Prionotropis flexuosa (Serville, 1838)

Prionotropis flexuosa var. pereezi Bolívar, 1921 n . syn.

Prionotropis flexuosa var. sulphurans Bolívar, 1921 n . syn.

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:42789

Material examined. ( flexuosa) Spain, Ucles (5♂, 5♀); Spain, Aranjuez (1♂); Spain (1♂, 6♀); Spain, Madrid (9♂, 2♀) (coll. Azam); Spain, San Ildefonso 1893 (1♂, 1♀); Spain, Sierra de Sagra VII.1993, A. Foucart (1♂, 1♀) (MNHN); Spain, Sierra de Sagra VII.1993, A. Foucart (3♂, 2♀) (CBGP); Spain, Albarracin, Predota, 1700 m 2.VII.1927 (3♂); Spain, Azam (det. as Prionotropis azami) (1♂) (NMW); Spain, Montarco (Madrid) VI.1934, I. Bolivar (1♂); Spain, Colmenar, Viejo, J. Abojo (1♀) (det. V. Llorente, 1993) (AİBÜEM); (sulphurans) Spain, Muela de S Juan (1♀ lectotype, 2♂, 1♀ paralectotypes of Prionotropis flexuosa sulphurans); Spain, Albarracin (1♂ lectotype); (pereezi) Spain, Brunete (1♂ syntype); Spain, Madrid (1♂ syntype); Spain, Madrid, Brunete, 1878 (1♀ neotype of Prionotropis flexuosa perezii) (MNCN).

Remarks. P. flexuosa has a remarkable sexual dimorphism, with males fully winged and females squamipterous. Among the known species of the genus Prionotropis, only P. flexuosa (Spain) and P. maculinervis (Turkey) show this kind of dimorphism; it is noteworthy that these species cover the extremes West and East distribution of the genus.

Bolívar (1921) described two varieties (pereezi and sulphurans), that Uvarov (1943) raised to subspecies level. They differ from the typical flexuosa by colour of hind legs (cf. Presa & Llorente 1983, Llorente del Moral & Presa Asensio 1997); in addition, even if measurements overlap, according to Llorente del Moral & Presa Asensio (1997) sulphurans is of bigger size. However, the distribution map shows that they overlap (see Llorente del Moral & Presa Asensio 1997). In addition, only three localities of sulphurans are known. Specimen analysis did not allow us to find any peculiar character other than the colour of the hind legs. Thus, we consider that the three taxa lie within the chromatic variability range of the species, that consequently has to be considered monotypical.

The male of P. flexuosa is macropterous, wings exceed the abdomen, whereas the female is micropterous, and shows the well-spined abdominal tergites. The epiphallus is similar to that of other species (with the exception of P. hystrix), penis valves are long and narrow (Figs 42, 49, 53), similar to those of P. maculinervis, P. hystrix, P. appula and P. willemsorum n. sp.

Measurements. See Table 1. On average it is the smallest species of the genus Prionotropis and biometric ratios lie within the group maculinervis / azami / hystrix / appula / willemsorum (males) and rhodanica / azami / hystrix (females), while the ratio length of tegmina of males/length of tegmina of females is in common only with P. maculinervis (Fig. 68).

Distribution. Spain (see Llorente del Moral & Presa Asensio 1997).