus Barrientos-Lozano & Rocha-Sánchez, 2013

Barrientos-Lozano, Ludivina, Rocha-Sánchez, Aurora Y. & Horta-Vega, Jorge V., 2013, Two new species of Melanoplus Stål, 1873 (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Melanoplinae) from northeastern Mexico, Zootaxa 3669 (3), pp. 261-286 : 278-283

Melanoplus parvus Barrientos-Lozano & Rocha-Sánchez n. sp.

( Figs. 27 a–f–28 a–c; 30 a–e; 31 a–c, 32a)

Type material (material examined).— Holotype 3 and allotype Ƥ. Mexico, Coahuila, El Cascajal, Los Lirios, Arteaga, 1942 m, Lat. 25°22.591’’N, Long. 100°46.17’’W, 26.IX.2009, Barrientos-Lozano L., Méndez-Gómez B. R. & Rocha-Sánchez A. Y.

Paratypes, Coahuila.— 2 3, 1 Ƥ, same data as holotype, coll. L Barrientos-Lozano-ITCV; 1 Ƥ, Jamé, road (rd.) Nuncio-Rayones, 2394 m, Lat. 25°21.33”N, Long. 100°35.588”W, 27.IX.2009, Barrientos-Lozano L., Méndez-Gómez B. R. & Rocha-Sánchez A. Y, coll. L. Barrientos-Lozano-ITCV.

Diagnosis.— M. par vus n. sp., may be distinguished from congeneric species as follows: very unique elongated and stylized cerci ( Figs 27 c, d; 28 b), as long as the supra-anal plate, broad basally, incurved and narrowing about mid portion, then widening, distally the upper margin bent conspicuously upwards and inwards; the upper margin rounded laterally and, in dorsal view, the ventral acute. The supra-anal plate triangular, proximally broad, furculae obsolete, side margins almost straight, medio-longitudinal sulcus broad proximally, moderately deep, about ¾ the length of the supra-anal plate; the subgenital plate subconical, distinctly tuberculate apically ( Figs. 27 d; 28 c). M. par vus n. sp., presents certain similarities with M. strumosus Morse , i.e., in general appearance, size and cerci ( Fig. 29 a–c). However, we are not comparing M. par vus n. sp. with M. strumosus because the latter species occurs only in southeastern United States, as all other members of the Puer Group, to which M. strumosus is assigned. Furthermore, characters that define the Puer Group are not clearly established.

Description of male.— A small species, average 15 mm in length. General body color brown, head medium size, face whitish-cream, antennae brownish, eyes relatively large for its size and prominent, interocular space rather wide, fastigium of vertex gently declevent, enlarging apically. Pronotum ( Fig. 27 a, b), light brown dorsally, moderately widening posteriorly, anterior margin emarginated, posterior margin rounded and emarginated, metazona densely punctate, median carina prominent-dark brown, postocular band dark brown-blackish, diverging gently posteriorly and fading on metazona, mesoepimeron and anterior portion of metapleuron dark brownblackish, a white stripe along metaepimeron, lower portion of lateral lobes whitish-cream with this color extending on to lower portion of mesopleuron, tegmina short, ovate, attingent, brownish-half darker on lower portion, veins cream. Pro, meso and metathoracic femora tumescent, brownish, hind tibiae bluish. Abdomen with a dark brown band on each side-fading on the last three abdominal tergites, subgenital plate ( Figs. 27 c, d; 28 c) subconical with a conspicuous tubercle apically. Supra-anal plate triangular, proximally broad, side margins almost straight, mediolongitudinal sulcus broad basally, moderately deep, beyond mid length, furculae obsolete ( Figs. 27 d; 28 a). Cerci ( Figs. 27 c, d; 28 b) elongated, as long as the supra-anal plate, broad basally, incurved and narrowing about mid portion, then widening, distally the upper margin bent conspicuously upwards and inwards; the upper margin rounded laterally and, in dorsal view, the ventral acute. Epiphallus ( Figs. 27 e; 30 d, e) with medium size ancorae, shorter than the anterior process; anterior process moderately developed, distally pointed and projecting inwards; lophi large and prominent; broad bridge; posterior processes distally produced. Phallic complex as shown in Figs. 27 f; 30 a–c. Aedeagal valves ( Fig. 31 a–c): Dorsal valvae tubular, distally broader and concave; ventral valvae elongated, basally broad, tapering gradually, half distal curved inwards, apex moderately expanded and rounded.

