Diponthus dispar Gerstaecker, 1873

Pocco, Martina E., Lange, Carlos E. & Cigliano, María Marta, 2023, Relationships and taxonomy of the genus Diponthus Stål (Orthoptera: Acridoidea Romaleidae), Zootaxa 5336 (1), pp. 33-81 : 57

Diponthus dispar Gerstaecker, 1873

( Figs. 3g, h , 7a, b , 8g , 9a, b , 10g , 11g , 12a, b , and 13 ).

Diponthus dispar Gerstaecker, 1873: 193 (lectotype female, Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Alegrete, ZMHB Berlin Mus.; selected as lectotype by CSC, and here designated); Kirby, 1910: 381 (jr. syn. of Diponthus maculiferus ( Walker 1870)) ; Carbonell et al. 2023; Cigliano et al. 2023.

Nomenclatural comments. Kirby (1910) established the synonymy of D. dispar with D. maculiferus . Carbonell in Cigliano et al. (2023) considers D. dispar as a valid species, and here its status as valid is corroborated.

Diagnosis. Disc of pronotum olive-green with three dorsal longitudinal bands and one oblique band on the lower margin of the lateral lobes yellow or cream colored ( Figs. 3g, h , and 7a, b ). Prosternal tubercle directed backwards, with apex slightly rounded. Tegmina with green background, with transverse veins delimiting small irregular cells of the same color as the background ( Fig. 8g ). Hind wings green. Epiproct oval, lateral margins rounded, with small tubercles near posterior margin; furculae with acute tips ( Fig. 9b ). Male cerci very long, reaching the end of the subgenital plate, finger-shaped, slightly curved inwards ( Fig. 9a ). Dorsal valves of adeagus hook-shaped ( Figs. 10g , and 11g ). Valves of cingulum hammer-shaped ( Figs. 10g , and 11g ). Epiphallus with lophi placed parallel to the bridge, not reaching the posterior processes of the lateral plates ( Fig. 12a ), with rounded apex and oblique edges ( Fig. 12b ).

Redescription and chromatic characters, and material examined. See Appendix 1

Measurements (in mm). Body length: males: 35.3 (35–36); females: 46 (44–48). Hind femur length: males: 18.3 (17–19); females: 24.5 (24–25). Tegmina length: males: 28 (27–30); females: 37.5 (37–38).

Distribution. This species is distributed in Argentina (Buenos Aires, Misiones), Uruguay (Artigas, Treinta y Tres) and Brasil (Rio Grande do Sul) ( Fig. 13 ).

Habitat. Diponthus dispar has been found in semi-dry wetlands, in Eryngium , grasses, and composites (Carbonell, pers. Comm.).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Diponthus species. Males, habitus lateral views (a, c, e, g, i, k) and dorsal views (b, d, f, h, j, l). Species as indicated. Scale bar= 1 cm. Numbers indicate characters and states used in the cladistics analysis.

FIGURE 7. Head and pronotum, in lateral views (a) and dorsal views (b). Diponthus species as indicated. Numbers indicate characters and states used in the cladistics analysis.

FIGURE 8. Tegmina, color pattern of venation. Diponthus species, as indicated. Numbers indicate characters and states used in the cladistics analysis.

FIGURE 9. Male abdominal terminalia, in lateral views (a) and dorsal views (b). Diponthus species as indicated. Numbers indicate characters and states used in the cladistics analysis.

FIGURE 10. Distal portion of aedeagal valves, lateral view. Diponthus species, as indicated.

FIGURE 11. Distal portion of aedeagal valves, dorsal view. Diponthus species, as indicated.

FIGURE 12. Epiphallus, dorsal views (a) and frontal views (b). Diponthus species, as indicated. Numbers indicate characters and states used in the cladistics analysis.

FIGURE 13. Distribution map of Diponthus species.