Ichthyotettix mexicanus ( Saussure, 1859 )

Fontana, Paolo, Buzzetti, Filippo Maria, Mariño-Pérez, Ricardo & García-García, Patricia Lucero, 2011, Two new species of the Mexican genus Ichthyotettix Rehn, 1901 with remarks on the tribe Ichthyotettigini (Orthoptera, Caelifera, Pyrgomorphidae), Zootaxa 2872, pp. 18-34 : 23-28

Ichthyotettix mexicanus ( Saussure, 1859)

Ichthydion mexicanum Saussure. 1859 . Revue et Magasin de Zoologie 2(11):390

Ichthydion mexicanum Scudder, S.H. 1868 . Smithson. misc. Coll. 3(189):42. Partim.

Ichthydion mexicanum Walker, F. 1870 . Catalogue of the Specimens of Dermaptera Saltatoria in the Collection of the British Museum 3:518. Partim.

Ichthydion mexicanum Bolívar, I. 1884 . An. Soc. Espan. Hist. Nat. 13:440. Partim.

Ichthydion mexicanum Bruner, L. 1906 . Biologia Centrali-Americana 2:202. Partim.

Ichthydion mexicanum Bolívar, I. 1909 . Genera Insectorum 90:45. Partim.

Ichthyotettix mexicanus Hebard. 1932 . Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc. 58:267. Partim.

Ichthyotettix mexicanus Roberts. 1941 . Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 93:213. Partim.

Ichthyotettix mexicanus Kevan, D.K.M., A. Singh & Akbar. 1964 . Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 116:262. Partim.

Ichthyotettix mexicanus Kevan, D.K.M., Akbar & Y.C. Chang. 1971 [1970]. Eos 46:140, 143, 144. Partim.

Ichthyotettix mexicanus Descamps. 1975 . Folia Ent. Mex. 31–32:47. Partim.

Ichthyotettix mexicanus Kevan, D.K.M. [Ed.]. 1977. In Beier [Ed.]. Orthopterorum Catalogus 16:69, 644. Partim.

Ichthyotettix mexicanus Kevan, D.K.M. 1978 [1977]. Rev. Soc. entom. Argentina 36(1–4):7, 9, 16, 25. Partim.

Ichthyotettix mexicanus Fontana, Buzzetti & Mariño-Pérez. 2008 . Chapulines, Langostas, Grillos y Esperanzas de México. Guía fotográfica - Grasshoppers, Locusts, Crickets & Katydids of Mexico. Photographic guide: 245. Partim.

Type locality. “ Mexico calida” ( Saussure, 1859), probably restricted to Orizaba and Cordoba surroundings.

Examined material. Mexico, Veracruz, La Cumbre, above Acultzingo, 6000 ft, 25.VIII.1936, leg. H. R. Roberts, 1 male ( CPF); Mexico, Hidalgo, Ixmiquilpan, Panales, 4 km after cross to Zimapan, 1844 m, 23.IX.2004, leg. P. Fontana, R. Battiston, B. Agabiti, P.L. Garcia-Garcia, 1 male and 2 females (CFP); Mexico, Hidalgo, Road to Queretaro km 24, 6 km est Huichapan, 2265 m, 23.IX.2004, leg. P. Fontana, R. Battiston, B. Agabiti, P.L. Garcia- Garcia, 1 female ( CPF); Mexico, Hidalgo, 12,7 rd. mi. N Atotonilco El Grande (N of Pachuca), 17.VIII.1964, leg. T. J. Cohn, 5 males and 1 female ( CPF); Mexico, Hidalgo, Tecomatlan, 2205 m, 25.IX.2010, leg. Ricardo Mariño- Perez, 2 males and 1 female ( CNIN).

Diagnosis. Male tenth abdominal tergite produced into a broad, inflated process, as long as wide, covering the epiproct, wide more than half the total width of same tergite; male cerci with robust, obtuse, rounded inner tooth, situated in the middle of inner margin and apical half curved inward, with apex spoon shaped and flattened in a lateral view; epiproct in form of a tongue; prosternal tubercle symmetrically pyramidal in side view, with obtuse apex; epiphallus with bridge forming with its lophi an anchor like structure; aedeagal valvae of penis sinuose, elongated, regularly subconical, with finely rugose surface.

