Pediella colorata Roberts

Cigliano, M. M., Amedegnato, C., Pocco, M. E. & Lange, C. E., 2010, Revisionary study of Pediella Roberts (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Melanoplinae) from the Andes Highlands, Zootaxa 2431 (1), pp. 51-61 : 53

Pediella colorata Roberts

( Figs. 1A ; 4A,E ; 5A–E )

Holotype male 2, Venezuela, San Pablo , 3000 m. Upper Timber line, November 9, 1899, ANSP. The type is unique.

Diagnosis. Similar to P. cajamarcaensis , from which it differs mainly in the shape of the male cerci wider with blunt apex and differences in the phallic complex (sheath of aedeagus narrower; broader rami).

Redescription. Body color dorsally dark brownish green, face and thorax ventrally greenish cream; epimeron cream; abdominal sternites and subgenital plate bright orange red; ventral area of first and second pair of legs red; ventral and inner of hind femora and hind tibiae bright red. Cerci slender, slightly flattened distally, apex blunt ( Figs. 4A, E ). Phallic complex ( Figs. 5A–E ): endophallic plates wide and short; distal portion of apical valves of aedeagus projected ventrally into a longitudinal keel; arch of cingulum highly developed.

Female: unknown.

Measurements. Body length 18.00 mm; femur III length 10.00 mm.

Observations. The type locality is uncertain but, as mentioned by Roberts (1937) it is probably 50 km southwest of Mérida on the slopes of San Pablo .

Distribution. Venezuela, Merida, based by the registered altitude in the species inhabits in the Páramos.

1. http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/Common/key/KeyDriver.aspx?BlockID=2189 2. http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/ShowImage.aspx?TaxonNameID=42363&ImageID=68974

Figures

FIGURE 1. Pediella habitus; A–D, males, species as indicated.

FIGURE 4. A–H, male distal abdominal segments of Pediella, dorsal view and lateral views: A,E, P. colorata, B,F, Pediella ancashensis, C,G, Pediella cajamarcaensis, D, H, Pediella juninensis.

FIGURE 5. Phallic complex of Pediella, species as indicated. A, F, K, T, endophallic plates, cingulum and aedeagal valves with sheath, lateral view; B, G, L, U, endophallic plates, cingulum and aedeagal valves with sheath, dorsal view; C, H, M, V, distal portion of aedeagus and aedeagal valves, ventral view; D–E, I–J, N–O,W–X, epiphallus dorsal and lateral view; P, phallic complex lateral view; Q, R, S, endophallic plates and aedeagal valves with sheath, dorsal, lateral and ventral view. Ap, apodemes of cingulum; Ar, arch of aedeagus; Av, aedeagal valves; Ep, endophallic plates; L, lophi of epiphallus; Rm, rami, Sh, sheath of aedeagus; Zy, zygoma.