Stenobothrus hyalosuperficies Vorontsovskii

Tarasova, Tatiana A., Sevastianov, Nikita S. & Vedenina, Varvara Yu., 2021, Songs and morphology in grasshoppers of the Stenobothrus eurasius group (Orthoptera: Acrdidae: Gomphocerinae) from Russia and adjacent countries clarifying of taxonomic status, Zootaxa 4965 (2), pp. 244-260 : 251-257

Stenobothrus hyalosuperficies Vorontsovskii

( Figs. 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 )

Stenobothrus eurasius hyalosuperficies Vorontsovskii, 1927: 7 .

Material examined: Russia: Orenburg region, Orenburgsky dist. , 3 km NE of Pervomaisky, 01.VII.2020, 12 ♂ 5 ♀, leg. A. Bykova & N. Ermilov & T . Tarasova & N. Sevastianov ( ZIN, CV), song recording in 11 ♂; Orenburg region, ab. 30 km S of Sorochinsk , 01.VII.2018, 1 ♂, leg. V . Vedenina & N. Sevastianov ( CV), song recording in 1 ♂; Orenburg region, ab. 30 km E of Orenburg, surr. of Studentzy , 14.VII.2012, 1 ♂, leg. V . Vedenina & L. Shestakov ( CV), 01.VII.2020, 2 ♂, leg. T . Tarasova & N. Sevastianov ( CV), song recording in 2 ♂; 7 km E of Orenburg, meadows near Ural river , 13.VII.2012, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, leg. V . Vedenina & L. Shestakov ( CV); Bashkortostan, Zianchurinsky dist., near Yangi-Yul , 02.VII.2020, 1 ♂, leg. T . Tarasova & N. Sevastianov ( CV), song recording in 11 ♂; Saratov region, Ershovsky dist. , Uchebny, 29. VI .2020 21 ♂ 23 ♀, leg. A. Bykova & N. Ermilov & T . Tarasova & N. Sevastianov ( ZIN, CV), song recording in 11 ♂; Saratov, Lysaja Gora, 24. VI .2008, 4 ♂ 1 ♀, leg. V . Vedenina ( CV), song recording in 3 ♂; Saratov region, 10 km E of Ozinki , 26. VI .1996, 2 ♂, leg. D. Tishechkin ( ZMMU), song recording in 1 ♂; surr. of Stalingrad, Naidyonova Balka, 05. VI .1950, 1 ♂, leg. I. Stebaev ( ZMMU); Stalingrad region, Arshan’ -Gudzhur, 15.VII.1950, 1 ♂ 2 ♀, leg. I. Stebaev ( ZMMU); Stalingrad region , Tingut forestry, 05.VII.1950, 2 ♀, leg. I. Stebaev ( ZMMU); Astrakhan' region, N of Arshan’ -Zel’men’, 1 ♂ ( ZMMU); Astrakhan’ region, W of Elista, 17.VII.1950, 1 ♀, leg. I. Stebaev ( ZMMU); western slope of Ergeni, VII.1950, 2 ♀, leg. I. Stebaev ( ZMMU); Checheno-Ingushetia, surr. Groznyi, 20–29. VI .1986, 4 ♂, leg. D. Tishechkin ( ZMMU); Abkhazia, Azhary , 17.VIII.1950, 1 ♂, leg. I. Stebaev ( ZMMU) . Kazakhstan: western Kazakhstan , surr. of Kamenka, 23. VI .2018, 1 ♂, leg. V . Vedenina & N. Sevastianov ( CV), song recording in 1 ♂; Semiretschje, Kyzyltschi 21.VII.1896, 1 ♂ syntype of S. eurasius Zub. ( ZIN); Semiretschje, Kehen , 30. VI .1896, 3 ♂, leg. I. Ingenitzky ( ZIN, ZMMU); Almaty region, ab. 14 km N of Kehen , 09.VII.2016, 8 ♂ 8 ♀, leg. V . Vedenina & T . Pushkar ( ZIN, CV), song recording in 6 ♂♂; Semiretschje, Altyn-emel - Kopal , 14♀ 15.VII.1896, 1 ♂ 2 ♀ syntypes of S. eurasius Zub. ( CV); Almaty region, Altyn Emel pass, 03.VII.2016, 11 ♂ leg. V . Vedenina & T . Pushkar ( CV), song recording in 2 ♂; Tztyrjypinsk region, surr. of lake Zaisan , 23–28.VII.1935, 3 ♂ 5 ♀, leg. Sorokin ( ZMMU) . Kyrgyzstan: Semiretschje, Sasanovka, N of lake Issyk-Kul’ , 19–21. VI .1896, 1 ♂ syntype of S. eurasius Zub. , leg. I. Ingenitzky ( ZMMU); E of lake Issyk-Kul’, ravine Turchen’-Aksu, 25.VII.1953, 2 ♂, leg. D. Panfilov; lake Issyk- Kul’, surr. Pokrovka , 25.VII.1956, 1 ♂, leg. D. Panfilov ( ZMMU); ridge Terskei , Chonkyzylsu 22.VII.1953, 1 ♂, leg. D. Panfilov ( ZMMU) . China: Tien Shan, ridge Ketmen’, S of Ak-su, 25.VII.1948, 2 ♂, 1 ♀, leg. Bei-Bienko ( ZIN); Xinjiang, Barkulskaja vpadina, 27.VII.54, 1 ♂, leg. Tsyplenkov ( ZIN) .

