Roduniella insipida (Karsch, 1896)

Popov †, George B., Fishpool, Lincoln D. C. & Rowell, C. Hugh F., 2019, A review of the Acridinae s. str. (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Acrididae) of eastern Africa with taxonomic changes and description of new taxa, Journal of Orthoptera Research 28 (2), pp. 37-105 : 61-62

Roduniella insipida (Karsch, 1896) Figs 120-122

Duronia insipida Karsch, 1896.

Duronia duria Karsch, 1896 (syn. Uvarov 1938).

Duronia ituriensis Rehn, 1914 (syn. Uvarov 1953).

Roduniella ugandae Miller, 1932 (syn. Uvarov 1938).

Material.

-Holotype female ( D. insipida ): UGANDA: Sesse Islands (MfN).

Description.

-Integument smooth, matt. Antennae narrowly ensiform, flattened basally, as long as, or slightly longer than, combined length of head and pronotum. Frontal ridge narrow with thick margins, slightly expanded between antennae, shallowly sulcate and weakly expanded below medial ocellus (Fig. 120). Fastigium concave, triangular, with rounded apex and straight strong margins. Medial carinula weak to obsolescent; arcuate sulcus well behind middle (Fig. 121). Pronotum weakly tectiform with carinae distinct; lateral carinae parallel in prozona, weakly divergent in metazona; metazona as along as or slightly longer than prozona, its hind margin obtuse-angular. Coloration in shades of green, predominantly grass green, with brownish and yellowish patches and stripes (note> dark blackish-brown lateral stripe extending from antennal pit across upper margin of lateral pronotal lobe and thorax but leaving a clear oblique stripe in middle of latter, then crossing medial and cubital areas of tegmina). Hind femur and tibia fawn/brown.

Measurements.

-(In mm). Size small; total length: male 12-15, female 18-22.

Discussion.

-Hygrotypic to mesohygrotypic, frequenting marshes and lake shores, usually in grasslands liable to flooding. Adults recorded throughout the year, thus probably breeding without marked interruption.

Distribution.

-CAMEROON, UGANDA, KENYA, D.R. CONGO. In UGANDA recorded from: Entebbe, Kampala, Kazinga channel, Bwamba, Bugoma forest, Kakamiro, but also at altitude from Ruwenzori, at 4,500' (1370 m) and 8,000-9,000' (2438-2743 m), and Mount Elgon 5,000 –7,000’ (1850-2134 m).