Guntheritettigini Cadena-Castañeda, 2025

Cadena-Castañeda, Oscar J., Quintana-Arias, Ronald Fernando, Infante, Ivette Coque, Silva, Daniela Santos Martins & Tavares, Gustavo Costa, 2025, Studies on pygmy grasshoppers: On the current Metrodorinae sensu lato classification (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) with emphasis on American and Malagasy taxa, Zootaxa 5597 (1), pp. 1-265 : 187-189

Tribe Guntheritettigini Cadena-Castañeda , trib. nov.

Type genus: Guntheritettix Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares gen. nov.

Description. Body slender or moderately robust (few taxa robust); small to medium size (11–23 mm.). Head little exserted. In frontal view, face subcircular, almost as wide as high; upper margin of the vertex at the same level as the lateral carinae; fastigium rounded; medial and lateral carinae not elevated; vertex wide, two or three times as wide as an eye. Scutellum narrow and short, reaching only a quarter (or less) of the height of the face; frontal costa short and forking generally slightly above the middle of the eyes. Eyes rounded, slightly straight at lower margin, medium in size, protruding to the sides and slightly above the vertex ( Rehnitettix with almost pedunculated eyes ( Fig. 130C )), occupying one-third of the cephalic capsule. Lateral ocelli between the middle part or close to the upper margin of the eyes, near the base from where each branch of fascial carinae diverges; medial ocellus close to the lower margin of the scutellum. Antennal groves at the level of the lower margin of the eyes, antennae usually mid-sized, as long as the mid femur or longer, with 12 or 13 segments ( Andriana has some flattened segments, especially the distal ones). Last three segments of palpi flattened, and the first two short and nearly cylindrical ( Figs. 126C , 129C , 131B ). In lateral view, frons almost straight; medial carinae not protruding beyond the eyes, slightly tapering ( Figs. 126A , 129A ); anterior margin of the vertex truncated, dorsum without fossulae ( Figs. 126B , 129B ).

Thorax. Pronotum slender or robust, moderately granulated ( Guntheritettix gen. nov. with conspicuous granules on the pronotal disc ( Figs. 136A , 137A , 138C )), surpassing the tip of the abdomen and apex of the hind femur. Pronotal disc with a straight anterior margin and a pointed or truncated posterior margin, dorsally variable, with several modifications: almost flat, raised promedial projection like a spine on the median carina in the prozone ( Figs. 126A , 127B ), internal lateral and median carinae projected or wavy ( Figs. 128A , 129A ), or bearing conspicuous spine-like projections of the lateral carinae ( Figs. 131A , 132A ). Lateral lobes of pronotum quadrangular in lateral view, lower edge well projected to the sides, with acute apex ( Figs. 128B , 129B , 132B ); tegminal sinus absent; infrascapular area thin and of variable length, projecting between the second or third abdominal segment, or reaching close to the apex of abdomen; lateral area slightly wider than the infrascapular area, arising above the dorsal undulation of the infrascapular area, projecting to the apex of the pronotum in lateral view; if with modifications, such as undulations or spines, lateral area wide in those sections, subtly simulating the upward curvature of those structures. Wings. All known species winged; tegmina ovoid and short, at rest, almost or completely covered by the dorsal half of the pronotum ( Figs. 128A , 129A ). Hind wings reaching the apex of the pronotum or slightly exceeding it. Legs. Fore and mid femur elongated and thin, with dorsal and ventral margins almost straight and carinated. Hind femur with antegenicular and genicular teeth developed, with external surface without tubercles or lappets. Hind tibia scarcely ampliated near the apex; the first segment of the hind tarsi longer than the third one. Pulvilli of posterior tarsi rounded. Abdomen. Male: last segments, between eighth and ninth, moderately constricted. Subgenital plate cupuliform, as long as or slightly longer than the last abdominal sternite, with apex rounded, angled, or pointed. Cerci conical. Female: epiproct ovoid or subtriangular. Subgenital plate mainly triangular, with the posterior edge rounded or angled. Ovipositor valves narrow, with serrulations of medium length; inferior valves not conspicuously covered by the lateral edges of the subgenital plate.

Genera included. Guntheritettix Cadena-Castañeda & Tavares , gen. nov., Andriana Rehn, 1929 , Bara Rehn, 1929 , Eurybiades Rehn, 1929 , Holocerus Bolívar, 1887, Hybotettix Hancock, 1900 , Notocerus Hancock, 1900 , Rehnitettix Günther, 1939 , and Silanotettix Günther, 1959 .

Distribution. Madagascar (Maps 9–12).

Remarks. This tribe includes nine genera with 19 species, which in the past was considered the group of “ Metrodorinae of Madagascar ”. Several species have colorful bodies that, in some cases could be aposematic and that, unfortunately, do not preserve in museum specimens. The taxa with the most conspicuous spines are Eurybiades , Holocerus , and Notocerus , known as pygmy devil’s grasshoppers ( Skejo et al. 2020). Others have humps like Guntheritettix gen. nov. or undulations like the other genera.

The genera included here are well described in Rehn (1929) and Günther (1939, 1959), so it is not necessary to redescribe any of them. A key for identifying the genera is provided below.

Figures

FIGURE 126. Andriana hancocki (Bruner, 1910). Male holotype. A. Habitus in lateral view. B. Habitus in dorsal view. C. Frons. D. Labels. Photos: S. Ingrisch.

FIGURE 127. Eurybiades cerastes Rehn, 1929. Male holotype. A–B. Habitus in lateral view. C. Frons. D. Habitus in dorsal view. Photos: J. Tumbrinck.

FIGURE 128. Hybotettix humeralis Hancock, 1900. Female habitus. A. Lateral view and, B. Dorsal view. Photos: S. Ingrisch.

FIGURE 129. Bara turgida Rehn, 1929. Female paratype. A. Habitus in lateral view. B. Habitus in dorsal view. C. Frons. Photos: S. Ingrisch.

FIGURE 130. Rehnitettix olsufieffi Günther, 1939. Female holotype. A. Habitus in lateral view. B. Habitus in dorsal view. C. Frons. D. Labels. Photos: S. Ingrisch.

FIGURE 131. Holocerus lucifer (Serville, 1838). Female holotype. A. Habitus in lateral view. B. Frons. C. Habitus in dorsal view. D. Labels. Photos: Christophe Hervé (MNHN).

FIGURE 132. Notocerus cornutus Hancock, 1900. Female holotype. A. Habitus in lateral view. B. Habitus in dorsal view. C. Frons. Photos: J. Tumbrinck.

FIGURE 136. Guntheritettix formidbilis (Günther, 1974) comb. nov. Female holotype. A. Habitus in lateral view. B. Habitus in dorsal view. C. Frons. D. Labels. Photos: C. Hervé (MNHN).

FIGURE 137. Guntheritettix formidbilis (Günther, 1974) comb. nov. Male not a type. A. Habitus in lateral view. B. Habitus in dorsal view. C. Frons. D. Labels. Photos: S. Hugel.

FIGURE 138. Guntheritettix formidbilis (Günther, 1974) comb. nov. Female not a type.A. Habitus in lateral view. B. Habitus in dorsal view. C. Frons. D. Labels. Photos: S. Hugel.