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.).