Acrotylus insubricus (Scopoli, 1786)

Usmani, Mohammad Kamil, 2008, Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) with some new records from Fezzan, Libya, Zootaxa 1946, pp. 1-41 : 24-25

25. Acrotylus insubricus (Scopoli, 1786)

Diagnosis: This species is very similar to A. patruelis and difficult to distinguish with certainty. It can be identified by its stouter build, relatively shorter antennae, hind wing with narrow fascia, usually extending less than rear half of wing and apex with a few spots.

Habitats: This species is usually found in sparsely vegetated places and has been observed to feed upon cabbage, cauliflower, lucerne and wheat. Adults bury themselves in the sand in winter, probably due to cold. No records of migration exist but they are attracted to light. This species is abundantly found on different vegetation in different localities.

Material examined: Al Shati Region: Ashkidah , 7 ♀, on alfalfa, 12.xi.1994 ; Agar , l ♂, on wild grass, 29.x.1992 ; Brack , 6 ♂, 1 ♀, on grass & cotton, 3.xii.1992 ; Brack Agnc. project, 5 ♂, 25 ♀, on alfalfa, 18.iii.1993 ; Idri , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 13.iv.1993 ; Mahruqah , l ♂, on a1fa1fa, 6.viii.1992 ; Mansurah , 4 ♂, 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 13.iv.1993 ; Qardah , 4 ♂, 11 ♀, on alfalfa, barley& millet, 15.xii.1992 ; Qattah , 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 15.xii.1992 ; Qirah , 6 ♂, 10 ♀, on alfalfa- grass, 12.xi.1992 ; Ququm , 11 ♂, 6 ♀, on alfalfa, millet, & mint, 29.x.1992 ; Tamzawah , 3 ♂, 8 ♀, on alfalfa& vine, 4.xi.1992 ; Tarut , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 6.vii.1993 ; Tmassan , 1 ♀, on grape, 13.iv.1993 ; Wanzarik , 3 ♂, on dry grass, 4 ♀, on onion, 15.xii.1992 ; Zalwaz , 7 ♂, 4 ♀, on alfalfa, 21.xi.1992 . Ghat Region: Al Awaynat , l0 ♂. 15 ♀, on grass, 20.vii.1995 ; Al Barkat , 6 ♂, 8 ♀, on dry grass, 19.vii.1995 ; Ghat, 7 ♂, 10 ♀, on vegetable, 18.vii.1995 . Murzuk region: Agar-Atabah , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 23.vi.1993 ; Al Qatrun , 1 ♂, 2 ♀, on egg plant and tomato, 15.v.1993 ; Al Sbitat , 7 ♀, on beans, 23.vi.1993 ; Bani-Hilal , 2 ♂, 3 ♀, on grass, 27.vi.1993 ; Hemmera , 1 ♀, on swede, 8.i.1994 ; Majdul , 1 ♂, on vegetable, 15.v.1993 ; Marhaba , 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 11.xii.1993 ; Murzuq, 7 ♂, 8 ♀, on melon-parsly, 5.v.1993 ; Tegrutin , 1 ♂, 2 ♀, on alfalfa, 11.xii.1993 ; Traghan , 16 ♂, 6 ♀, on lettuce-parsly, 13.iv.1993 ; Zizaw , 4 ♂, 5 ♀, on grass, 13.iv.1993 ; Zuwaylah , 5 ♂, 2 ♀, on alfalfa-parsly, 8.i.1994 ; Ed Disah , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, on grass, 27.iv.1993 ; Fungul , 4 ♂, 2 ♀, on alfalfa-grass, 27.iv.1993 ; Haj-Hujeil , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 27.iv.1993 . Sebha Region: Al Zighan , 2♂, 4 ♀, on alfalfa, 18.v.1994 ; Ghodwa , 4 ♂, 5 ♀, on barley, 13.iv.1993 ; Samnu , 14 ♂, 20 ♀, on barley-alfalfa, 18.v.1994 ; Sebha, 12 ♂, 15 ♀, on millet-grass, 15.xii.1994 ; Tarnarthent , 3 ♂, 4 ♀, on grass-vine, 18.v.1994 . Wadi Haya Region: Al Abyad , 13 ♂, 13 ♀, on vegetable, 2.xi.1992 ; Al Hamarah , 3 ♂, 4 ♀, on cucumber-grass, 2.xi.1992 ; Ben Hareth , 2 ♀, on alfalfa, 16.xi.1992 ; Bint Bayyah , 2 ♂, 11 ♀, on onion and pepper, 16.xi.1992 ; Zweyah , 3 ♀, on common potato and wild grass, 16.xi.1992 ; Khalayf , 8 ♂, 3 ♀, on garlic-onion and vegetable, 16.xi.1992 ; Garagra , 3 ♂, 2 ♀, on onion-wild grass, 27.xi.1992 ; Al Garaya , 1 ♂, on egg-plant, 7.xii.1992 ; Tkerkibah , 2 ♂, 2 ♀, on garlic- grape, 7.xii.1992 ; Al Tanahmah , 14 ♂, 8 ♀, on pepper, 7.xii.1992 ; Sidi Ali , l0 ♂, 10 ♀, on alfalfa-grass, 7.xii.1992 ; Arragabah , l0 ♂, 3 ♀, on egg-plant and pepper, 15.xii.1992 ; Jarmah , 1 ♀, on vegetable, 15.xii.1992 ; Al Breek , 6 ♂, 4 ♀, on alafalfa & millet, 15.xii.1992 ; Awbari , 17 ♂, 10 ♀, on alfalfa-grass, 30.i.1993 ; Al Ghrayfah , 20 ♂, 4 ♀, on alfalfa, 15.ii.1993 ; Al Hatiyah , 5 ♂, 6 ♀, on broad bean and grass, 15.ii.1993 ; Tuwash , 2 ♂, 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 15.ii.1993 .

