Pamphagus elephas (Linnaeus, 1758)

Usmani, Mohammad Kamil, 2008, Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) with some new records from Fezzan, Libya, Zootaxa 1946, pp. 1-41 : 12

3. Pamphagus elephas (Linnaeus, 1758)

Diagnosis: Green, with scattered black dots; very large, micropterous, the tegmina narrowly spatulate and uniformly brown. It can easily be identified by its pronotum crest-shaped with high obtuse median carina only, without longitudinal furrow, lateral carinae absent ( Dirsh, 1965: Fig. 66).

Habitats: The habitat of this species is recorded to be dense evergreen shrubs and stunted trees. It is probably herbivorous.

Material examined: Ghat Region: Ghat, 2♀, on vegetable, 16.v.1995 .

Localities: Cyrenaica: Bengasi, Koefia. Fezzan: Ghat.

Distribution: Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Cape Verde.

Remarks: This species was earlier recorded from Cyrenaica by Zanon (1924). The only record of damage to vines has been reported from Libya and despite their size and enough number, no serious damage has been reported.