Tergoceracris cayey, Perez-Gelabert, Daniel E. & Otte, Daniel, 2003

Perez-Gelabert, Daniel E. & Otte, Daniel, 2003, Tergoceracris, a new genus and six new species of montane grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Ommatolampinae) from Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, Zootaxa 155, pp. 1-31 : 8

Tergoceracris cayey n. sp.

Figs. 3 , 5 E, 6B, 9, 18, 19

Diagnosis.— Distinguished from guajataca as follows: endophallic plate relatively longer (1.4­1.5X as long as ventral valve) ( Fig. 18 D); epiproct lateral ridges bilobed and off­center mounds longer and somewhat bilobed ( Fig. 6 B). Differs from cerropunta as follows: furculae with wide waist ( Fig. 5 E); off­center mounts of epiproct elongate; ventral valve of epiphallus thin ( Fig. 19 F).

Description.— Male. General coloration bright green. Size of unique individual rather large, similar in this way to males of T. guajataca . Pronotum as in other species in the genus dorsally bearing dark annular ring surrounded by yellow. Wings: Reddish pink and rounded, non­overlapping and about the same length as pronotum. Legs: Brilliant green and robust, especially the hind femora. Abdomen: Abdominal segments marked by wide and interrupted black streak on dorsum. Furculae vertically elevated, rather narrow and not flaring at all on top. Their shape intermediate between those of T. guajataca and T. cerropunta on the one hand and T. luquillensis on the other. Internal genitalia as in Figs. 18 , 19 .

Etymology.— The name is derived from the type locality.

Type material.— Holotype: Male, PUERTO RICO, Tetas de Cayey , near top of left tit, 23.x.2001, D. E. Perez­Gelabert (NMNH).

Habitat.— Tetas de Cayey are a pair of rocky outcrops of volcanic origin located on the south central portion of Puerto Rico. Their elevation nears one thousand meters and they are mostly covered with cloud forest vegetation. The shrubs and trees on the hillside were exhaustively searched for over three hours finding only a single specimen.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Habitus photographs of males of Tergoceracris species. A, T. ocampensis; B, T. ebanoverde; C, T. guajataca; D, T. cerropunta; E, T. cayey; F, T. luquillensis.

FIGURE 5. Posterior views of the exaggerated male furculae. A. T. ocampensis, B. T. ebanoverde; C, T. guajataca; D, T. cerropunta; E, T. cayey; F, T. luquillensis.

FIGURE 6. Male epiproct of Tergoceracris species. A, T. guajataca; B, T. cayey; C, T. luquillensis; D, T. ocampensis; E, T. ebanoverde; F, T. cerropunta.

FIGURE 18. Genitalia complex of T. cayay. A, B, entire complex (with epiphallus removed) showing lateral and dorsal views. C, D, epiphallus showing dorsal and posterior views.

FIGURE 19. Genitalia complex of T. cayay. A, B, C, genitalia with epiphallus and basal phallic fold removed (lateral, dorsal, and ventral views). D, E, F, genitalia with cingulum removed.