Gymnobothrus rimulatus (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 : 75-76

Gymnobothrus rimulatus (Karsch, 1896) Figs 247-258

Ogmothela rimulata Karsch, 1896: 260.

Gymnobothrus rimulata Uvarov, 1953: 123-124.

Material.

-Holotype rimulata : KENYA: Mombasa, Berlin; Kilindini ; Watamu; Malindi, Driftwood Beach Club, grass, bushes and leaf litter behind beach; Kilifi dist., Arabuko-Sokoke, forest, clearings and path side; 20 km. N. Malindi, dunes N. of Mambrui; Lamu dist. 29 km. E. of Manjila, Diospyros - Dobera woodland; Kwale dist. Jombo hill, ca. 800 –1000’, foot of slope, in clearings. Mwamberu stn.1000' (305 m) 03°45'S, 39˚13'E (I, II, III, IV, VI, VII, XI). TANZANIA: Victoria Nyanza, Ukerewe I.; Mahali Peninsula, Ujamba; Singida dist. 14 mi. N. of Mkalama; Old Shinyanga; Ngonghoo River; Manyara Nat. Park, groundwater forest and adjacent forest; Gibbs farm, Karatu; Ngorongoro (NHMUK) (Adults: VII, VIII, IX, XI).

Description.

-Of medium size, robust build. Size (in mm): males 14-16, females 18-22. Integument finely pitted and rugose. Frontal ridge thick, barely sulcate, with subparallel, somewhat undulating, thick margins (Fig. 250). Fastigial constriction weak. Fastigium of vertex oblong/parabolic with weak margins (Figs 248, 249); transverse sulcus weak, roughly in mid-position. Structure of pronotum variable, from roughly the shape found in G. flexuosa , to that in G. cruciatus (Figs 251-253); transverse sulci strong; lateral carinae weak to strong, obsolescent towards rear of metazona and occasionally weaker between 1st and 2nd sulci; length of metazona equal to subequal to that of prozona. Tegmina with more or less rounded to attenuate apex, varying in length from equal to length of pronotum (as in coastal populations in Kenya) to more than twice its length (as in some specimens from Tanzania, notably those from Manyara) (Figs 255-257). Hind femora rather robust; arolia rather small (e.g. in comparison with G. t. temporalis ).

Coloration rather similar to that in G. t. flexuosus , in shades of browns, ochraceous, stramineus and ivory-white with presence of light and dark forms; some of latter resemble a duller version of Tanzanian populations of G. pullus . Antennae dark brown, dorsum pale entirely or sometimes with a narrow dorso-medial band bordered with dark brown; costal area of tegmina dark brown; anal area stramineous. Body sides with a broad dark band in upper part extending from frons across genae, pronotal lobes and pleurae onto tegmina; lower third of lateral pronotal lobes and pleurae pale. Upper face of hind femur with a large pale sub-basal and a sub-apical spot; outer face brown, lower ferruginous to orange; hind knee black, hind tibia slate blue to brownish, with a broad sub-basal white ring, tarsi ivory; spines ivory, tipped black.

Distribution.

-KENYA, TANZANIA.