Diponthus argentinus Pictet & Saussure, 1887

Pocco, Martina E., Lange, Carlos E. & Cigliano, María Marta, 2023, Relationships and taxonomy of the genus Diponthus Stål (Orthoptera: Acridoidea Romaleidae), Zootaxa 5336 (1), pp. 33-81 : 45-46

Diponthus argentinus Pictet & Saussure, 1887

( Figs. 1a c, d, g, h, k–m, q, r, 2a, b, 6a–c, 7a, b, 8a, 9a, b, 10a, 11a, 12a, b, and 13).

= Diponthus permistus ( Serville, 1838)

= Diponthus communis Bruner, 1900

= Diponthus schulzi Bruner, 1900

= Diponthus pictus ( Bolívar, 1884)

For references on this species and its synonyms see Pocco et al. (2014) and Cigliano et al. (2023).

Diagnosis. Pronotal disk with light longitudinal median band and two oblique bands that converge towards the principal sulcus; lateral lobes with light-colored horizontal band near the lower margin. Tegmina with white spots on proximal lateral field, transversal veins weakly and irregularly marked ( Fig. 8a). Prosternal tubercle straight, with rounded apex. Male epiproct with rounded borders, pointed tip, and with tubercles on distal margin ( Fig. 9b); furculae prominent and with subacute tips. Male cerci slender and tapering towards the apex, distal third slightly down-curved, slightly surpassing the tip of epiproct ( Fig. 9a). Dorsal valves of aedeagus with distal third down-curved and apex weakly sclerotized ( Figs. 10a, and 11a). Valves of cingulum narrow at the base, anterior margin straight, distal portion expanded and subcircular, posterior margin concave ( Fig. 10a). Cingulum W-shaped; zygoma with anterior margin concave, V-shaped ( Fig. 11a). Lophi of epiphallus placed perpendicular to bridge ( Fig. 12a); subtriangular in frontal view ( Fig. 12b).

Chromatic variation: Body coloration and color pattern is highly variable ( Figs. 1a, b, and 6a–c). At least four different color morphs (green with yellow; black and yellow; black and yellow with red markings; greenish brown) can be found ( Pocco et al. 2014). However, a high degree of variability within each color morph can also be found (oblique bands of pronotum reaching the main transverse sulcus or surpassing it; prozona with two yellow spots, one at each side of the median longitudinal band, or without them; some specimens exhibit black mottles on pronotum, abdomen, and legs; some females can exhibit a body color mostly black).

A complete redescription of this species and the description of the color morphs are in Pocco et al. (2014).

Measurements (in mm): Body length: males: 24.6 (19–32); females: 33.8 (25–41); femur III length: males: 13.3 (10–16); females: 18.4 (16–24); tegmen length: males: 21.6 (17–26); females: 28.5 (25–35).

Material examined: see Appendix 1

Distribution. Diponthus argentinus is the most common and widely distributed species of Diponthus , found in southern South America (mostly Argentina; with only one record each from Bolivia and Uruguay but lacking locality information), between 21° and 39° S, and 69° and 55° W, with a wide distribution in central and northern Argentina (Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, La Pampa, San Luis, Córdoba, Tucumán, Salta, Jujuy, Santiago del Estero, Formosa, Chaco, Río Negro, Mendoza, La Rioja) ( Fig. 13).

Habitat. In grassland areas with forbs, shrubs, and in edges of low forests.