Melanoplus kendalli Otte, 2012

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 kendalli Otte, 2012

Figs 2H , 3F , 4F , 7A-J , 14 , 17

Melanoplus kendalli Otte, D. 2012. Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 138:160.

Specimens examined.

Texas: Bexar Co., 2 mi W Bracken , 29.6235, -98.3774, 26 August 2022, J.G. Hill, J.R. Fisher (3♂, 3♀) ; Eisenhower Park , 29.6220, -98.5735, 25 August 2022, J.G. Hill, J.R. Fisher (4♂, 2♀) ; 2 mi N Leon Springs , 29.6636, -98.6761, 16 July 2019, J.G. Hill, M.J. Thorn, B.S. Dunaway (5♂, 4♀) . Kendall Co., 2 mi NW Boerne , 20 July 1959, T.J. Cohn (4♂, 1♀) . Medina Co., 3 mi NE Mico , 29.5613, -98.8792, 21 July 2020, A.G. Hendon (1♂) , same data except, M.J. Thorn (2♂, 1♀) .

Diagnosis.

Male cerci broadly falcate (Figs 2H , 7A, B ), internal male genitalia with the aedeagal sheath projected to the distal edge of the apical side of the dorsal valves. Dorsal valves are thin rectangular plates that are produced laterally to the ventral valves, giving the aedeagus a narrow or thin appearance in caudal or dorsal views (Figs 3E , 4E ). The ventral valves are slightly shorter than the dorsal valves, are slightly arched posteriorly and have their distal ends bent medially (Fig. 7F ). Most similar to M. susdentatus and M. comanche , but M. kendalli is easily separated from those species by having an aedeagal sheath that reaches the distal margin of the dorsal valves and the thin, rectangular nature of the dorsal valves (Fig. 7C-G ).

Measurements.

Male measurements. (mm): (n = 15) Body length 19.1-23.5 (mean = 20.7); pronotum length 4.1-5.2 (mean = 4.5); tegmen length 4.2-5.5 (mean = 4.9); hind femur length 10.1-12.5 (mean = 11.5); cerci length 0.8-1.1 (mean = 0.9); basal width of cercus 0.5-0.7 (mean = 0.6); mid-cercal width 0.3-0.4 (mean = 0.4); cerci apex width 0.2-0.4 (mean = 0.3).

Female measurements. (mm): (n = 10) Body length 20.1-24.5 (mean = 22.7); pronotum length 4.2-5.6 (mean = 5.0); tegmen length 4.5-6.0 (mean = 5.5); hind femur length 11.1-14.0 (mean = 12.6) Dorsal ovipositor valve length 1.2-1.6 (mean = 1.4); ventral ovipositor valve length 1.0-1.6 (mean = 1.2).

Habitat.

Ashe juniper savanna with short grasses (Fig. 17A, B ) and post oak savanna.

Distribution.

Southeastern Edwards Plateau/Balcones Escarpment in the vicinity of Bexar, Kendall, and Medina Counties (Fig. 14 ).

Suggested common name.

Otte (2012) does not give the etymology of the name at the time of the description, but in recent conversation, Otte told me that it was because it was from Kendall County. Kendall County is named after George Wilkins Kendall, a journalist and war correspondent during the Mexican-American War. However, given that the epithet is Melanoplus kendalli and not kendallensis, I suggest Kendall’s pouncer as the common name.

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 7. Melanoplus kendalli 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.

Figure 17. Habitat and live images of Melanoplus kendalli A Ashe juniper savanna, Bexar County, Texas B Ashe juniper savanna, Bexar, County Texas C male D male E female F female.