Agroecotettix dorni, Hill, 2024

Hill, JoVonn G., 2024, Desert diversification: revision of Agroecotettix Bruner, 1908 (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae) with descriptions of sixteen new species from the United States and Mexico, ZooKeys 1218, pp. 177-230 : 177-230

Agroecotettix dorni sp. nov.

Figs 2 I , 4 M , 5 M , 17 A – J , 25 , 26 A , 34 A – D

Diagnosis.

Differentiated from other species in the genus by the combination of male cerci with ventral branch equal or subequal in length to dorsal (Figs 2 I , 17 A, B ); sheath of aedeagus thin and lightly sclerotized (Figs 5 M , 17 C – F ); valves of the aedeagus are lobate, and in lateral view, the valves are thinly falcate, long and sword-like (Figs 5 M , 17 D, F ), and in caudal view the lateral margins extend well beyond the rest of the valves and their apical margins are slightly curved distally (Figs 4 M , 17 G ).

Male measurements (mm).

(n = 4) Body length 18.5–19.9 (mean = 19.2); pronotum length 4.1–4.5 (mean = 4.3); tegmen length 2.5–3.0 (mean = 2.8); hind femur length 10.7–11.0 (mean = 10.9); cerci length 1.2 (mean = 1.2); basal width of cercus 0.5–0.6 (mean = 0.6); mid-cercal width 0.4 (mean = 0.4); cerci dorsal fork length 0.3 (mean = 0.3); cerci dorsal fork apex width 0.3 (mean = 0.3) cerci ventral fork length 0.3 (mean = 0.3); cerci ventral fork apex width 0.2 (mean = 0.2).

Phallus measurements (mm).

(n = 2) Length 1.0 (mean = 1.0); apex width 0.4 (mean = 0.4); middle width 0.4 (mean = 0.4); Basal width 0.6–0.7 (mean = 0.7); lateral apex width 0.3 (mean = 0.3); lateral medial width 0.4 (mean = 0.4); lateral basal width 0.5 (mean = 0.5).

Female measurements (mm).

(n = 4) Body length 22.0–25.5 (mean = 24.1); pronotum length 5.1–6.0 (mean = 5.7) tegmen length 3.4–4.2 (mean = 3.8); hind femur length 12.2–15.0 (mean = 14.0); Dorsal ovipositor valve length 1.3–1.7 (mean = 1.5); ventral ovipositor valve length 1.3–1.7 (mean = 1.5).

Holotype.

• 1 ♂, USA, Texas, Brewster Co., Big Bend National Park , 29.1970, -102.9276, 14 July 2023, J. G. Hill, J. L. Seltzer; On shady side of sotol in mid-day heat, Boquillas Canyon. Deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum.

Specimens examined.

USA, Texas: • Brewster Co., Big Bend National Park , 29.1970, -102.9276, 14 July 2023, J. G. Hill, J. L. Seltzer (2 ♂, 4 ♀) • Big Bend National Park, Boquillas Ranger Station , 28–30 July 1956, T. J. Cohn and Mathews (1 ♀) • same data as previous, except 9 June 1961, T. J. and J. W. Cohn (1 ♀) .

Habitat.

Chihuahuan Desert scrub (Fig. 33 E ). In July 2023 at the type locality, I observed this species roosting on the underside of Dasylirion leaves during the mid-day hours with Netrosoma and Phaulotettix species (Fig. 34 A – D ).

Distribution.

Endemic to the Chihuahuan Desert and more specifically to the southern big bend region of Texas (Figs 25 , 26 A ). At present, all known populations occur within Big Bend National Park.

Etymology.

The species name dorni is a patronym honoring Michael Dorn, an American actor and narrator born in Texas who is most famous for portraying the Star Trek character Worf in the television series “ Star Trek: The Next Generation ” and its spin-offs. The name highlights a unique morphological characteristic of the species, drawing a creative parallel between the blade like aedeagus valves of the male genitalia and the form of the kur’leth, a traditional Klingon weapon used by Worf.

Suggested common name.

Dorn’s aridland scrub jumper.

Figures

Figure 2. Agroecotettix cerci in lateral view unless noted otherwise A A. aristus B A. silverheelsi C A. xiphophorus D A. xiphophorus ventral view E A. texmex F A. cumbres G A. crypsidomus H A. chisosensis I A. dorni J A. burtoni K A. turneri L A. quitmanensis M A. moorei N A. chiantiensis O A. vaquero P A. forcipatus Q A. kahloae R A kahloae ventral view S A. idic lateral view T A. idic dorsal.

Figure 4. Caudal view of the aedeagus of Agroecotettix A. A. silverheelsi B A. aristus C A. xiphophorus D A. glochinos E A. texmex F A. cumbres G A. crypsidomus H A. burtoni I A. moorei J A. chiantiensis K A. forcipatus L A. quitmanensis M A. dorni N A. chisosensis O A. turneri P A. vaquero Q A. idic R A. kahloae. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figure 5. Lateral view of the aedeagus of Agroecotettix A A. silverheelsi B A. aristus C A. xiphophorus D A. glochinos E A. texmex F A. cumbres G A. crypsidomus H A. burtoni I A. moorei J A. chiantiensis K A. forcipatus L A. quitmanensis M A. dorni N A. chisosensis O A. turneri P A. vaquero Q A. idic R A. kahloae.

Figure 17. Agroecotettix dorni 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 25. Distribution of Agroecotettix species.

Figure 26. Distribution of Agroecotettix species A Big Bend region of Texas B zoom in on the area around Monterrey, Mexico at the convergence of the Chihuahuan Desert, Sierra Madre Oriental, and South Texas Plains ecoregions.

Figure 33. Agroecotettix chiantiensis from Presidio Co., Texas A male in lateral view B male is semi-dorsal view C habitat view.

Figure 34. Agroecotettix dorni from Brewster Co., Texas A male in lateral view B female in lateral view C Individuals roosting during the heat of the day on Dasylirion leaves D habitat view.