Agroecotettix texmex, 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 texmex sp. nov.

Figs 2 E , 4 E , 5 E , 11 A – J , 25 , 26 B

Diagnosis.

Differentiated from other species in the genus by the combination of male cerci that have the lower branch longer than the dorsal branch (Figs 2 E , 11 A, B ) and the male aedeagus that has a thickened sheath and valves that are longer than the sheath, and narrow valves that diverge in lateral view (Figs 4 E , 5 E , 11 C – G ). Most similar to A. aristus , A. glochinos , and A. silverheelsi . Differs from A. aristus by that species by having valves that diverge laterally in caudal view and are broader in lateral view (Figs 4 C, D , 5 C, D ) and from A. glochinos by having narrower valves (Figs 4 D, E , 5 D, E ). Differs from A. silverheelsi by having a narrower and folded caudal edge of the sheath as opposed to an unfolded and open edge as in A. silverheelsi .

Male measurements (mm).

(n = 7) Body length 22.2–24.0 (mean = 23.1); pronotum length 4.6–6.5 (mean = 5.4); tegmen length 3.3–4.1 (mean = 3.6); hind femur length 11.5–13.5 (mean = 12.6); cerci length 1.6–1.8 (mean = 1.7); basal width of cerci 0.4–0.7 (mean = 0.6); mid-cercal width 0.4–0.6 (mean = 0.5); cerci dorsal fork length 0.4–0.7 (mean = 0.5); cerci dorsal fork apex width 0.1–0.3 (mean = 0.2); cerci ventral fork length 0.4–1.0 (mean = 0.7); cerci ventral fork apex width 0.1 (mean = 0.1).

Phallus measurements (mm).

(n = 2) Length 0.6–0.7 (mean = 0.7); apex width 0.4–0.5 (mean = 0.5); middle width 0.5–0.6 (mean = 0.6); basal width 0.3 (mean = 0.3); lateral apex width 0.2–0.4 (mean = 0.3); lateral medial width 0.2–0.5 (mean = 0.4); lateral basal width 0.2–0.6 (mean = 0.4).

Female measurements (mm).

(n = 7) Body length 25.2–29.8 (mean = 27.3); pronotum length 6.5–7.5 (mean = 6.9) tegmen length 4.1–5.1 (mean = 4.7); hind femur length 14.0–16.2 (mean = 15.1); dorsal ovipositor valve length 1.5–2.0 (mean = 1.7); ventral ovipositor valve length 0.6–2.0 (mean = 1.6).

Holotype.

• 1 ♂, USA, Texas, Jim Hogg Co., 26 mi S Hebronville , 19 August 1955, 5–700 ft., T. J. Cohn. Deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum.

Specimens examined.

Mexico, Tamaulipas: • 12 mi S Nuevo Laredo , 9 July 1936, H. R. Roberts (1 ♂, 1 ♀) • Nuevo Leòn, 34 miles S Sabinas Hildalgo , 12 IX 1958, 1700 ft, T. J. Cohn (1 ♂, 1 ♀) • Mamulique Pass , 10 July 1936, 1800 ft, H. R. Roberts (2 ♀) ; 19 mi W Santa Catarina , 9 August 1959, T. J. Cohn (♂) • 6 mi SE Santiago , 29 September 1958. T. J. Cohn, 1550 ft (1 ♂, 1 ♀) • Villa de Santiago , 4 July 1964, T. J. Cohn (1 ♂) .

Habitat.

Cohn (1959) states the habitat at 19 mi W of Santa Catarina was above an arroyo in an area with large smooth margined leaved oaks and a variety of low bushes, succulents, broadleaf blackberry, and sparse but good weeds in clumps. The habitat at Villa de Santiago was rolling country in spined bushes that were fairly thick and more than 8 feet tall ( Cohn 1964).

Distribution.

Southern Texas and northeastern Mexico (Figs 25 , 26 B ).

Etymology.

The name texmex is a portmanteau of Texas and Mexico as this is the only known species of Agroecotettix that occurs in both countries.

Suggested common name.

Texmex 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 11. Agroecotettix texmex 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.