Gymnoscirtetes wadeorum, Hill, 2022

Hill, JoVonn G., 2022, Revision of Gymnoscirtetes (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae): a genus endemic to the grasslands of the southeastern North American Coastal Plain, ZooKeys 1134, pp. 101-127 : 101

Gymnoscirtetes wadeorum sp. nov.

Figs 5E , 10A-J , 12

Diagnosis.

Differing from other species in the group based on the shape of the internal male genitalia (Fig. 10C-I ). In dorsal view, the dorsal valves form two translucent lobes that are equal to or slightly longer than the ventral valves and are truncated apically. The ventral valves are opaque short cylindrical protrusions that are rounded at their apices. In lateral view, the dorsal valves are broader than the ventral valves and taper to their apices. In caudal view, the dorsal valves extend above the ventral valves (Fig. 10G ). This species is very similar to G. pusillus but is distinguished from that species by the length and angle of the dorsal valves which are longer and are angled more dorsally in G. wadeorum , and their separate geographic distributions (Fig. 12 ).

Male measurements.

(mm): (n = 14) Body length 13.0-15.1 (mean = 14.1); pronotum length 1.8-2.3 (mean = 2.2); hind femur length 6.7-7.8 (mean = 7.0); cerci length 0.7-1.0 (mean = 0.9); basal width of cercus 0.3-0.4 (mean = 0.3); mid-cercal width 0.1-0.2 (mean =.02); cerci apex width 0.1 (mean = 0.1). tubercule length 0.1-0.2 (mean =.01); tubercule width 0.1-0.2 (mean = 0.1).

Female measurements.

(mm): (n = 9) Body length 18.5-21.8 (mean = 20.0); pronotum length 2.5-3.0 (mean = 2.8); hind femur length 8.6-9.6 (mean = 9.1).

Holotype.

GA., Thomas Co., Wade Tract, 30°45'35"N, - 84°00'01"W, 4 August 2011, J.G. Hill; Old growth longleaf pine savanna (1♂). Deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum.

Paratypes.

Same data as type (6♀).

Other specimens examined.

Georgia: Berrien Co., 1.1 mi S Appling , 11 Aug 1947, T.H. Hubbell (4♂, 2♀) . Colquitt Co., Doerun Nat. Area ., 31°17'17"N, - 83°53'03"W, 14 October 2010, J.G. Hill, longleaf pine savannah (2♂) . Decatur Co., Silver Lake WMA, 30°49'44"N, - 84°45'14"W, 27 August 2010, J.G. Hill (1♂) . Early Co., Williams Bluff NA, 31°11'58"N, - 85°04'43"W, 18 June 2011, J.G. Hill (2♂) . Thomas Co., 4.3 mi N Metcalf , 30.7634, -83.9915, 8 September 2022, J.G. Hill, J.R. Fisher ; Greenwood Plantation , 30°50'10"N, - 84°00'40"W, 4 August 2011, J.G. Hill (1♂) ; Same data as above, except 26 August 2010 (2♂, 2♀) ; River Creek WMA, 30°51'40"N, - 84°04'04"W, 27 August 2010, J.G. Hill, longleaf pine savannah (3♂, 3♀) ; Same data as above, except 30°51'35"N, - 84°04'37"W, 4 August 2011 (1♂, 5♀) ; Florida : Baker Co., John Bethea State For. 30.4834, -82.3002, 2 June 2021, J.G. Hill (5♂, 5♀) , Gasden Co., 2 mi N Ochlookonee , 14 October 1948, I.J. Cantrall (1♂) . Liberty Co., 5.3 mi S Telogia on Fla 65, 23 August 1951, I.J. Cantrall (7♂, 13♀) .

Distribution.

Found in southern Georgia and north Florida, from Berrien County, GA west to the Chattahoochee River, and south to Liberty and Baker Counties, FL (Figs 12 , 13C ).

Habitat.

Flatwoods and pitcher plant bogs. I observed this species feeding on Seymeria cassioides (J.F.Gmelin) S.F.Blake at Doerun pitcher plant bog.

Etymology.

Named in honor of the Wade Family who, in 1979, placed an 85-ha tract of old growth longleaf pine savanna into a perpetual conservation easement. Today, the "Wade Tract", is one of the most important remaining examples of the long leaf pine ecosystem in existence and is also the type locality of this species.

Figures

Figure 5. Caudal view of Gymnoscirtetes male aedeagi A G. morsei B G. rex C G. pusillus D G. pageae E G. wadeorum F G. georgiaensis. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

Figure 10. Gymnoscirtetes wadeorum: 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 12. Distribution of Gymnoscirtetes species. Green dots = G. morsei, yellow dots = G. rex, dark blue dots = G. pageae, orange dots = G. wadeorum, Light blue dots = G. georgiaensis, red dots = G. pusillus.

Figure 13. Plant communities at the collection localities of Gymnoscirtetes A pitcher plant bog (Splinter Hill Bog, Baldwin Co., Alabama) B Sandhill (Ecofina Creek Wildlife Management Area, Bay County, Florida) C long leaf pine savanna (Wade Tract, Thomas County, Georgia) D Mesic sandhill (6 mi S Old Town, Dixie County, Florida) E Cutthroat grass seep (Royce, Highlands County, Florida) F Florida dry prairie (Avon Park Air Force Range, Highlands County, Florida).