Aiolopus simulatrix (Walker, 1870)

Usmani, Mohammad Kamil, 2008, Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) with some new records from Fezzan, Libya, Zootaxa 1946, pp. 1-41 : 27-28

28. Aiolopus simulatrix (Walker, 1870)

Diagnosis: This species is variable in general colouration, size, relative length of tegmina and width of hind femur. It can easily be recognized by its broad hind femur, considerably longer than hind tibia and by the shape of frontal ridge and pronotum.

Habitats: It is a grassland species, usually found in moist grassland, irrigated land and cultivated fields. Also found in pastures, fellows, desert grass, and thorn bush. This species was observed to be present around groundnut plants. Recorded as a serious pest of grain and sometimes other crops. This species is considered to be the most importat pest species of grain crops in Sudan.

Material examined: Al Shati Region: Ashkidah , 1 ♂, 2 ♀, on dry grass & alfalfa, 4.xi.1992 ; Agar , 1 ♂, on grass, 29.x.1992 ; Brack Agric. Project , 1 ♂, on alfalfa, 1 ♂, on barley, 18.ii.1993 ; Idri , l ♂, on alfalfa, 13.iv.1993 ; Mabruqah , 2 ♂, 4 ♀, on alfalfa, 6.viii.1992 ; Qardah , l ♂, 1 ♀, on barley-millet, 15.xii.1992 ; Qattah , l ♂, 1 ♀, on onion, 5.xii.1992 ; Qirah , 3 ♂, 6 ♀, on alfalfa and grass, 12.xi.1992 ; Ququm , 2 ♂, on alfalfa, 1 ♀, on millet, 29.x.1992 . Ghat Region: Al Awaynat , 3 ♂, 5 ♀, on barley, 20.vii.1995 ; Al Barakat , 1 ♂, 2 ♀, on garlic-onion, 19.vii.1995 ; Ghat, 7 ♂, 10 ♀, on alfalfa grass, 18.vii.1995 . Murzuk region: Agar-Atabah , 1 3male, on alfalfa, 23.iv.1993 ; Al Qatrun , 1 ♂, 1 ♀, on vegetable, 15.v.1993 ; Fungul , 1 ♂, on alfalfa, 27.iv.1993 ; Makhatin , 2 3male, 2 ♀, on dry millet and grass, 27.v.1993 ; Murzuq, 10 ♂, 11 ♀, on grass and tomato, 5.v.1993 & 17.vi.1993 ; Traghan , 2 ♂, 2 ♀, on alfalfa & vegetable, 27.v.1993 . Sebha Region: Al Zighan , 2 ♂, 3 ♀, on vegetable, 18.v.1994 ; Ghodwa , 4 ♂, 5 ♀, on barley and millet, 13.iv.1993 ; Samnu , 5 ♂, 4 ♀, on onion-grass, 18.v.1994 ; Sebha, 4 ♂, 11 ♀,on alfalfa-grass, 18.vi.1995 ; Tamanhant , 2 ♂, 3 ♀, on millet, 1 8.v.1994 . Wadi Al Haya Region: Al Abyad , 5 ♂, 7 ♀, on alfalfa-grass, 2.xi.1992 ; Ben Hareth , 3 ♀, on ground nut, 16.xi.1992 ; Garagra , 10 ♂, 8 ♀, on grass and onion 27.xi.1992 ; Sidi Ali , 15 ♂, 2 ♀, on alfalfa, 7.xii.1992 ; Al Garaya , 10 ♂, 2 ♀, on common potato and grass, 7.xii.1992 ; Awbari , 1 ♀, on wild -grass, 30.i.1993 ; Ed Disah , 1 ♀, on alfalfa, 15.ii.1993 ; Al Gharayfah , 7 ♀, on alfalfa, 15.ii.1993 .

Localities: Cyrenaica: Kufra; Fezzan: Agar Atabah, Agar, Al Abyad, Al Awaynat, Al Barkat, Al Garaya, Al Gharayfah, Al Qatrun, Al Zighan, Ashkidah, Awbari, Ben Hareth, Brak, Ed Disah, Fungul, Gragara, Ghat, Ghodwa, Idri, Mahruqah, Makhaten, Murzuk, Qardah, Qattah, Qirah, Ququm, Samnu, Sebha, Tamanhent.

Distribution: Tanzania, Somalia, French, Somaliland, Ethiopia, Sudan, Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Cyprus, Iraq, Iran, West Pakistan, India, Burma, Lacca dive Is., Maldive Is., Chagos Is., Seychelles.

Remarks: This species is popularly known as Sudan plaque Locust. This species was reported from Southern Libya by Damiano (1969) as A. savignyi (Krauss) and by Popov (1975) from Northern Libya. Ajaili et al. (1989) recorded the species from Fezzan.