Melanoplus balcones, Hill, 2023
publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1165.104047 |
publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0F260E39-BDA6-4243-85AB-BCBF6D8F8D0D |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/91E030AE-061E-4762-92C8-62ABDCB30F93 |
taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:91E030AE-061E-4762-92C8-62ABDCB30F93 |
treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Melanoplus balcones |
status |
sp. nov. |
Melanoplus balcones sp. nov.
Figs 2F View Figure 2 , 3I View Figure 3 , 4I View Figure 4 , 9A-J View Figure 9 , 14 View Figure 14 , 19 View Figure 19
Type material.
Holotype: 1♂, USA, TEXAS, Travis Co., 5.7 mi NW Lago Vista, 30.5041, -98.0678, 23 July 2021, J.G. Hill; Collected in live oak savanna and diverse grassland. Deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum.
Other specimens examined.
Texas: Travis Co., 5.7 mi NW Lago Vista, 30.5041, -98.0678, 23 July 2021, J.G. Hill (2♂) GoogleMaps .
Diagnosis.
Male cerci that are broadly falcate (Figs 2F View Figure 2 , 9A, B View Figure 9 ), and the internal male genitalia with the aedeagal sheath that does not project to the distal edge dorsal valves. Dorsal valves are thin plates that have a caudal margin that is perpendicular to the sheath and then slopes downward apically to point, and are produced laterally to the ventral valves, giving the aedeagus a narrow or thin appearance in caudal or dorsal views (Figs 3I View Figure 3 , 4I View Figure 4 ). The ventral valves are slightly shorter than the dorsal valves (Fig. 9F View Figure 9 ). Most similar to M. kendalli and M. susdentatus , but M. balcones is easily separated from M. kendalli by having an aedeagal sheath that does not reach the distal margin of the dorsal valves and the shape of dorsal valves (Fig. 9C-G View Figure 9 ), and from M. susdentatus by the longer, more arching dorsal aedeagus valves found in that species (Fig. 8C-G View Figure 8 ).
Male measurements.
(mm): (n = 3) Body length 19.4-20.6 (mean = 20); pronotum length 4.0-4.6 (mean = 4.3); tegmen length 4.0-4.6 (mean = 4.3); hind femur length 10.6-11.2 (mean = 10.9); cerci length 0.8-0.9 (mean = 0.9); basal width of cercus 0.6-0.7 (mean = 0.7); mid-cercal width 0.4-0.6 (mean = 0.5); cerci apex width 0.3 (mean = 0.3).
Habitat.
Live oak savanna or juniper oak savanna (Fig. 19A-C View Figure 19 ).
Distribution.
East central Balcones Escarpment in the vicinity of Travis County (Fig. 14 View Figure 14 ).
Etymology.
Named after the Balcones Canyonlands and Escarpment where this species is endemic.
Suggested common name.
Balcones pouncer.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
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