Aiolopus thalassinus (Fabricius, 1781)

Usmani, Mohammad Kamil, 2008, Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) with some new records from Fezzan, Libya, Zootaxa 1946, pp. 1-41 : 28-29

29. Aiolopus thalassinus (Fabricius, 1781)

Diagnosis: It resembles A. simulatrix but can be recognized by its hind femur narrower, subequal in length to tibia; broad frontal ridge and pronotum slightly constricted medially.

Habitats: It is predominantly graminivorous, to some extent ambivorous. It occurs predominantly in grassy places, both extensive grasslands and smaller patches. It was observed on sandy ground along roadside and on soils densely covered by gramineae. Also found in irrigated land, in crops, abandoned cultivated land and salt marshes. This species has been observed to be attracted to light at night. Davey et al. (1959) reported nocturnal migrations at the end of the rains indicating movement between seasonal habitats. Enormous numbers of A. thalassinus sometimes occur in irrigated grassland. It may become a nuisance to agriculture especially where irrigation occurs on crops such as millet.

Material examined: Al Shati Regon: Ashkidah , 2 ♂, 4 ♀, on alfalfa, 21.xi.1992 ; Brack Agric. Project , 6 ♂ 6 ♀, on alfalfa & vegetable, 18.ii.1993 ; Brack , 2 ♂ 1 ♀, on grass, 15.vi.93; Idri, 2 ♂, 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 13.iv.1993 ; Mahruqah , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 6.viii.1992 ; Mansurah , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 13.iv.93; Qardah, 1 ♀, on barley, 15.xii.1992 ; Ququm , 19 ♂, 15 # female, on alfalfa & mint, 29.x.1992 ; Tamzawah , 2 ♂, 8 ♀, on alfalfa & grape, 4.xi.1992 ; Tarut , 2 ♀, on alfalfa, 6.viii.1992 ; Zahra , 4 ♂, 2 ♀, on grass, 15.xii.1992 ; Zalwaz , 4 ♂, 5 ♀, on alfalfa, 15.v.1993 ; Zuwayyah , 1 ♀, on grass, 7.iv.1993 ; Wanzarik , l ♂, 2 ♀, on barley, 13.iv.1993 . Ghat Region: Al Awaynat , 2 ♂, 2 ♀, on vegetable, 20.vii.1995 ; Al barkat, 2 ♂, 3 ♀, on alfalfa & grass, 19.vii.1995 ; Ghat, 5 ♂, 6 ♀, on barley-alfalfa, 6.xi.1994 . Murzuk region: Agar-Atabah , 1 ♂, on grass, 23.vi.1993 ; Bani-Hilal , 1 3female, on grass, 27.iv.1993 ; Hammera , 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 8.i.1994 ; Makhatin , 4 ♂, 1 ♀, on grass & dry millet, 27.v.1993 ; Marhaba , 23 ♂, 23 ♀, on alfalfa, 11.xii.1993 ; Misquwin , 13 female, on grass, 8.i.1994 ; Murzuq, 30 ♂, 20 # female, on water melon & melon, 5.v.1993 ; Tegrutin , 1 ♂, on alfalfa, 11.xii.1993 ; Traghan , 22 ♂, 9 ♀, on vegetable, 13.iv.1993 ; Tsawah , 5 ♂, 23 female, on grass, 11.xii.1993 ; Um- Al Aranib , 1 ♂, on vegetable, 8.i.1994 ; Zuwaylah , 4 ♂, 1 ♀, on alfalfa & grass, 8.i.1994 . Sebha Region: Al Zighan , 3 ♂, 2 ♀, on millet, 18.v.1994 ; Ghodwa , 2 ♂, 2 ♀, on vegetable, 13.iv.1993 ; Samnu , 4 ♂, 5 ♀, on alfalfa & vegetable, 18.v.1994 ; Sebha, l0 ♂, 13 ♀, on barley & grass, 17.vi.1994 ; Tamanhent , 2 ♂, 2 ♀, on grass, 18.v.1994 . Wadi Haya Region: Al Abyad , 7 ♂, 7 ♀, on garlic and onion, 2.xi.1992 ; Al Hamarah , 1 ♂, 2 ♀, on alfalfa, 2.xi.1992 ; Khalayf , 8 ♂, 2 ♀, on millet and ground nut, 16.xi.1992 ; Ben Hareth , 9 ♂, l 2 ♀, on grass and tomato, 16.xi.1992 ; Bint Bayyah , 8 ♂, 3 ♀, on alfalfa & grass, 16.xi.1992 ; Garagra , 10 ♂, 6 ♀, on millet, 27.xi.1992 ; Sidi Ali , 7 ♂ 10 ♀, on alfalfa grass, 7.xii.1992 ; Tkerkibah , 2 ♂, on ground nut, 7.xii.1992 ; Al Garaya , 48 ♂, 19 ♀, on alfalfa-egg plant, 7.xi.1992 ; Jarmah , 1 ♀, on swede, 15.xii.1992 ; Al Breek , 14 ♂, 7 ♀, on alfalfa, wild grass, 15.xii.1992 ; Arragabah , 15 ♂, 3 ♀, on alfalfa & egg plant, 15.xi.1992 ; Awbari , 9 ♂, 5 ♀, on alfalfa & barley, 30.i.1993 ; Ed Disah , 5 ♂, 4 ♀, on alfalfa, 15.ii.1993 ; Al Hatiyah , 4 ♂, 3 ♀, on carrot & swede, 15.ii.1993 ; Al Gharayfah , 20 ♂, l 4 ♀, on barley & wheat, 15.ii.1993 .

Localities: Cyrenaica: Barca, Bengasi, Derna, Fueihat, Marmarica, Porto Bardia; Tripolitania: Ain Zara, Mizda, Taguira, Tripoli; Fezzan: Agar Atabah, Al Abyad, Al Awayynat, Al Barkat, Al Breek, Al Garaya, Al Ghraeayfah, Al Hamarah, Al Hatiyah, Al Zighan, Arragabah, Ashkidah, Awbari, Bani Hilal, Ben Hareth, Bint Bayyah, Brack, Ed Disah, Gragara, Ghat, Ghodwa, Hammera, Idri, Jarmah, Khalayf, Mahrugah, Makhaten, Mansurah, Misquwin, Murzuk, Qardah, Ququm, Samnu, Sebha, Sidi Ali, Tamanhant, Tamzawah, Tarut, Tegrutin, Tkerkibah, Traghen, Tsawah, Um Al Aranib, Wanzarik, Zahra, Zalwaz, Zuwaylah, Zuwayyah.

Distribution: France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Sardinia, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, USSR, India, Nepal, West Pakistan, Afghantistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Muscat, Bahrain, Socotra, Egypt, Libya, Niger colony, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mouretania, Madeir, Canary Is., Seychelles, Cape Verde Is., Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Togo, Somaliland, Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Zanzibar, Uganda, Tanganyika, Eritrea, Transvaal, Rwanda, Congo, Angola, Natal, Zambia, Madagascar, Reunion, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Comoro Is., S.W. Africa, Botswana, Rhodesia, South Africa, S. Europe, S.W. Asia.

Remarks: This species is distributed throughout Africa. A common and widely distributed species in grasslands of Libya. Earlier recorded from Tripolitania and Cyrenaica by Werner (1908), Ghigi (1913), Giglio-Tos (1923), Salfi (1925), Jannone (1938) and Hollis (1968). This is reported as most widespread species of Aiolopus in Al-Shati, Fezzan by Ajaili et al. (1989).