Gymnoscirtetes pusillus Scudder, 1897

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 pusillus Scudder, 1897

Figs 3E, F , 4B , 5C , 8A-J , 12 , 14G

Gymnoscirtetes pusillus Scudder, 1897: 15

Diagnosis.

Differs from other species in the group based the shape of the internal male genitalia. In dorsal view, the dorsal valves are lightly sclerotized and semi-translucent, have apices that are rounded to sub-truncate, and shorter than the ventral valves (Fig. 8C, E ). In lateral view, the dorsal valves taper to their apices and the ventral valves extend slightly past the dorsal valves with apices that are rounded to slightly angular (Fig. 8B, D, G ).

Male measurements.

(mm): (n = 33) Body length 11.8-15.6 (mean = 14.4); pronotum length 1.8-3.1 (mean = 2.2); hind femur length 6.3-8.3 (mean = 7.3); cerci length 0.7-1.0 (mean = 0.8); basal width of cercus 0.3-0.4 (mean = 0.3); mid-cercal width 0.2 (mean = 0.2); cerci apex width 0.1 (mean = 0.1). tubercule length 0.1-0.2 (mean = 0.2); tubercule width 0.1-0.2 (mean = 0.2).

Female measurements.

(mm): (n = 28) Body length 18.5-21.2 (mean = 19.8); pronotum length 2.6-13.1 (mean = 3.1); hind femur length 8.5-10.3 (mean = 9.2).

Type information.

Florida [Duval Co.,] Jacksonville. Aug. [18]85.

Specimens examined.

Florida: Alachua Co., Fairbanks , 27 June 1924, F.W. Walker (2 ♂) ; Gainesville , 8 August 1925, T.H. Hubbell (4♂, 4♀) ; Same data as previous, except May 1926 ' Waldo, 13 August 1924, F.W. Walker (4♂, 6♀) . Same data as previous, except M.J. Thorn (2♂, 3♀) ; Bradford Co., 3.5 mi NE Lawtey , 1 August 1938, Hubbell and Friauf (1♂) . Clay Co., Green Cove Springs , 30 September 1925, T.H. Hubbell (1♂) . Duval Co., San Pablo (1♂) . Gilchrist Co., 5 mi E Trenton , 14 August 1947, T.H. Hubbell (3♂) . Highlands Co., Archbold B.S., 27.1813, -81.3545, 3 October 2021, M.J. Thorn (1♂, 1♀) ; Avon Park AFB, 27°38'12"N, - 81°18'36"W, 16 June 2015, J. Hill, J. Barone, R. Noss (2♂, 3♀) ; Lake Wales Ridge NWR, 27.5153, -81.4130, 18 June 2019, J.G. Hill (5♀) , Lake Wales Ridge WEA, 27. 3712, -81.3412, 4 October 2021, J.G. Hill (2♂, 2♀) . Hillsborough Co., 4 mi NE Thonotosassa , 18 August 1938, Hubbell and Friauf (1♂) ; Little Mantee River U.S. Hwy 41, Hubbell and Friauf (6♂, 3♀) . Lake Co.,. 1 mi E Altoona , 25 July 1938, Hubbell and Friauf (6♂) . Lake Co., 0.7 mi S Pitman , 27 August 1938, Hubbell and Friauf (1♂) ; 1.5 mi W Astor , 24 July 1938, Hubbell and Friauf (3♂) ; 1.5 mi E Lisbon , 24 August 1926, Hubbell and Friauf (2♂) ; 3.3 mi E Altoona , 28 August, Hubbell-Friauf (1♂) . Levy Co., Cedar Key , 29 Sept. 1923, T.H. Hubbell (2♂) ; Sumner , 18 October 1924, T.H. Hubbell (3♂) . Marion Co., Lake Weir , 27 August 1927 (2♂, 3♀) ; Ocala , 17 August 1935, (2♂, 4♀) . Ocala Nat’l Forest, T17S, R26E, Sec 3, Hubbell and Friauf (6♂, 3♀), Ocala Nat’l Forest, Juniper Springs , 9 June 1938, Hubbell and Friauf (1♂) , Ocala N.F., 29.2757, -81.6898, 16 June 2019, J.G. Hill (4♂, 4♀); 2.5 mi W Crow's Bluff , 29 August 1938, Hubbell and Friauf (1♂) . Nassau Co., 1 mi W O'Neil , 19 August 1947, T.H. Hubble, (1♂) ; 1.6 mi SW Crawford , 19 October 1941, T.H. Hubbell (1♂) . Okeechobee Co. 5.6 mi S. Co. line on US 441, 27 August 1951, I.J. Cantrall (3♂, 4♀) ; 4.3 mi N. Okeechobee , 27 August 1951, I.J. Cantrall (3♂, 3♀) . Orange Co., Winter Park , 26 August 1937 (1♂, 4♀) . Osceola Co., 9.2 mi S Kenansville , 27 August 1951, I.J. Cantrall (2♂, 3♀) ; 13.3 mi S Holopaw , 24 August 1951, I.J. Cantrall (23♂, 18♀) ; Disney Wilderness Pres. 28°04'06"N, - 81°24'25"W, 17 June 2015, J.G. Hill, J.A. Barone (3♀) ; Holopaw , 27 August 1925, T.H. Hubbell (3♂) . Pasco Co., Tribley (1♂) . Polk Co., Haines City , 27 August 1925, T.H. Hubbell (1♂) ; Lake Streety, T 32S, R27S, Sec. 25, 10 August 1938, Hubbell and Friauf (1♂) ; Hatchineha Ranch , 28.008, -81.4839, 3 October 2022, J.G. Hill (1♂, 1♀) ; Lakeland , 28 June 1935, I.J. Cantrall (2♂) ; Lake Marion Creek WMA, 28.0992, -81.5121, 3 October 2021, J.G. Hill (1♂, 1♀) ; Lake Wales Ridge NWR, 28.1308, -81.5530, 3 October 2021, J.G. Hill (1♂, 1♀) ; Tiger Creek NA, 27°48'32"N, - 81°29'24"W, 17 June 2015, J.G. Hill, J.A. Barone (2♂, 6♀) . Putnam Co., Mannville , 22 Nov. 1938, T.H. Hubbell (1♂) ; Welaka , 21 August 1940, J.J. Friauf (1♂) ; same data as previous, except 8 August 1939 (1♂) . St. Johns Co., 1.3 mi E jct US 1 and FLA 206, 26 August 1951, I.J. Cantrall (6♂, 8♀) ; Saint Augustine , 6 July 1935, I.J. Cantrall (2♂, 1♀) . Suwannee Co., Houston , 23 August 1925. T.H. Hubbell (5♂) . Volusia Co., 1.6 mi E Astor , 29.1667, -81.5000, 3 June 2021, J.G Hill and M.J. Thorn (3♂) ; 0.6 mi W Barberville , 6 Sept. 1938, Hubbell and Friauf (3♂) .

