Tergoceracris guajataca, Perez-Gelabert, Daniel E. & Otte, Daniel, 2003

Perez-Gelabert, Daniel E. & Otte, Daniel, 2003, Tergoceracris, a new genus and six new species of montane grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Ommatolampinae) from Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, Zootaxa 155, pp. 1-31 : 6-7

Tergoceracris guajataca n. sp.

Figs. 3 , 5 C, 6A, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15

Diagnosis.— Similar in coloration and morphology to T. cerropunta and T. cayey while differentiated by the wing color from T. luquillensis . Differs from T. cerropunta and T. cayey as follows: Endophallic plate relatively shorter (about 1.3X as long as ventral valve of aedeagus) ( Fig. 15 D); epiproct lateral ridges unilobed and off­center mounds elongate ( Fig. 6 A) (epiproct lateral ridges bilobed in T. cayey and off­center mounds short in T. cerropunta ); lophi of epiphallus more robust in dorsal view ( Fig. 14 D).

Description.— Male. Coloration very similar to that of T. cerropunta , both brightly adorned. Pronotum: annular area light greenish brown in center surrounded by black and cream yellow bands. Wide band at pronotal side green and light brown, followed below by arched cream yellow band that delimits smaller portion of green on lower margin. Wings: Tegmina short, pink reddish with some black on posterior edge, with surface markedly reticular. Abdomen: dorsal midline marked by interrupted black streak. Furculae vertically elevated, slightly longer and thinner than in the other Puerto Rican species, ascending jointly, narrowing, then separating and widening only slightly on upper portion. Internal genitalia: As illustrated in Figs. 14 , 15 .

Etymology.— The name is derived from the type locality.

Type material.— Holotype: Male. PUERTO RICO, Guajataca St. Forest, 7 miles SE Isabela, 600 ft. (200 m), 20.vi.1969, T. J. Cohn ( ANSP). Allotype: female. Same data as holotype ( ANSP). Paratypes: One male, 2 females, same data as holotype ( ANSP).

Habitat.—Specimens were collected at about 600 ft.(­ 200 m) of elevation in the Guajataca State forest, near Isabela, Puerto Rico. This area is substantially lower than for the three other species. Vegetation there is mostly wet tropical forest. In a visit to this reserve­ and search around several trails by the senior author and Santo Navarro in October 2001, this forest was found to be rather dry and no specimens of these grasshoppers were encountered.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Habitus photographs of males of Tergoceracris species. A, T. ocampensis; B, T. ebanoverde; C, T. guajataca; D, T. cerropunta; E, T. cayey; F, T. luquillensis.

FIGURE 5. Posterior views of the exaggerated male furculae. A. T. ocampensis, B. T. ebanoverde; C, T. guajataca; D, T. cerropunta; E, T. cayey; F, T. luquillensis.

FIGURE 6. Male epiproct of Tergoceracris species. A, T. guajataca; B, T. cayey; C, T. luquillensis; D, T. ocampensis; E, T. ebanoverde; F, T. cerropunta.

FIGURE 14. Genitalia complex of T. guajataca. A, B, entire complex (with epiphallus removed) showing lateral and dorsal views. C, D, epiphallus showing dorsal and posterior views.

FIGURE 15. Genitalia complex of T. guajataca. A, B, C, genitalia with epiphallus and basal phallic fold removed (lateral, dorsal, and ventral views). D, E, F, genitalia with cingulum removed.