Melanoplus discolor (Scudder, 1878)

Hill, JoVonn G., 2023, Diversification deep in the heart of Texas: seven new grasshopper species and establishment of the Melanoplus discolor species group (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae), ZooKeys 1165, pp. 101-136 : 101

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1165.104047
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0F260E39-BDA6-4243-85AB-BCBF6D8F8D0D
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3AABEF2C-AA70-540B-A9D2-6F4B922E7BF1
treatment provided by	ZooKeys by Pensoft
scientific name	Melanoplus discolor (Scudder, 1878)
status

Treatment

Melanoplus discolor (Scudder, 1878) View in CoL

Figs 2B View Figure 2 , 3B View Figure 3 , 4B View Figure 4 , 5A-J View Figure 5 , 14 View Figure 14 , 15 View Figure 15

Pezotettix discolor Scudder, S.H. 1878. Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. 20: 81.

Pezotettix discolor Scudder, S. H. 1897. Proc. U.S. Nation. Mus 20 (1124): 146.

Melanoplus discolor Hebard. 1917. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 69: 268.

Melanoplus discolor Otte, D. 2012. Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 138: 160.

Specimens examined.

Colorado, El Paso Co., 27 August 1938 (1♂) . Kansas, Glasscock Co., Garden City , 23 August 1913, F.W. Milliken (1♂) . Nebraska, Dawes Co, 1.7 mi SSE Whitney, off Hwy 20, 42.7001, -103.2496, 27 August 2022, M.L. Brust (4♂, 2♀) GoogleMaps , Sioux Co., ca 2.0 mi SSE Whitney of HWY 20, 42.6667, -103.5152, 26 July 2022, M.L. Brust (2♂) GoogleMaps . New Mexico, Curry Co., 1 September 1938 (1♂) . South Dakota, Fall River Co., 16.5 mi N of Ardmore, Indian Canyon Rd of Hwy 71, 43.2350, -103.61975, 8 August 2020, M.L. Brust (2♂) GoogleMaps . Texas : Dallas Co., Dallas, C.V. Riley (1♀) . Ellis Co., 3 mi SW Cedar Hill , 32.5514, -96.9911, 24 July 2019, J.G. Hill, M.J. Thorn, B.S. Dunaway (1♀) GoogleMaps . Hood Co., Cresson , 11 August 1955, Williams (1♂) . Lampasas Co., 15 mi W Lampasas , 31.0417, -98.4347, 21 July 2019, J.G. Hill, M.J. Thorn, B.S. Dunaway (1♀) GoogleMaps . Shackelford Co., Albany , 20 August 1935, I.J. Cantrall (2♂) . Tarrant Co., 19 July 1927 (1♂, 1♀) .

Diagnosis.

Male cerci that are weakly falcate (Figs 2B View Figure 2 , 5A, B View Figure 5 ), and by the shape of the internal male genitalia which has simple and heavily sclerotized dorsal valves of the aedeagus that abruptly narrow into short filamentous tails distally (Fig. 5E View Figure 5 ). The ventral valves are slightly shorter than the dorsal valves, are slightly arched posteriorly and have their distal ends bent medially (Fig. 5F View Figure 5 ). Most similar to M. nelsoni , but M. discolor is easily separated from that species by having longer and more falcate male cerci, and much shorter filamentous tails on the dorsal valves (Fig. 5C-G View Figure 5 ).

Measurements.

Male measurements. (mm): (n = 10) Body length 16.0-22.3 (mean = 18.8); pronotum length 3.7-5.0 (mean = 4.3); hind femur length 5.5-9.0 (mean = 7.0); cerci length 0.9-1.0 (mean = 1.0); basal width of cercus 0.5-0.8 (mean = 0.7); mid-cercal width 0.5-0.8 (mean = 0.7); cerci apex width 0.3-0.4 (mean = 0.3).

Female measurements. (mm): (n = 8) Body length 18.5-25.2 (mean = 21.3); pronotum length 4.3-6.3 (mean = 5.1); tegmen length 6.5-9.9 (mean = 8.0); hind femur length 10.5-15.8 (mean = 12.6) Dorsal ovipositor valve length 1.3-1.6 (mean = 1.5); ventral ovipositor valve length 1.0 (mean = 1.0).

Habitat.

Shortgrass or mixed grass prairie and Ashe juniper savannas (Fig. 15A View Figure 15 ).

Distribution.

North Texas through the Great Plains to South Dakota west to New Mexico and Colorado (Fig. 14 View Figure 14 ).

Etymology.

Discolor, Latin, of different colors or variegated.

Suggested common name.

Variegated pouncer.

Notes.

Specimens north of Texas tend to have a deeper red hind tibia (Fig. 15D, E View Figure 15 ), This species has been observed eating Brickellia eupatorioides , false boneset ( Asteraceae ) (Fig. 15E View Figure 15 ).