Agroecotettix quitmanensis, 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 quitmanensis sp. nov.

Figs 2 L , 4 P , 5 P , 20 A – J , 25 , 26 A

Diagnosis.

Differentiated from other species in the genus by the combination of male cerci with ventral branch equal or subequal in length to dorsal branch as in Fig. 2 ; sheath of aedeagus thin and lightly sclerotized, as in Fig. 5 L . In lateral view, the apical edge of the valves of the aedeagus are thickened finger-like projections that curve apically as in Fig. 5 L .

Male measurements (mm).

(n = 1) Body length 17.4; pronotum length 4.0; tegmen length 2.7; hind femur length 9.7; cerci length 1.2; basal width of cercus 0.6; mid-cercal width 0.4; cerci dorsal fork length 0.4; cerci dorsal fork apex width 0.3; cerci ventral fork length 0.4; cerci ventral fork apex width 0.1.

Phallus measurements (mm).

(n = 1) Length 1.2; apex width 0.4; middle width 0.6; basal width 0.8; lateral apex width 0.2; lateral medial width 0.4; lateral basal width 0.4.

Female measurements (mm).

(n = 1) Body length 20.6; pronotum length 3.0; tegmen length 3.8; hind femur length 11.7; Dorsal ovipositor valve length 1.6; ventral ovipositor valve length 1.6.

Holotype examined.

• 1 ♂, USA, Texas, Quitman Mountains , El Paso Co., Sept. 14, 1912, H. [ebard], 4800–5100 ft. Deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum.

Habitat.

Unknown, but likely desert scrub as other species of the genus.

Distribution.

Found in the vicinity of the Quitman Mountains of southwest Texas (Fig. 25 A ).

Etymology.

The species name quitmanensis is derived from the Quitman Mountains where the species is apparently endemic to and the suffix “ - ensis ” (Latin) meaning “ originating from ” or “ inhabiting ”. This name reflects the endemic nature of the species and hopefully draws attention to the importance of conservation of the unique biodiversity in this understudied mountainous region.

Suggested common name.

Quitman 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 20. Agroecotettix quitmanensis 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.