Localities: Cyrenaica: Augila, Barca, Bengasi, Cufra, Derna, Fueihat, Ghemanis, Gialo, Giarabub, Marmarica, Oasis di Giarabub , Porto Bardia, Tocra, Tolmetta; Tripolitania: Ain Zara, Bukamesh, Gharian, Leptis Magna, Taguira, Tripoli, Uadi Gerfen, Uadi Sofeggin; Fezzan: Agar, Agar Atabah, Al Awaynat, Al Abyad, Al Barkat, Al Breek, Al Ghrayfa, Al Garaya, Al Hamarah, Al Hatiyah, Al Qatrun, Al Sbitat, Al Tanahmah, Al Zighan, Arragabah, Awbari, Ashkidah, Bani Hilal, Ben Hareth, Bint Bayyah, Brak, Fungul, Garagra, Ghat, Ghodwa, Haj Hujeil, Hammera, Jarmah, Khalayf, Idri, Mahrugah, Mansurah, Majdul, Marhaba, Murzuq, Qardah, Qattah, Qirah, Ququm, Samnu, Sebha, Sidi Ali, Tamanhant, Tamzawah, Tarut, Tegrotin, Tkerkibah, Tmassan, Traghan, Tuwash, Wanzarik, Zalwaz, Zizaw, Zuwayah .

Distribution: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Nigeria, Sahara, Hoggar, Tibesti, Sudan, Somaliland, Cape Verde is., Canary Is., Madeira, S. Europe, S.W. Asia.

Remarks: This species is fairly well distributed all over Libya. Earlier recorded fromTripolitania and Cyrenaica by Rizzardi (1896), Werner (1908). Ghigi (1913). I. Bolivar (1915), Giglio-Tos (1923), Capra (1929), Salfi (1930, 1935b) and Jannone (1938). Also recorded from Fezzan by Damiano (1969) and Ajaili et al. (1989).