Thalpomena algeriana (Lucas, 1849) —valid species

Oedipoda algeriana Lucas, 1849: 34 [original combination]

Thalpomena algeriana (Lucas, 1849): Krauss, 1892: 148 [new combination]

Thalpomena algeriana algeriana: Dirsh, 1949: 368 [downgraded to subspecies level]

Thalmopena algeriana: Bounechada et al., 2006: 245 [misspelling]

Thalpomena algeriana intermedia Dirsh, 1949 —new junior subjective synonym

Thalpomena algeriana intermedia Dirsh, 1949: 368 [original combination]

Thalpomena algeriana montana Dirsh, 1949 —new junior subjective synonym

Thalpomena algeriana montana Dirsh, 1949: 368 [original combination]

Thalpomena coeruleipennis Finot, 1895 —new junior subjective synonym

Thalpomena algeriana variety coeruleipennis Finot, 1895: 451 [original combination]

Thalpomena coeruleipennis: Dirsh, 1949: 373 [elevation to species level]

Thalpomena deserta Dirsh, 1949 —new junior subjective synonym

Thalpomena deserta Dirsh, 1949: 374 [original combination]

Remarks. Thalpomena algeriana intermedia Dirsh, 1949, T. algeriana montana Dirsh, 1949, T. coeruleipennis Finot, 1895 and T. deserta Dirsh, 1949 are colour morphs of Thalpomena algeriana (Lucas, 1849) and are therefore synonymized under the latter species.

Diagnosis (modified after Dirsh, 1949): Frontal ridge feebly constricted below ocellus, weakly narrowed towards the apex. Fastigium broad, with strongly curved carinae. Pronotum flat from above, long; lateral margins straight, divergent backwards. Median carina in profile almost straight. Metazona acute angulate, twice as long as prozona. Lower margin of lateral lobe sinuate. Tegmina short, broad; membrane sclerotized, non-transparent. Wing short, broad, external margin very convex. Hind femur short, broad. Hind knee short, broad, with short upper lobe. Coloration dirty yellow to brownish; tegmina with or without scattered small brown spots; hind wing at the base rose-colored up to pink, or blue with a dark more or less clear narrow fascia and a narrow basal ray; tips of the hindwing sometimes darkened (Figure 2 A). Inner side of the hind femur black, with pale fascia in front of knee; above and outside with two indistinct dark fasciae. Hind tibia dirty yellow.

Type locality: Algeria, Kouba .

Type depository: T. algeriana: Lectotype, female, MNHN; Paralectotype, male, MNHN; Paralectotype: female, BMNH; T. algeriana intermedia: Holotype, male, BMNH; Paratype, female, BMNH; T. algeriana montana: Holotype, male, BMNH; Paratype, 2 females, BMNH; T. coeruleipennis: Lectotype, female, MNHN; Paralectotype, male, MNHN; Paralectotype, female, BMNH; T. deserta (specimens with hind wing band) : Holotype, male, BMNH; Paratypes, 18 females, 7 males, MNHN .

Distribution: Aurés Mountains to Tell Atlas (Algeria, Tunisia).