Melanoplus discolor (Scudder, 1878)

Figs 2B, 3B, 4B, 5A-J, 14, 15

Pezotettix discolor Scudder, S.H. 1878. Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. 20: 81.

Pezotettix discolor Scudder, S. H. 1897. Proc. U.S. Nation. Mus 20 (1124): 146.

Melanoplus discolor Hebard. 1917. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 69: 268.

Melanoplus discolor Otte, D. 2012. Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 138: 160.

Specimens examined.

Colorado, El Paso Co., 27 August 1938 (1♂) . Kansas, Glasscock Co., Garden City, 23 August 1913, F.W. Milliken (1♂) . Nebraska, Dawes Co, 1.7 mi SSE Whitney, off Hwy 20, 42.7001, -103.2496, 27 August 2022, M.L. Brust (4♂, 2♀) , Sioux Co., ca 2.0 mi SSE Whitney of HWY 20, 42.6667, -103.5152, 26 July 2022, M.L. Brust (2♂) . New Mexico, Curry Co., 1 September 1938 (1♂) . South Dakota, Fall River Co., 16.5 mi N of Ardmore, Indian Canyon Rd of Hwy 71, 43.2350, -103.61975, 8 August 2020, M.L. Brust (2♂) . Texas: Dallas Co., Dallas, C.V. Riley (1♀) . Ellis Co., 3 mi SW Cedar Hill, 32.5514, -96.9911, 24 July 2019, J.G. Hill, M.J. Thorn, B.S. Dunaway (1♀) . Hood Co., Cresson, 11 August 1955, Williams (1♂) . Lampasas Co., 15 mi W Lampasas, 31.0417, -98.4347, 21 July 2019, J.G. Hill, M.J. Thorn, B.S. Dunaway (1♀) . Shackelford Co., Albany, 20 August 1935, I.J. Cantrall (2♂) . Tarrant Co., 19 July 1927 (1♂, 1♀) .

Diagnosis.

Male cerci that are weakly falcate (Figs 2B, 5A, B), and by the shape of the internal male genitalia which has simple and heavily sclerotized dorsal valves of the aedeagus that abruptly narrow into short filamentous tails distally (Fig. 5E). The ventral valves are slightly shorter than the dorsal valves, are slightly arched posteriorly and have their distal ends bent medially (Fig. 5F). Most similar to M. nelsoni, but M. discolor is easily separated from that species by having longer and more falcate male cerci, and much shorter filamentous tails on the dorsal valves (Fig. 5C-G).

Measurements.

Male measurements. (mm): (n = 10) Body length 16.0-22.3 (mean = 18.8); pronotum length 3.7-5.0 (mean = 4.3); hind femur length 5.5-9.0 (mean = 7.0); cerci length 0.9-1.0 (mean = 1.0); basal width of cercus 0.5-0.8 (mean = 0.7); mid-cercal width 0.5-0.8 (mean = 0.7); cerci apex width 0.3-0.4 (mean = 0.3).

Female measurements. (mm): (n = 8) Body length 18.5-25.2 (mean = 21.3); pronotum length 4.3-6.3 (mean = 5.1); tegmen length 6.5-9.9 (mean = 8.0); hind femur length 10.5-15.8 (mean = 12.6) Dorsal ovipositor valve length 1.3-1.6 (mean = 1.5); ventral ovipositor valve length 1.0 (mean = 1.0).

Habitat.

Shortgrass or mixed grass prairie and Ashe juniper savannas (Fig. 15A).

Distribution.

North Texas through the Great Plains to South Dakota west to New Mexico and Colorado (Fig. 14).

Etymology.

Discolor, Latin, of different colors or variegated.

Suggested common name.

Variegated pouncer.

Notes.

Specimens north of Texas tend to have a deeper red hind tibia (Fig. 15D, E), This species has been observed eating Brickellia eupatorioides, false boneset ( Asteraceae) (Fig. 15E).