Melanoplus comanche, Hill, 2023

Hill, JoVonn G., 2023, Diversification deep in the heart of Texas: seven new grasshopper species and establishment of the Melanoplus discolor species group (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae), ZooKeys 1165, pp. 101-136 : 101

Melanoplus comanche sp. nov.

Figs 2G , 3D , 4D , 12A-J , 14

Type material.

Holotype: 1♂, USA, TEXAS, Bandera Co., 4.5. mi NE Bandera, 29.7646, -99.0346, 25 August 2022, J.G. Hill; Collected in Ashe juniper savanna, MEM 501,225. Deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum.

Other specimens examined.

Texas, Bandera Co., 4.5 mi NE Bandera, 29.7646, -99.0346. 26 August 2022, J.G. Hill (4♂) ; 7 mi NE Bandera , 29.7312, -98.8711, 17 July 2019, J.G. Hill, M.J. Thorn, B.S. Dunaway (4♂, 4♀) . Medina Co., 9 mi N Rio Medina, 29.5626, -98.8823, 17 July 2019, J.G. Hill, M.J. Thorn, B.S. Dunaway (4♂, 3♀) .

Diagnosis.

Male cerci broadly falcate (Figs 2G , 12A, B ), internal male genitalia where the valves of the aedeagus projected dorsally, appearing very broad in dorsal or caudal view, and with the dorsal valves forming semi-circular like tubes (Figs 3D , 4D ). Most similar to M. kendalli , but M. comanche is easily separated from that species by having a much broader aedeagus in dorsal or caudal view and dorsal aedeagal valves that are form semi-circular tube as opposed to being flattened in M. kendalli (Figs 8C-F , 12C-F ), and the shape and level of sclerotization of the dorsal valves (Figs 8C-G , 12C-F ).

Measurements.

Male measurements. (mm): (n = 6) Body length 18.2-21.2 (mean = 19.5); pronotum length 4.1-4.9 (mean = 4.5); hind femur length 9.6-12.0 (mean = 10.8); cerci length 0.8-0.9 (mean = 0.9); basal width of cercus 0.5-0.6 (mean = 0.6); mid-cercal width 0.4 (mean = 0.4); cerci apex width 0.2-0.3 (mean = 0.3).

Female measurements. (mm): (n = 3) Body length 21.5-24.3 (mean = 22.9); pronotum length 4.5-5.7 (mean = 5.1) tegmen length 4.7-6.5 (mean = 5.7); hind femur length 11.5-13.7 (mean = 12.9); Dorsal ovipositor valve length1.4-1.5 (mean = 1.5); ventral ovipositor valve length 1.3-1.4 (mean = 1.4).

Habitat.

Oak savanna, Ashe juniper savanna and along a dry creek bed in an Ashe juniper savanna.

Distribution.

Southern Edwards plateau in the vicinity of Bandera and Medina Counties (Fig. 14 ).

Etymology.

Named in honor of the Comanche tribe of Native Americans who previously inhabited the area where this species occurs.

Suggested common name.

Comanche pouncer.

Figures

Figure 2. Lateral outlines of the male cerci of species in the Melanoplus discolor species group A M. nelsoni B M. discolor C M. corniculatus D M. Melanoplus walkeri E M. walkeri F M. susdentatus G M. kendalli H M. tonkawa I M. comanche.

Figure 3. Lateral views of the male aedeagus of species in the Melanoplus discolor group. DV: dorsal valve, S: sheath, VV: ventral valve. A M. nelsoni B M. discolor C M. corniculatus D M. comanche E M. kendalli F M. susdentatus G M. walkeri H M. tonkawa I M. balcones.

Figure 4. Dorsal views of the male aedeagus of species in the Melanoplus discolor group. DV: dorsal valve, S: sheath, VV: ventral valve. A M. nelsoni B M. discolor C M. corniculatus D M. comanche E M. kendalli F M. susdentatus G M. walkeri H. M. tonkawa I M. balcones.

Figure 8. Melanoplus susdentatus sp. nov. A dorsal view of male terminalia B lateral view of male terminalia C dorsal view of phallic complex D lateral view of phallic complex E dorsal view of aedeagus F lateral view of aedeagus G caudal view of the aedeagus H dorsal view of epiphallus I caudal view of epiphallus J habitus.

Figure 12. Melanoplus comanche sp. nov. A dorsal view of male terminalia B lateral view of male terminalia C dorsal view of phallic complex D lateral view of phallic complex E dorsal view of aedeagus F lateral view of aedeagus G caudal view of the aedeagus H dorsal view of epiphallus I caudal view of epiphallus J habitus.

Figure 14. Distribution of species in the Melanoplus discolor group A broad view of the group, showing the wide distribution of M. discolor B distribution of Melanoplus discolor group species occurring in central Texas with the Balcones Escarpment indicated.