Description. General colour brown-gray or green; lower third of lateral lobes of pronotum whitish, in brown form, only clear in green form ( Figs. 22–23 ). Body smooth, cylindrical in male, very slightly fusiform in female. Antennae filiform, triangular in section. Head conical, not distinctly triangular in dorsal view, especially in male ( Fig. 26 ). Eyes prominent, round-ovate; frontal profile strongly oblique, nearly straight, median and lateral frontal carinae distinct. Vertex very slightly convex or almost horizontal in profile, median carinae present. Fastigium of vertex longer than wide, somewhat triangular. Pronotum cylindrical in male, slightly wider behind than in front in female; scarcely rugose, with not well defined granules in metazona; disc with anterior and posterior margins truncate and very slightly excised, median and lateral carinae present, extremely reduced, transverse sulci not strong. Lateral pronotal lobes with anterior margins oblique, inferior margin slightly sinuous, with a small tooth right before posterior angle and posterior margin straight and vertical, the lower-hind angle a right angle ( Figs. 26 , 29 ). Prosternal tubercle symmetrically pyramidal in side view, with obtuse apex. Mesosternal interspace just narrower than a mesosternal lobe in male and as wide as a lobe in female. Tegmina, hind wings (as well tegminal vestiges) and tympana absent. Tenth abdominal tergum of male produced into a broad, inflated process, as long as wide, covering the epiproct, wide more than half the total width of same tergite ( Figs. 32, 33 ). Epiproct in form of a tongue, with rounded apex, not restricted at base. Male cerci with robust, obtuse, rounded inner tooth, situated in the middle of inner margin and apical half curved inward and flattened in lateral view, spoon shaped ( Figs. 38, 41 ). Male subgenital plate rounded and rather inflated ( Fig. 32 ). Epiphallus very characteristic ( Fig. 44 ), with bridge forming with its lophi an anchor like structure; aedeagal valvae of penis sinuose, elongated, regularly subconical, with finely rugose surface; processes arising from ramus of cingulum contiguous in dorsal view ( Figs. 47 , 50 ). Female subgenital plate with posterior margin with two deep, rounded lateral excisions, forming three subequal, acute, triangular processes; ovipositor valves slender ( Fig. 53 ).

Distribution. Kevan et al. (1964) reported this species from Veracruz, Hidalgo, Puebla, Morelos, Estado de Mexico, Distrito Federal, Jalisco, Michoacan, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas. Probably not all of the materials examined by Kevan et al. (1964) belong to I. mexicanus . The distribution checked by authors is showed in Fig. 57 .

Habitat. We have collected this species in dry stony habitat (matorral xerófilo), with sparse bushes and very few herbs ( Fig. 55 ).

male (6) range average st. dev. body length 17.92–19.52 18.64 0.58 pronotum length 2.88–3.2 2.96 0.13 prozona 2.24–2.4 2.29 0.08 metazona 0.64–0.80 0.67 0.07 hind femur length 8.64–9.28 8.85 0.30 Ichthyotettix mexicanus Fontana, Buzzetti & Mariño-Pérez. 2008 . Chapulines, Langostas, Grillos y Esperanzas de México. Guía fotográfica—Grasshoppers, Locusts, Crickets & Katydids of Mexico. Photographic guide 124–125

Examined material and type depository: Mexico, Oaxaca, carr. 190 Huajuapan de Leon-Oaxaca, km 44, Tierra Blanca, 17° 40’ 6,9’’ N 097° 36’ 35’’ W, 2051 m, 24.X.2007, leg. P. Fontana, F. M. Buzzetti, R. Mariño-Pérez, 2 males and 1 female (1 male Holotype and 1 female paratype CNIN; 1 male paratype CPF); Mexico, Oaxaca, carr. 190 Huajuapan de Leon-Oaxaca, km 60, 17° 34’ 37,8’’ N 097° 25’ 59’’ W, 2307 m, 2.IV.2006, leg. P. L. Garcia Garcia, 5 females and 1 female nymph (2 female paratypes CPF; 2 females paratypes CFMB; 1 female paratype and 1 female nymph CNIN); Mexico, Oaxaca, 1 km W de Cosoltepec, N 18° 07’ 54’’ W 097° 48’ 08’’, X.2008, leg. B. Riveros-Lara, 1 female paratype ( CNIN).

Diagnosis. Male tenth abdominal tergite produced into a long, apically inflated process, twice as long as wide, covering the epiproct, wide half the total width of same tergite; male cerci with acute, rounded, robust inner tooth, situated behind the middle of inner margin and apical half almost angularly curved inward and gently flattened apically, in lateral view; epiproct in form of a long tongue; prosternal tubercle symmetrically pyramidal in side view, with subacute apex; epiphallus with bridge forming with its lophi an anchor like structure; aedeagal valvae of penis sinuose, dilated and flattened subapically, elongated, with shiny smooth surface. Processes arising from ramus of cingulum contiguous from dorsal view.

Description. General colour brown-gray; lower third of lateral lobes of pronotum whitish. The green form in unknown ( Figs. 24–25 ). Body smooth, cylindrical in male, very slightly fusiform in female. Antennae filiform, triangular in section. Head conical, not distinctly triangular in dorsal view, especially in male ( Fig. 27 ). Eyes prominent, round-ovate; frontal profile strongly oblique, nearly straight, median and lateral frontal carinae distinct.