Description of female.— Similar to the males, average 17 mm in length, general body color brown. The head medium size, face and genae whitish cream, eyes medium size and moderately prominent, interocular space wider than in males, antennae brownish. Pronotum dorsally brown, weakly widening posteriorly, metazone punctate, median carina prominent-dark brown, posterior margin gently emarginated, postocular band dark brown fading on metazone, lower portion of pronotal lateral lobes whitish cream, mesopleuron dark brown, metaepimeron with a white stripe. Tegmina short, ovate, attingent, brownish, lower portion darker. Pro, meso and metathoracic femora light brown, hind femora darker along the upper half of the outer face, with black apices; hind tibiae bluish. Cerci and ovipositor’ valves as shown in Fig. 32 a.

Measurements (mm). Males.— Body length from vertex to end of hind femur: 15.0 (14.0–15.0). Pronotum length: 3.4 (3.1–3.8). Tegmina length: 2.8 (2.7–2.9). Hind femora length: 7.8 (7.8–7.9). Females: Body length: 17.0 (16.0–17.0). Pronotum length: 3.7 (3.5–3.9). Tegmina length: 3.2 (3.1–3.2). Hind femora length: 9.3 (9.2– 9.4).

Distribution.— Species collected in Coahuila, Mexico, Sierra de Arteaga, at two localities: Jamé, 2394 m and El Cascajal, 1942 m ( Fig. 32 b).

Habitat.— The Sierra de Arteaga in the state of Coahuila, is part of the mountain ranges that form the northern portion of the Easter Sierra Madre (ESM), located north of the Tropic of Cancer in the temperate latitudinal zone ( Fig. 33 ). The forest here is in a transition zone between the semiarid High Plateau and cool-temperate mountains of the ESM. Elevation ranges from 1,900 to 3,400 m. The climate in the area is sub-humid temperate. The average annual temperature and rainfall are 17°C and 498 mm, respectively; rainfall is convective and matches with the warm months of the year (July-October). Lithosols are predominant and represent 49% of the area, while Rendzina prevails in the foothills and valleys and represent 29%. Vegetation types are represented by montane shrub, oak forest ( Quercus ), pine forest (pinyon pine forest.— P. cembroides ), high altitude conifer forest ( Abies and Pseudotsuga ) and quaking aspen forest ( Populus ). M parvus n. sp., lives on herbaceous plants such as Piqueria trinervia , Anthemis sp., Senecio sp., ( Asteraceae ); Salvia sp., Mentha sp., Origanum sp., ( Lamiaceae ); Muhlenbergia sp., Buchloe dactyloides (Poaceae) .

Etymology.— The specific name parvus , alludes to the small size of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 27. Melanoplus parvus n. sp. Male head, pronotum, thorax in left lateral view (a) and head and pronotum in dorsal view (b); left cercum in lateral view (c), distal segments of male abdomen in dorsal view (d); epiphallus in dorsal view (e) and phallic complex without epiphallus in dorsal view (f).

FIGURE 29. Melanoplus strumosus, male external genitalia: supra-anal plate in dorsal view (a), left cercus in lateral view (b), subgenital plate in ventral view (c). Figures after Capinera et al. (2001).

FIGURE 31. Melanoplus parvus n. sp., distal portion of aedeagus’ valves: dorsal view (a) lateral view (b), ventral view (c).

FIGURE 32. Melanoplus parvus n. sp., female’s cercus and ovipositor’s valves (a), distribution map (b).

FIGURE 33. Melanoplus parvus n. sp., habitat. Los Lirios, Arteaga, Coahuila, Mexico