Agroecotettix burtoni, Hill, 2024

Hill, JoVonn G., 2024, Desert diversification: revision of Agroecotettix Bruner, 1908 (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae) with descriptions of sixteen new species from the United States and Mexico, ZooKeys 1218, pp. 177-230 : 177-230

Agroecotettix burtoni sp. nov.

Figs 2 J , 4 H , 5 H , 14 A – J , 25 , 26 A , 31 A – D

Diagnosis.

Differentiated from other species in the genus by the combination of male cerci with ventral branch equal or subequal in length to dorsal branch (Figs 2 J , 14 A, B ), a thin and lightly sclerotized sheath of aedeagus (Figs 5 H , 14 C – G ); valves of the aedeagus lobate in lateral view with the basal lobe not produced much beyond the sheath in lateral view (Figs 5 H , 14 D, F ) and with the valves not projected laterally in caudal view, being almost vertical or curving medially (Fig. 5 H , 14 G ).

Male measurements (mm).

(n = 10) Body length 19.5–24.0 (mean = 21.6); pronotum length 4.0–5.0 (mean = 4.6); tegmen length 3.0–4.0 (mean = 3.5); hind femur length 10.5–12.4 (mean = 11.3); cerci length 1.0–1.3 (mean = 1.2); basal width of cercus 0.5–0.6 (mean = 0.6); mid-cercal width 0.3–0.5 (mean = 0.4); cerci ventral projection length 0.3–0.4 (mean = 0.3); cerci ventral projection apex width 0.1 (mean = 0.1) cerci dorsal projection length 0.3–0.4 (mean = 0.3); cerci dorsal projection apex width 0.2–0.3 (mean = 0.2).

Phallus measurements (mm).

(n = 3) Length 1.1 (mean = 1.1); apex width 0.5 (mean = 0.5); middle width 0.5 (mean = 0.5); Basal width 0.7 (mean = 0.7); lateral apex width 0.5–0.6 (mean = 0.6); lateral medial width 0.4–0.5 (mean = 0.4); lateral basal width 0.4–0.5 (mean = 0.5).

Female measurements (mm).

(n = 6) Body length 24.0–29.9 (mean = 25.9); pronotum length 5.5–6.5 (mean = 5.8); tegmen length 3.5–4.5 (mean = 4.1); hind femur length 13.0–14.5 (mean = 13.9) dorsal ovipositor valve length 1.5–2.0 (mean = 1.7); ventral ovipositor valve length 1.5–2.0 (mean = 1.7).

Holotype.

• 1 ♂, USA, Texas, Brewster Co., Big Bend N. P. , 29.3178, -103.3942, 15 July 2023, J. G. Hill; Collected in Chihuahuan Desert scrub. Deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum.

Specimens examined.

USA, Texas: • Brewster Co., Big Bend N. P. , 29.3988, -103.2029, 14 July 2023, J. G. Hill, R. C. Seltzer-Hill (1 ♂) • Big Bend N. P., 29.3178, -103.3942, 15 July 2023, J. G. Hill (2 ♀) • 1.4 mi NE Government Springs Junction Big Ben Park , 12 June 1961, T. J. and J. W. Cohn (2 ♂) • Basin , 8 September 1951, T. J. Cohn (1 ♂) • Glenn Spring , 1 August 1928, F. M. Gaige (6 ♂, 3 ♀) .

Habitat.

Chihuahuan Desert Scrub (Fig. 31 A ).

Distribution.

Endemic to the Chihuahuan desert and more specifically to the southern big bend region of Texas (Figs 25 , 26 A ). At present, all known populations occur within Big Bend National Park.

Etymology.

The species name burtoni is a patronym honoring LeVar Burton, an iconic American actor, director, and children’s television host renowned for his influential work in promoting literacy and education, particularly through his long-running role as the host of “ Reading Rainbow. ” Additionally, Burton is celebrated for his inspirational portrayal of Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge in “ Star Trek: The Next Generation ” and its spin-offs. His contributions to education and his advocacy for intellectual and cultural enrichment make him a fitting namesake for a species that thrives in the Big Bend region of Texas where deep history, nature, and vast starry skies come together in a unique American landscape.

Suggested common name.

Burton’s aridland scrub jumper.

Figures

Figure 2. Agroecotettix cerci in lateral view unless noted otherwise A A. aristus B A. silverheelsi C A. xiphophorus D A. xiphophorus ventral view E A. texmex F A. cumbres G A. crypsidomus H A. chisosensis I A. dorni J A. burtoni K A. turneri L A. quitmanensis M A. moorei N A. chiantiensis O A. vaquero P A. forcipatus Q A. kahloae R A kahloae ventral view S A. idic lateral view T A. idic dorsal.

Figure 4. Caudal view of the aedeagus of Agroecotettix A. A. silverheelsi B A. aristus C A. xiphophorus D A. glochinos E A. texmex F A. cumbres G A. crypsidomus H A. burtoni I A. moorei J A. chiantiensis K A. forcipatus L A. quitmanensis M A. dorni N A. chisosensis O A. turneri P A. vaquero Q A. idic R A. kahloae. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figure 5. Lateral view of the aedeagus of Agroecotettix A A. silverheelsi B A. aristus C A. xiphophorus D A. glochinos E A. texmex F A. cumbres G A. crypsidomus H A. burtoni I A. moorei J A. chiantiensis K A. forcipatus L A. quitmanensis M A. dorni N A. chisosensis O A. turneri P A. vaquero Q A. idic R A. kahloae.

Figure 14. Agroecotettix burtoni 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 25. Distribution of Agroecotettix species.

Figure 26. Distribution of Agroecotettix species A Big Bend region of Texas B zoom in on the area around Monterrey, Mexico at the convergence of the Chihuahuan Desert, Sierra Madre Oriental, and South Texas Plains ecoregions.

Figure 31. Agroecotettix burtoni from Brewster Co., Texas A habitat view in Big Bend National Park B male C male D male.