Aiolopus simulatrix ( Walker, 1870 )

Usmani, Mohammad Kamil, 2008, A new species of the genus Aiolopus Fieber (Oedipodinae: Acrididae) from Libya, Insecta Mundi 2008 (41), pp. 1-14 : 10-12

Aiolopus simulatrix ( Walker, 1870)

( Fig. 5 )

Epacromia simulatrix Walker, 1870: 773 .

Heteropternis savignyi Krauss, 1890: 262 ( Hollis 1968: 320) .

Epacromia affinis Bolivar, 1902: 600 ( Hollis 1968: 320) .

Aeolopus laticosta . Bolivar, 1912: 270 ( Hollis 1968: 320).

Aeolopus strepens deserticola Uvarov 1922: 358 ( Hollis 1968: 320) .

Aiolopus savignyi (Krauss) ; Damiano 1969: 130.

Aiolopus simulatrix (Walker) ; Harz 1975: 555.

Description. Male. Size medium; integument more strongly rugulose; antennae 22- 24 segmented, as long as head and pronotum together; fastigium of vertex pentagonal, moderately concave, slightly longer than wide, apex narrowly rounded; fastigial foveolae rectangular, shallow; frontal ridge wide, coarsely tuberculate, with parallel margins, strongly narrowed below fastigium; eyes oval, about one and a half times as long as wide; pronotum relatively narrow, median carina strong in prozona, prozona cylindrical above, very slightly constricted medially, metazona rather fiat, posterior margin obtuse- angular; mesosternal interspace trapezoid, wider than long; tegmina relatively long, far exceeding apex of hind femur; hind wings hyaline, slightly smoked at apex; hind femur broad, three and a half times as long as wide; hind tibia shorter than hind femur with 9 outer and 10 inner spines, inner apical spurs slightly less than twice as long as outer pair; arolium half length of claw.

Genitalia. Male Supra-anal plate elongate-angular, finely sculptured, lateral margins curved medially, apex elongately conical; cercus elongate-conical, with obtuse apex ( Fig. 5G ). Subgenital plate ( Fig. 5H ) broadly angular, apex broadly rounded. Epiphallus ( Fig. 5E ), bridge moderately narrow, undivided; ancorae moderately broad, curved and pointed at tip; lophi lobiform; lateral plates and their anterior projections well developed, posterior projections small, angular. Aedeagus ( Fig. 5F ), apical valve curved upward, much narrower and shorter than basal valves.

General coloration. Brown with ochraceous or green and blackish markings; pronotum often uniformly brown or sometimes greenish, rarely with weak ochraceous X-shaped pattern on dorsum; tegmina with two ochraceous transverse fasciae which extend from anterior margin to first vannal vein, apex of tegmina mottled spotted; hind wing hyaline, sometimes base pale-yellow, slightly darkened apically; hind femur with two dark spots at upper surface, with two incomplete dark fasciae on inner surface, hind knee dark; hind tibia black basally with a broad ochraceous ring and with a broad blackish or grey ring medially, reddish at apical third.

Female. Similar to male but more robust and larger.

Genitalia. Supra-anal plate short, as long as wide, apex obtusely rounded; cercus broad, slightly less than twice as long as wide, with blunt apex ( Fig. 5A ). Subgenital plate ( Fig. 5B ), posterior margin wavy, slightly convex in middle, setose marginally, Jannone’s organs streaked; egg-guide broad basally and narrowing apically, two and half times as long as wide. Spermatheca ( Fig. 5C ), apical diverticulum short and tubercle-like; preapical diverticulum well developed and sac-like, ovipositor ( Fig. 5D ) valves elongate, moderately robust, acute, curved and slightly shorter than lateral apodeme; dorsal valve moderately broad, three times as long as wide, apical tip elongate-narrow, subacute; external edge tuberculate, dorsal condyle prominent; ventral valve with slope slightly concave, apical tip long and pointed, mesial tooth distinct, basal sclerite narrow and punctate; mesial valve with apical tip elongate-conical.

Variation. Measurements (length in mm): Body, male 16.9-26.0, female 21.0-30.8; pronotum, male 3.2- 4.5, female 3.9-5.2; tegmina, male 16.1-21.9, female 18.5-26.6; hind femur, male 9.0-11.8, female 11.0- 14.6.