Since S. eurasius hyalosuperficies Vor. has been described as variety without morphological description, we provide a description of the species.

Description ( Figs. 3C–D , 6 ; Table 2 ). Ratio length of eye to length of subocular groove 3.4–4.2 in ♂, 2.8–3.3 in ♀. Fastigium verticis slightly pointed, on apex sometimes with the weak median carina that continues to the light median band. Light stripes from foveolae to vertex, dark stripes behind the eyes. Antennae far beyond lateral lobes of pronotum in ♂, slightly beyond them in ♀, straw-yellow or pale brown, apical segments dark, flattened and enlarged (1.5–2 times as wide as distal segments). Lateral pronotal keels weekly incurved (ratio between maximal and minimal widths between lateral keels 1.5–2), of the same colour as the rest pronotum or lighter than the rest pronotum, outlined on both sides by dark stripes; prozona commonly equal to metazona. Mesosternal interspace different in shape, its ratio width to length 0.5–1, mesosternal lobes slightly wider than mesosternal interspace. Fore and hind wings well developed, reaching (or slightly beyond) the knees of hind legs. Costal area of fore wing commonly with the light stripe, cubital area often light at the base; medial area wide, its width as large as (or slightly less than) total width of precostal, costal, subcostal and radial areas, medial area and distal part of fore wing often with dark spots; stigma in the distal part of the third quarter of fore wing, sometimes weakly expressed. Hind wings either transparent or smoky apically. Distal half of costal area smoky or brownish. Medial area distinctly wider than radial area, ratio maximal width of medial to radial area 1.6– 2 in ♂, 1.3‒1.8 in ♀. Cubital veins from more or less fused. Fore and mid legs brown, taupe or reddish. Hind femur 4 times as long as wide, brown or with olivaceous green upper area, with black longitudinal stripe; hind knees blackish brown, hind tibiae and tarsi orange or yellowish. The number of stridulatory pegs 205–268 in ♂, 157–243 in ♀. Apical part of abdomen in ♂ (less in ♀) light red or orange red from dorsal side; 10th tergite bordered in the same colour. Cerci almost 3 times as long as wide at the base in ♂, 2 times as long as wide at the base in ♀. Lobes of penis in profile thinly conical, their tips slightly incurved in cranial direction, lophi of epiphallus different in shape, but these differences with numerous transitional variants. Ovipositor corresponds to that for the genus. The whole body brownish, taupe, buffy, head and thorax sometimes with a green tint, dark and light patterns typical for the genus; downiness weak.

Distribution. S. hyalosuperficies occurs in south-eastern part of European Russia, very likely in the Caucasus, in Orenburg region, throughout Kazakhstan except of the northern regions, Kyrgyzstan, and north-western China.

