Acrotylus patruelis (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1838)

Usmani, Mohammad Kamil, 2008, Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) with some new records from Fezzan, Libya, Zootaxa 1946, pp. 1-41 : 25-26

26. Acrotylus patruelis (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1838)

Diagnosis: It can be separated from A. insubricus by the rose coloured hind wing with broader dark fascia extending over more than rear half of the wing, relatively long antennae and slender build.

Habitats: This species occurs associated with farms and larger clearings. This species is mixed feeder, predominantly graminivorous. It lives in areas with plenty of bare soil or even bare earth. Also occurs in short grass, especially with bare patches. Sand, cultivated and non-cultivated lands and by tracks are favoured habitats. The population was observed to be dense, epecially on alfalfa. Joyce (1952) reported this species was most common species of Acrotylus in Sudan, hoppers being common at the onset of the rains.

Material examined: Al Shati Region: Ashkidah , 1 ♂, 5 ♀, on alfalfa, 21.xi.1992 ; Agar , 3 ♀, on grass, 29.x.1992 ; Brack , 1 ♀, on grass, 15.vii.1993 ; Brack Agric. Project , 3 ♀, on alfalfa, 18.iii.1993 ; 9 ♂, 8 ♀, on alfalfa & cotton, 15.vi.1993; 5 ♂, 6 ♀, on vegetable, 3.vii.1993; Brack Fish Farm , 3 ♂, 1 ♀, on grass, 2.xi.1992 ; Idri , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 13.iv.1993 ; Mahruqah , 1 ♂, on alfalfa, 7.iv.1993 ; Mansurah , 4 ♂, 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 13.iv.1993 , Qardah , 7 ♂, 15 ♀, on alfalfa, barley & millet, 15.xii.1992 ; Qattah , 2 ♂, 11 ♀, on alfalfa & onion, 15.xii.1992 ; Ququm , 13 ♂, 3 ♀, on alfalfa, millet & mint, 7.iv.1993 ; Tamzawah , 5 ♂, 9 ♀, on vine, 4.xi.1992 ; Tarut , 5 ♀, on alfalfa, 6.vii.1993 ; Tmassan , l ♂, 2 ♀, on grape, 13.iv.1993 ; Wanzarik , 2 ♂, 3 ♀, on barley-alfalfa, 13.iv.1993 ; Zahra , 2 ♂, 2 ♀, on dry grass & onion, 15.xii.1992 ; Zalwaz , l ♂, on alfalfa, 13.iv.1993 . Ghat Region: Al Awaynat , 7 ♂, 10 ♀, on grass- alfalfa, 20.vii.1995 ; Al Barkat , 5 ♂, 8 ♀, on barleymillet, 19.vii.1995 ; Ghat, 11 ♂, 15 ♀, on alfalfa-grass, 18.v.1995 . Murzuk region: Agar-Atabah , 2 ♂, 1 ♀, on alfalfa-grass, 23.vi.1993 ; Al Qatrun , 10 ♂, 6 ♀, on egg plant & pepper, 15.v.1993 ; Al Sbitat , 1 ♂, 6 ♀, on beans, 23.vi.1993 ; Bani-Hilal , 1 ♂, 2 ♀, on grass, 27.vi.1993 ; Fungul , 2 ♂, 2 ♀, on alfalfa & grass, 27.vi.1993 ; Hemmera , 1 ♂, on lettuce, 8.i.1994 ; Majdul , 1 ♂, on vegetable, 15.v.1993 ; Marhaba , 2 ♂, on alfalfa, 11.xii.1993 ; Murzuq, 15 ♂, 3 ♀, on melon-parsly, 5.v.1993 ; Traghan , 21 ♂, 6 ♀, on lettuce-parsly, 13iv.1993 ; Zizaw , 2 ♂, 1 ♀, on grass, 13.iv.1993 ; Zuwaylah , 5 ♂, 2 ♀, on alfalfa & parsly, 8.i.1994 . Sebha Region: Al Zighan , 5 ♂, 5 ♀, on grass & barley, 18.v.1994 ; Ghodwa , 2 ♂, 1 ♀, on vine & grass, 13.iv.1993 ; Samnu , 20 ♂, 22 ♀, on barley & wheat, 18.v.1994 ; Sebha, 18 ♂, 25 ♀, on alfalfa & grass, 18.vi.1995 ; Tamanhant , 2 ♂, 2 ♀, on mint, 18.v.1994 . Wadi Haya Region: Al Ghrayfah , 4 ♂, 2 ♀, on barley, 15.ii.1993 ; Awbari , 6 ♂, 9 ♀, on alfalfa-grass, 30.i.1993 ; Bint Bayyah , 1 ♂, on pepper-onion, 16.ix.1992 ; Sidi Ali , 6 ♂, 4 ♀, on grass, 7.xii.1992 .

Localities: Cyrenaica: Augila, Barca, Bengasi, Cufra, Derna, Fueihat, Gialo, Giarabub, Haret El Hafun, Marmarica, Oasi di El Talaab , Rabiana; Fezzan: Agar Atabah, Al Awaynat, Al Barkat, Al Ghrayah, Al Qatrun, Al Sbitat, Al Zighan, Awbari, Bani Hilal, Bint Bayyah, Fungal, Ghat, Ghodwa, Hammera Idri, Mahruqah, Majduh, Mansurah, Marhaba, Murzuq, Qardah, Qattah, Ququm, Samnu, Sebha, Sidi Ali, Tamanhent, Tamzawah, Tarut, Traghan, Tmassan, Wanzarik, Zahra, Zalwaz, Zizaw, Zuwaylah .

Distribution: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, San Thome, N. Nigeria, Gold Coast, Niger Colony, Mouretania, Cameroons, Tanganyika, Zanzibar, Mozambique, Somaliland, Sudan, Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Angola, N. Rhodesia, S. Rhodesia, Congo, Transvaal, Cape Verde Is., Madagascar, Canary Is.; S. Europe, S.W.Asia.

Remarks: The range of this species cover the whole of the African continent, Mediterranean region, S. Europe, SW. Asia and Madagascar. Recorded earlier from Cyrerniaca by Zanon (1924) and Salfi (1925). The species has been reported from Fezzan by Salfi (1935a) and Ajaili et al. (1989). This species has not been recorded from Tripolitania so far in the literature.