Melanoplus balcones, Hill, 2023

Hill, JoVonn G., 2023, Diversification deep in the heart of Texas: seven new grasshopper species and establishment of the Melanoplus discolor species group (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae), ZooKeys 1165, pp. 101-136 : 101

Melanoplus balcones sp. nov.

Figs 2F , 3I , 4I , 9A-J , 14 , 19

Type material.

Holotype: 1♂, USA, TEXAS, Travis Co., 5.7 mi NW Lago Vista, 30.5041, -98.0678, 23 July 2021, J.G. Hill; Collected in live oak savanna and diverse grassland. Deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum.

Other specimens examined.

Texas: Travis Co., 5.7 mi NW Lago Vista, 30.5041, -98.0678, 23 July 2021, J.G. Hill (2♂) .

Diagnosis.

Male cerci that are broadly falcate (Figs 2F , 9A, B ), and the internal male genitalia with the aedeagal sheath that does not project to the distal edge dorsal valves. Dorsal valves are thin plates that have a caudal margin that is perpendicular to the sheath and then slopes downward apically to point, and are produced laterally to the ventral valves, giving the aedeagus a narrow or thin appearance in caudal or dorsal views (Figs 3I , 4I ). The ventral valves are slightly shorter than the dorsal valves (Fig. 9F ). Most similar to M. kendalli and M. susdentatus , but M. balcones is easily separated from M. kendalli by having an aedeagal sheath that does not reach the distal margin of the dorsal valves and the shape of dorsal valves (Fig. 9C-G ), and from M. susdentatus by the longer, more arching dorsal aedeagus valves found in that species (Fig. 8C-G ).

Male measurements.

(mm): (n = 3) Body length 19.4-20.6 (mean = 20); pronotum length 4.0-4.6 (mean = 4.3); tegmen length 4.0-4.6 (mean = 4.3); hind femur length 10.6-11.2 (mean = 10.9); cerci length 0.8-0.9 (mean = 0.9); basal width of cercus 0.6-0.7 (mean = 0.7); mid-cercal width 0.4-0.6 (mean = 0.5); cerci apex width 0.3 (mean = 0.3).

Habitat.

Live oak savanna or juniper oak savanna (Fig. 19A-C ).

Distribution.

East central Balcones Escarpment in the vicinity of Travis County (Fig. 14 ).

Etymology.

Named after the Balcones Canyonlands and Escarpment where this species is endemic.

Suggested common name.

Balcones pouncer.

Figures

Figure 2. Lateral outlines of the male cerci of species in the Melanoplus discolor species group A M. nelsoni B M. discolor C M. corniculatus D M. Melanoplus walkeri E M. walkeri F M. susdentatus G M. kendalli H M. tonkawa I M. comanche.

Figure 3. Lateral views of the male aedeagus of species in the Melanoplus discolor group. DV: dorsal valve, S: sheath, VV: ventral valve. A M. nelsoni B M. discolor C M. corniculatus D M. comanche E M. kendalli F M. susdentatus G M. walkeri H M. tonkawa I M. balcones.

Figure 4. Dorsal views of the male aedeagus of species in the Melanoplus discolor group. DV: dorsal valve, S: sheath, VV: ventral valve. A M. nelsoni B M. discolor C M. corniculatus D M. comanche E M. kendalli F M. susdentatus G M. walkeri H. M. tonkawa I M. balcones.

Figure 8. Melanoplus susdentatus sp. nov. A dorsal view of male terminalia B lateral view of male terminalia C dorsal view of phallic complex D lateral view of phallic complex E dorsal view of aedeagus F lateral view of aedeagus G caudal view of the aedeagus H dorsal view of epiphallus I caudal view of epiphallus J habitus.

Figure 9. Melanoplus balcones sp. nov. A dorsal view of male terminalia B lateral view of male terminalia C dorsal view of phallic complex D lateral view of phallic complex E dorsal view of aedeagus F lateral view of aedeagus G caudal view of the aedeagus H dorsal view of epiphallus I caudal view of epiphallus J habitus.

Figure 14. Distribution of species in the Melanoplus discolor group A broad view of the group, showing the wide distribution of M. discolor B distribution of Melanoplus discolor group species occurring in central Texas with the Balcones Escarpment indicated.

Figure 19. Habitat and live images of Melanoplus balcones sp. nov. A Ashe juniper savanna, Travis Co., Texas B male C female D male.