Distribution.

Peninsular Florida from the northeast boarder with Georgia along the Atlantic Ocean west to eastern bank of the Suwannee River and south to the southern borders of De Soto, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties (Fig. 12 ).

Habitat.

Found in a variety of grassland situations from seasonal ponds (Fig. 14A ), cutthroat grass seeps (Fig. 13E ), and flatwoods on the Lake Wales Ridge to Florida dry prairies (Fig. 13F ). Irvin Cantrall reports collecting this species in saltwater flats with Juncus and Batis maritima ( Cantrall 1951, field notes).

Figures

Figure 3. Dorsal and lateral SEM of Gymnoscirtetes male terminalia A G. morsei (dorsal) B G. morsei (lateral) C G. rex (dorsal) D G. rex (lateral) E G. pusillus (dorsal) F G. pusillus (lateral). Note: G. pageae, G. wadeorum, and G. georgiaensis are similar to G. pusillus.

Figure 4. Partial silhouettes of Gymnoscirtetes male terminalia: A subgenital plate in caudal view B cerci in lateral view. Note: G. pageae, G. wadeorum, and G. georgiaensis are similar to G. pusillus. Within species groups there may be overlap in the shape of the cerci, and the shape is highly dependent on angle of view. Those pictured here are drawn from single individuals.

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 8. Gymnoscirtetes pusillus: (type) 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.

Figure 13. Plant communities at the collection localities of Gymnoscirtetes A pitcher plant bog (Splinter Hill Bog, Baldwin Co., Alabama) B Sandhill (Ecofina Creek Wildlife Management Area, Bay County, Florida) C long leaf pine savanna (Wade Tract, Thomas County, Georgia) D Mesic sandhill (6 mi S Old Town, Dixie County, Florida) E Cutthroat grass seep (Royce, Highlands County, Florida) F Florida dry prairie (Avon Park Air Force Range, Highlands County, Florida).

Figure 14. A Seasonal wetland (Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, Polk County, Florida) B seasonal wetland (Disney Wilderness Preserve, Osceola County, Florida) C Gymnoscirtetes morsei, male D Gymnoscirtetes pageae, male E Gymnoscirtetes rex, pair in copula F Gymnoscirtetes pusillus, female G Gymnoscirtetes pageae, male H Gymnoscirtetes pusillus, male.