Gymnobothrus levipes levipes (Karsch, 1896), stat. n. et

Popov †, George B., Fishpool, Lincoln D. C. & Rowell, C. Hugh F., 2019, A review of the Acridinae s. str. (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Acrididae) of eastern Africa with taxonomic changes and description of new taxa, Journal of Orthoptera Research 28 (2), pp. 37-105 : 76

Gymnobothrus levipes levipes (Karsch, 1896), stat. n. et comb. n. Figs 259-264

Chrysochraon levipes Karsch, 1896: 255

Gymnobothroides levipes (Karsch, 1896) (syn. Johnston 1956)

Gymnobothroides montanus Kevan, 1950 syn. n.

including Gymnobothroides pullus montanus Jago, 1968

Material and discussion.

-Lectotype male levipes here designated: TANZANIA: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Djagga, Madjame. MfN. 2 female paralectotypes, same data, MfN. Additional specimens: TANZANIA: Arusha, Grevillea Plantation, II; E. of Mt. Meru, Ngurdoto Lake Crater, XI; E. side of Mt. Meru, 6150' (1875 m), Ngurdoto Nat. Park VI. KENYA: Type locality of montanus Kevan: Taita hills, 4500 –5500’ (1370-1675 m), grass and bushes, 25.XII.1945; Taita Farmer Training Centre, 8 km. S. of Wundanyi (03°26'S 38°20'E), 5400' (1645 m), V.1975. Following material from KENYA exhibits clinal links with abbreviatus : Machakos, Malili Ranch, IV; Nairobi, Karen-Ngong Rd. II. These are generally of smaller size with shorter antennae narrower tegmina and brighter coloration (NHMUK).

Description.

-Synonymy and species diagnosis as above. Differs from subsp. abbreviatus as follows: proportionately slightly larger size, more slender build; size (in mm): total length males 11-14, females 18-20; slightly longer antennae; somewhat broader and less sulcate frontal ridge; slightly less constricted pronotum (but similar otherwise in that lateral carinae are interrupted only by typical sulcus and hind margin of metazona is emarginate) (Figs 261, 262); broader, more rounded tegmina (Fig. 258) and a more uniform coloration, in type material of levipes from ‘Kilimanjaro’, specimens from Arusha in Tanzania and types of montanus from Kenya, Taita hills in southern Kenya, general coloration is reddish-brown; lateral dark band is faint and lower area of hind femur is in shades of orange; this may, however, be in other shades of brown and stramineous; lower area of hind femur is ochraceous.

Discussion.

-Study of the three syntypes of Chrysochraon levipes Karsch, 1896 has shown them to be conspecific with the two types of Gymnobothroides montanus Kevan, 1950, differing only in the slightly smaller size of the former. The male syntype is here designated as lectotype and the two females as paralectotypes. The closest match with the lectotype specimens of levipes are specimens from Mt. Meru-Ngurdoto National Park, Momella Lakes and W. Usambara, Mazumbai Forest Res.

Distribution.

-S. KENYA; N. E. TANZANIA.