Vertex very slightly convex or almost horizontal in profile, median carinae present. Fastigium of vertex shorter than wide, somewhat triangular. Pronotum cylindrical in male, slightly wider behind in female; slightly rugose, with big sparse granules present mainly in metazona; disc with anterior and posterior margins truncate and very slightly excised, median and lateral carinae present, extremely reduced, transverse sulci not deep. Lateral pronotal lobes with anterior margin oblique, lower margin slightly sinuous, with a small tooth right before posterior angle and posterior margin straight and vertical, the lower-hind angle a right angle ( Figs. 27–30 ). Prosternal tubercle symmetrically pyramidal from side view, with subacute apex; Mesosternal interspace just narrower than a mesosternal lobe in male and as wide as a lobe in female. Tegmina, hind wings and tympana absent. Tenth abdominal tergum of male produced into a broad, inflated process, as long as wide, covering the epiproct, wide more than half the total width of same tergite ( Figs. 34, 35 ). Epiproct in form of a long tongue, more acutely rounded at apex and restricted at base. Male cerci with acute, rounded, robust inner tooth, situated behind the middle of inner margin and apical half almost angularly curved inward and gently flattened apically, in side view. Male subgenital plate rounded and rather inflated ( Fig. 34 ). Epiphallus as in I. mexicanus ( Fig. 45 ), with bridge forming with its lophi an anchor like structure. Aedeagal valvae of penis sinuose, dilated and flattened subapically, elongated, with shiny smooth surface. Processes arising from ramus of cingulum contiguous in dorsal view ( Figs. 48 , 51 ).

Female subgenital plate with posterior margin with two deep, “V” shaped lateral excisions, forming three subequal, acute, triangular processes; ovipositor valves slender ( Fig. 54 ).

Etymology. From the latine words strictus (= narrow) and cauda (= tail); stricticaudatus means with narrow tail, referring to the narrow tenth abdominal tergum of male of the new species in comparison with I. mexicanus .

Distribution. Ichthyotettix stricticaudatus n. sp. to date is known only from Oaxaca state in Mexico ( Fig. 57 ).

Remarks. We collected this species in grasslands, partially stony, with sparse bushes ( Fig. 56 ). I. stricticaudatus n. sp. has been illustrated by Fontana et al. (2008) sub I. mexicanus ( Saussure, 1859) .

male (2) range average st. dev. body length 19.38–20.0 19.69 0.44 pronotum length 2.40–2.50 2.45 0.07 prozona 1.90–2.0 1.95 0.07 metazona 0.50 0.50 0.00 hind femur length 8.76–9.23 9.00 0.33

Figures

FIGURE 57. Distribution map of Ichthyotettix mexicanus checked by authors (blue triangles), Ichthyotettix stricticaudatus (red circles) and Ichthyotettix inexpectatus (black squares).

FIGURES 22 – 23. Living specimens of Ichthyotettix mexicanus (Saussure, 1859) in nature. Green colour form, adult female, Hidalgo Ixmiquilpan 23. IX. 2004 (22); brown-gray colour form, adult female, same data (23).

FIGURES 26 – 28. Head and pronotum in dorsal view. Ichthyotettix mexicanus (26); Ichthyotettix stricticaudatus (27); Ichthyotettix inexpectatus (28).

FIGURES 29 – 31. Head and pronotum in left lateral view. Ichthyotettix mexicanus (29); Ichthyotettix stricticaudatus (30); Ichthyotettix inexpectatus (31).

FIGURES 32 – 37. Male terminalia in left lateral and dorsal view. Ichthyotettix mexicanus (32, 33); Ichthyotettix stricticaudatus (34,35); Ichthyotettix inexpectatus (36, 37).

FIGURES 38 – 43. Male right cercus in dorsal and right lateral view. Ichthyotettix mexicanus (38, 41); Ichthyotettix stricticaudatus (39,42); Ichthyotettix inexpectatus (40, 43).

FIGURES 44 – 46. Male epiphallus in dorsal view. Ichthyotettix mexicanus (44); Ichthyotettix stricticaudatus (45); Ichthyotettix inexpectatus (46).

FIGURES 47 – 49. Mounted dry dissection of phallic complex in left lateral view. Ichthyotettix mexicanus (47); Ichthyotettix stricticaudatus (48); Ichthyotettix inexpectatus (49).

FIGURES 50 – 52. Mounted dry dissection of phallic complex in dorsal view. Ichthyotettix mexicanus (50); Ichthyotettix stricticaudatus (51); Ichthyotettix inexpectatus (52).

FIGURES 53 – 54. Female apex of subgenital plate and ovipositor valvae in ventral view. Ichthyotettix mexicanus (53); Ichthyotettix stricticaudatus (54).

FIGURES 55 – 56. Natural habitat. Ichthyotettix mexicanus, Hidalgo Ixmiquilpan 23. IX. 2004 (55); Ichthyotettix stricticaudatus, Oaxaca Huajuapan de Leon, 24. X. 2007 (56).

FIGURES 24 – 25. Living specimens of Ichthyotettix stricticaudatus n. sp. in nature. Brown-gray colour form, adult female, Oaxaca, Huajuapan de Leon, 24. X. 2007 (24); adult male, same data (25).