Hebridea rufotibialis Willemse, 1926

Hugel, Sylvain, 2012, Review of Hebridea Willemse, 1926, an endemic genus of grasshoppers from Vanuatu (Orthoptera, Caelifera) with the description of a new species from Malekula, Zoosystema 34 (2), pp. 267-277 : 270-272

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5252/z2012n2a5
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4547554
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F5879B-FF91-C001-FF3E-74512891E46A
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Hebridea rufotibialis Willemse, 1926
status

Treatment

( Figs 1 View FIG A-F; 2; 3A-F; 4; Table 1)

TYPE MATERIAL. —[ Vanuatu], N[ew] Hebrides, Espir[itu] Santo Isl., Hog Harbour, clearings, 4.I.1923, John R.

Baker ( OUMNH type ORTH. 907).

TYPE LOCALITY. — Vanuatu, Sanma Province, Espiritu Santo.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — SANTO 2006, Vanuatu, Sanma Province, Espiritu Santo Isl., Funafus , 15°32’46.4”S, 167°00’46”E, jour, 30.X.2006, S. Hugel, 2 ♂♂ ( MNHN SH-137, SH-138), 1 ♀ ( MNHN SH-140) GoogleMaps ; same data, but T. Robillard, 1 ♀ ( MNHN SH-139) GoogleMaps ; same data, but L. Desutter-Grandcolas, 1 juv. ( MNHN SH-141).— Big Bay, Matantas, Vatthé Conservation Area , 15°20’S, 166°95’E, 25.X.2006, 2 ♂♂ ( MNHN SH-142, SH-143), 27.X.2006, S. Hugel, 2 ♀♀ ( MNHN SH-144, SH-145). — Peavot , Mt Nouresororo , 14°59’26”S, 166°45’14”E, 636 m alt., forêt de brume, nuit, 22.X.2006, S. Hugel, 3 ♀♀ ( MNHN SH-146, SH-147, SH-148), 2 juv. ( MNHN SH-149, SH-150) GoogleMaps ; same data, but L. Desutter-Grandcolas, 2 juv. ( MNHN SH-151, SH-152). — Butmas, forêt sur plateau de Tankara , 15°21’56”S, 166°59’04”E, 600 m alt., 13.X.2006, L. Desutter-Grandcolas, 1 juv. ( MNHN SH-153) GoogleMaps ; same data, but 14.X.2006, 1 juv. ( MNHN SH-154) GoogleMaps .

HABITAT AND LIFE HISTORY TRAITS. — Hebridea rufotibialis was found in both preserved and moderately degraded forested areas. This species occurs in undergrowth vegetation (20 cm- 1 m), often in groups of few specimens. We observed this species on monocots (tall herbaceous plants, Dracaena sp., and also on small palm trees, Pandanus sp., etc.). Juveniles were seldom observed on ferns.

DIAGNOSIS (EMENDED). — Hind femur upper carina with a weak concavity before the knee ( Fig. 1D; N.B View FIG .: this non sexual character seems valid on the examined specimens, but should be used with caution).

Male. Penultimate abdominal tergite (tergite 10) with well-distinct rounded furculae ( Fig. 1F View FIG ). Supra-anal plate with lateral bulges ( Fig. 1F View FIG , arrow). Supra-anal plate with long posterior median projection ( Fig. 1F View FIG ).

Epiphallus: interspace between lophi at least twice as wide as lophi width ( Fig. 3A View FIG ). Dorsal valves exceeding ventral valves ( Fig. 3D View FIG ).

In mature males, hind femora blue/green (inner and outer fields).

REDESCRIPTION

In addition to generic characters: hind femur upper carina with a weak concavity before the knee ( Fig.1D View FIG ).

Male

Penultimate abdominal tergite (tergite 10) with well-distinct rounded furculae ( Fig. 1F View FIG ). Supra-anal plate with lateral bulges ( Fig. 1F View FIG , arrow), with long posterior median projection ( Fig. 1F View FIG ).

Epiphallus ( Fig. 3A, B View FIG ): interspace between lophi at least twice as wide as lophi width. Dorsal valves exceeding ventral valves ( Fig. 3D View FIG ).

Females

It is not clear whether the females display useful characters at the species level. Terminalia are illustrated Figure 3E, F View FIG .

General colouration of adults green (more or less yellowish; badly preserved specimens are darker such as the holotype; Fig. 4 View FIG ); hind tibia red or purple, tibial spines with black apex; hind knees dorsally yellowish. In mature males, fore and mid femora green with sometimes the middle reddish; hind femur blue/green (inner and outer fields); hind tibia proximally darker. In females, middle of fore and mid femora sometimes reddish; inner field of hind femur sometimes purple. Non adult specimens entirely lack green, blue and red colour; these are brown on the sides with a cream band on the dorsum (from fastigium to Prn and often to abdomen apex); Prn lateral carinae light cream; outer median field of FIII with some dark pattern.

REMARK

Two male specimens from Espiritu Santo identified as Hebridea sp. by David Hollis are in NHM collections. The supra-anal plate of these specimens is very similar to that of Hebridea rufotibialis illustrated in the present article (Judith Marshall, in litt.).

For the distinctive characters between Hebridea rufotibialis and H. amedegnatoae n. sp. see Table 3.