Agroecotettix chisosensis, 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 chisosensis sp. nov.

Figs 2 H , 4 N , 5 N , 18 A – J , 25 , 26 A , 36 A – E

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 H , 18 A, B ); sheath of aedeagus thin and lightly sclerotized, (Fig. 5 N ); valves of the aedeagus are lobate, and in lateral view, the valves of aedeagus broad (Figs 5 N , 18 D, F ) and in caudal view the lateral margins do not extend well beyond the rest of the valves and their apical margins are curved medially (Figs 4 N , 18 G ).

Male measurements (mm).

(n = 8) Body length 18.7–21.3 (mean = 19.9); pronotum length 4.5–4.9 (mean = 4.6); tegmen length 3.0–3.6 (mean = 3.2); hind femur length 10.3–11.5 (mean = 10.8); cerci length 1.1–1.2 (mean = 1.2); basal width of cercus 0.6–0.7 (mean = 0.6); mid-cercal width 0.3–0.4 (mean = 0.4); cerci dorsal fork length 0.4–0.5 (mean = 0.4); cerci dorsal fork apex width 0.2 (mean = 0.2) cerci ventral fork length 0.3 (mean = 0.3); cerci ventral fork apex width 0.1 (mean = 0.1).

Phallus measurements (mm).

(n = 4) Length 0.9–1.1 (mean = 1.1); apex width 0.3–0.5 (mean = 0.4); middle width 0.4–0.6 (mean = 0.5); basal width 0.6 (mean = 0.6); lateral apex width 0.3–0.5 (mean = 0.4); lateral medial width 0.4–0.5 (mean = 0.4); lateral basal width 0.5 (mean = 0.5).

Female measurements (mm).

(n = 5) Body length 23.5–26.8 (mean = 25.1); pronotum length 5.5–6.2 (mean = 5.8) tegmen length 3.5–4.5 (mean = 4.0); hind femur length 12.9–13.9 (mean = 13.5); Dorsal ovipositor valve length 1.5–2.0 (mean = 1.8); ventral ovipositor valve length 1.5–2.0 (mean = 1.8).

Holotype.

• 1 ♂, USA, Texas, Brewster Co., Big Bend National Park , 29.2706, -103.3017, 14 July 2023, J. G. Hill; Chisos Mountain desert scrub, eating Dasylirion pollen. Deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum.

Specimens examined.

USA, Texas: • Brewster Co., Big Bend National Park , 29.2706, -103.3017, 14 July 2023, J. G. Hill (3 ♂, 1 ♀) • Juniper Canyon, Chisos Mts , 16 July 1928, F. M. Gaige (2 ♀) • Canyon behind Pulliam Bluff , Chisos Mts., 7 September 1912, Rehn and Hebard, 4000–5000 ft (2 ♂, 2 ♀) • Chisos Mts , 12 August 1940, Rehn and Hebard (1 ♂, 1 ♀) • Neville Springs , 8 September 1912, Rehn and Hebard (1 ♂) .

Habitat.

Chihuahuan Desert scrub (Fig. 35 F ) in the Chisos Mountains. In July 2023 I observed the species eating Dasylirion pollen (Fig. 35 D, E ).

Distribution.

Endemic to the Chisos Mountains in the Big Bend region of Texas (Figs 25 , 26 A ).

Etymology.

The species name chisosensis is derived from the Chisos Mountains where the species is apparently endemic to and the suffix “ - ensis ” (Latin) meaning “ originating from ” or “ inhabiting ”. This name reflects the endemic nature of the species and hopefully draws attention to the importance of conservation of the unique biodiversity in this mountainous region.

Suggested common name.

Chisos 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 18. Agroecotettix chisosensis 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 35. Agroecotettix chisosensis from Brewster Co., Texas A male in lateral view B female in lateral view C male in lateral view D male feeding on Dasylirion flowers E male feeding on Dasylirion flowers F habitat view.

Figure 36. Agroecotettix turneri from Brewster Co., Texas A male B female C male D female on Vachellia.