Oedipoda fuscocincta morini Defaut 2006

Nabholz, Benoit, Puissant, Stéphane & Defaut, Bernard, 2024, A cautionary note on synonymization based on mitochondrial data in Orthoptera: a comment of Hochkirch et al. 2023, Zootaxa 5481 (1), pp. 146-150 : 148-149

2) On the cases of Oedipoda fuscocincta morini Defaut 2006 and Oedipoda caerulescens sardeti defaut 2006

We would like to discuss the taxa Oedipoda fuscocincta morini Defaut 2006 and Oedipoda caerulescens sardeti Defaut 2006 , for which we have taxonomic expertise. Hochkirch et al. (2023) include two specimens of O. fuscocincta morini Defaut 2006 . This subspecies from Corsica and Sardinia is slightly smaller and has blue-green hind wings compared to the yellow wings of the nominate fuscocincta ( Defaut 2006) . These morphological differences, along with clear allopatry, meet the criteria for subspecies designation ( Mayr 1963). As for sardeti, it is endemic to Corsica with clear morphological differences from continental populations. Particularly, the black stripe bordering the costal edge of the hind wings is very short (compared to reaching the middle of the costal edge in the nominate subspecies), the hind tarsi are red or reddishbrown (as opposed to brown to yellowish), and there are differences in morphometric ratios on the head ( Defaut 2006). Hochkirch et al. (2023) suggest extending the name sardeti to continental Spain because two specimens from Corsica are within a clade with Spanish individuals. The lack of genetic differentiation observed by Hochkirch et al. demonstrates that this population recently became isolated, yet it is still largely compatible with a subspecies status.

3) Additional notes

The four specimens of the subclade named “ O. coerulea ” were collected in the Iberian Pyrenees (specimens 217, 411, 412, 482) and form a separate clade from the fuscocincta clade. The other two were collected in Sierra Nevada (337: Pampaneira, ≈ 1,060 m, and 338: Hotel Santa Cruz, 1,540 m) and are present in a separate subclade within the fuscocincta clade. However, it should be noted that the Sierra Nevada is not connected to the Pyrenees , and the possibility that these specimens belong to a different taxon should be considered. Nevertheless , as the authors point out, the type locality of O. coerulea remains to be defined, as its describer stated that he did not know it (Saussure, 1884, p. 150: “Patria?”). We also note that the types are not present, at least in their original form, in the collection of the Geneva museum, but one could search for them among O. miniata and O. fuscocincta specimens (boxes V19 and V20: see Hollier 2012, 2012, 241).

Next, out of the four Pyrenean specimens that fall into the coerulea clade, three had blue wings, as expected, but one had red wings (specimen 482). It was identified as germanica by its collector (A. Hochkirch in litt). Morphological identification would have been possible because the black band on the costal edge of the hindwings is very short in coerulea and very long in germanica (of intermediate length in hybrids). It could well be a hybrid, but as the Pyrenean collector only provided a postfemur, it is not possible to be certain. Finally, one specimen (484) belonging to the germanica clade has blue wings. Once again, a hybrid between germanica and coerulea should be considered.