Recognition ( Fig. 3D–E ). The hind wings in S. hyalosuperficies are distinguishable from those in S. eurasius , first, by the darker costal area, second, by the wider medial area than in S. eurasius , and third, by almost fused cubital veins in contrast to separate cubital veins in S. eurasius .

Calling song ( Fig. 4D–E ). The calling song of S. hyalosuperficies is generated by the wing clapping. The echemes are irregular, of variable duration in the range of 1 to 5 s. The wing beats are produced at a rate of 60–100/s.

Courtship song ( Fig. 7 , Table 3 ). The courtship song of S. hyalosuperficies usually starts with generating of single or double pulses repeated at the rate of 2–4/s (element 1). These pulses are produced by both up and down movements of the hind legs ( Fig. 7C ), whereas in S. eurasius , the pulses are only produced by the down movements. In S. hyalosuperficies , the element 1 can continue for 1.5 min, sometimes transforming to the element 1' ( Fig. 7F ). The latter element includes series of pulses that are similar to the pulses of the element 1 but repeated at the faster rate of 1.3–2.8/s. The element 1 or 1' can be abruptly followed by the element 3 ( Fig. 7D ). A male abruptly lifts t he hind legs almost vertically and produces a stroke with the hind tibiae. An angle between femur and tibia usually is larger than 100°. At the same time, the male produces a backward movement with antennae. Then the tibiae are pressed to the femora, the femora are slightly lifted and the stroke with the tibiae is repeated ( Fig. 7G ). These movements result to generation of the noisy syllables repeated at the rate of 2–2.5/s. Every noisy syllable can contain

one loud pulse that is usually produced during the stroke with the tibiae. At the end of the element 3, the legs can be moved down in a stepwise manner similarly to that how it is produced by S. eurasius in element 3 ( Fig. 7E ). As a result, the legs generate one syllable of pulses similar to hemi-syllable B' of S. eurasius . The element 3 can be followed by the element 4 that is identical to the calling song and generated by wing beats ( Fig. 7E ). The duration of the element 4 varies from 100 ms to 4 s, the pulses are repeated at the rate of 70–90/s. It should be noted that in S. hyalosuperficies , various elements are commonly produced in a random order, in contrast to S. eurasius . A copulation attempt in S. hyalosuperficies , however, usually occurs after the wing clapping.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Wings of Stenobothrus eurasius Zub. (A—male from Pjatiryzhsk, Pavlodar region; B—female from Kupchegen’, Altai Republic) and Stenobothrus hyalosuperficies Vor. (C—male from Pervomaisky, Orenburg region; D—female from Uchebny, Saratov region). Differences in hind wing venation of heterospecific males indicated with arrows: costal area (C), medial area (M), cubital area (Cu).

FIGURE 4. Oscillograms of the calling songs of Stenobothrus eurasius Zub. (A) from Pavlodar region and Stenobothrus hyalosuperficies (D) from West-Kazakhstan region. Song recordings are presented at three different speeds (faster oscillograms of the indicated parts of the songs shown in B, C, and E). In all oscillograms the two upper lines are recordings of hind leg movements and the lower line is the sound recording. Drawings under oscillograms A and D demonstrate the leg and wing positions during singing of the corresponding species. Different song parameters indicated with brackets and arrows.

FIGURE 6. Stenobothrus hyalosuperficies Vor. Male from Pervomaisky, Orenburg region, A—dorsal view; male from Kehen, Almaty region, B—lateral view,C—dorsal view; female from Uchebny, Saratov region, D—lateral view, E—dorsal view, F— lateral view.

FIGURE 7. Oscillograms of the courtship songs of two males of Stenobothrus hyalosuperficies Vor. from Orenburg region (A), and Almaty region (B). Song recordings are presented at three different speeds (faster oscillograms of the indicated parts of the songs shown in C–G). C—element 1, D—element 3, E—elements 3 and 4, F—elements 3 and 1'. In all oscillograms the two upper lines are recordings of hind leg movements and the lower line is the sound recording. Different song parameters indicated with brackets. Drawings on oscillogram G demonstrate successive positions of tibiae and antennae during element 3.