Material examined. Material deposited in Zoology Museum, Sebha University , Brack. Libya: Al Shati Region: Ashkidah , 2 male, 4 female, on alfalfa, 21.xi.1992 ; Brack Agric. Project , 3 male 3 female, on alfalfa, 3 male, 6 female in vegetable field, 18.ii.1993 ; Brack , 2 male 1 female, on grass, 15.vi.93; Idri, 2 male, 1 female, on alfalfa, 13.iv.1993 ; Mahruqah , 1 male, 1 female, on alfalfa, 6.viii.1992 ; Mansurah , 1 male, 1 female, on alfalfa, 13.iv.93; Qardah, 1 female, on barley, 15.xii.1992 ; Ququm , 10 male, 3 female, on alfalfa, 9 male, 6 female, on mint, 29.x.1992 ; Tamzawah , 5 female, on alfalfa, 2male, 3 female, on grape, 4.xi.1992 ; Tarut , 2 female, on alfalfa, 6.viii.1992 ; Zahra , 4 male, 2 female, on grass, 15.xii.1992 ; Zalwaz , 4 male, 5 female, on alfalfa, 15.v.1993 ; Zuwayyah , 1 female, on grass, 7.iv.1993 ; Wanzarik , l male, 2 female, on barley, 13.iv.1993 . Ghat Region: Al Awaynat , 2 male, 2 female, on vegetable, 20.vii.1995 ; Al Barkat , 2 male, 3 female, on alfalfa & grass, 19.vii.1995 ; Ghat, 5 male, 6 female, on barley/alfalfa, 6.xi.1994 . Murzuk region: Agar-Atabah , 1 male, on grass, 23.vi.1993 ; Bani-Hilal , 13 female, on grass, 27.iv.1993 ; Hammera , 1 female, on alfalfa, 8.i.1994 ; Makhatin , 4 male, 1 female, on grass & dry millet, 27.v.1993 ; Marhaba , 23 male, 23 female, on alfalfa, 11.xii.1993 ; Misquwin , 13 female, on grass, 8.i.1994 ; Murzuq, 30 male, 20 female, on water melon & melon, 5.v.1993 ; Tegrutin , 1 male, on alfalfa, 11.xii.1993 ; Traghan , 22 male, 9 female, on vegetable, 13.iv.1993 and 27.v.1993 ; Tsawah , 5 male, 23 female, on grass, 11.xii.1993 ; Urn-Al Aranib , 1 male, on vegetable, 8.i.1994 ; Zuwaylah , 4 male, 1 female, on alfalfa & grass, 8.i.1994 . Sebha Region: Al Zighan , 3 male, 2 female, on millet, 18.v.1994 ; Ghodwa , 2 male, 2 female, on vegetable, 13.iv.1993 ; Samnu , 4 male, 5 female, on alfalfa & vegetable, 18.v.1994 ; Sebha, l0 male, 13 female, on barley & grass, 17.vi.1994 ; Tamanhent , 2 male, 2 female, on grass, 18.v.1994 . Wadi Haya Region: Al Abyad , 7 male, 7 female, on garlic and onion, 2.xi.1992 ; Al Hamarah , 1 male, 2 female, on alfalfa, 2.xi.1992 ; Khalayf , 8 male, 2 female, on millet and ground nut, 16.xi.1992 ; Ben Hareth , 9 male, l 2 female, on grass and tomato, 16.xi.1992 ; Bint Bayyah , 8 male, 3 female, on alfalfa & grass, 16.xi.1992 ; Garagra , 10 male, 6 female, on millet, 27.xi.1992 ; Sidi Au , 7 male, 10 female, on alfalfa/grass, 7.xii.1992 ; Tkerkibah , 2 male, on groundnut, 7.xii.1992 ; Al Garaya , 48 male, 19 female, on alfalfa-egg plant, 7.xi.1992 ; Jarmah , 1 female, on swede, 15.xii.1992 ; Al Breek , 14 male, 7 female, on alfalfa, wild grass, 15.xii.1992 ; Arragabah , 15 male, 3 female, on alfalfa and egg plant, 15.xi.1992 ; Awbari , 9 male, 5 female, on alfalfa & barley, 30.i.1993 ; Ed Disah , 5 male, 4 female, on alfalfa, 15.ii.1993 ; Al Hatiyah , 4 male, 3 female, on carrot and swede, 15.ii.1993 ; Al Gharayfah , 20 male, l 4 female, on barley and wheat, 15.ii.1993 .

Libyan localities. CYRENAICA: Barca, Bengasi, Derna, Fueihat, Marmarica, Porto Bardia. TRIPOLITANIA: Ain Zara, Mizda, Taguira, Tripoli. FEZZAN: Agar Atabah, Al Abyad, Al Awayynat, Al Barkat, Al Breek, Al Garaya, Al Ghraeayfah, Al Hamarah, Al Hatiyah, Al Zighan, Arragabah, Ashkidah, Awbari, Bani Hilal, Ben Hareth, Bint Bayyah, Brack, Ed Disah, Gragara, Ghat, Ghodwa, Hammera, Idri, Jarmah, Khalayf, Mahrugah, Makhaten, Mansurah, Misquwin, Murzuk, Qardah, Ququm, Samnu, Sebha, Sidi Ali, Tamanhant, Tamzawah, Tarut, Tegrutin, Tkerkibah, Traghen, Tsawah, Um Al Aranib, Wanzarik, Zahra, Zalwaz, Zuwaylah, Zuwayyah.

Distribution: Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Cyprus, the former Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy (Sardinia), Jordan, Kenya, Laccadive Is., Lebanon, Libya, Maldive Is., Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, Spain (Canary Is.), Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tadzhikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Yemen, the former Yugoslavia (COPR 1982).

Remarks. This species is distributed throughout Africa, and was recorded earlier from Libya by Damiano (1969) and Popov (1974). This is reported as most widespread species of Aiolopus in Al-Shati, Fezzan by Ajaili et. al. (1989).

Figures

Figure 5. Aiolopus simulatrix (Walker). A) Female supra-anal plate and cerci. B) Female subgenital plate. C) Spermatheca. D) Ovipositor. E) Epiphallus. F) Aedeagus. G) Male supra-anal plate and cerci. H) Male subgenital plate