Agroecotettix chiantiensis, Hill, 2024

Hill, JoVonn G., 2024, Desert diversification: revision of Agroecotettix Bruner, 1908 (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae) with descriptions of sixteen new species from the United States and Mexico, ZooKeys 1218, pp. 177-230 : 177-230

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.3897/zookeys.1218.133703
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1E047454-E700-4FE4-A8FE-5828F5797980
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14199500
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/E59FF2D8-3905-58CA-A85F-136B62ED1B51
treatment provided by	ZooKeys by Pensoft
scientific name	Agroecotettix chiantiensis
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Agroecotettix chiantiensis sp. nov.

Figs 2 N View Figure 2 , 4 J View Figure 4 , 5 J View Figure 5 , 16 A – J View Figure 16 , 25 View Figure 25 , 26 A View Figure 26 , 33 A – C View Figure 33

Diagnosis.

Differentiated from other species in the genus by the combination of male cerci with ventral branch equal or subequal in length to dorsal branch (Figs 2 N View Figure 2 , 15 A, B View Figure 15 ); sheath of aedeagus thin and lightly sclerotized (Fig. 5 J View Figure 5 ); valves of the aedeagus are lobate, and in lateral view, are deeply incised with a narrower and slightly acute distal lobe and a longer basal lobe as in Figs 5 J View Figure 5 , 16 D, F View Figure 16 ); in caudal view the valves of the aedeagus are convex as in Figs 4 J View Figure 4 , 15 G View Figure 15 ).

Male measurements (mm).

(n = 1) Body length 20.5; pronotum length 4.2; tegmen length 3.2; hind femur length 11.2; cerci length 1.1; basal width of cercus 0.5; mid-cercal width 0.4; cerci dorsal fork length 0.3; cerci dorsal fork apex width 0.2; cerci ventral fork length 0.2; cerci ventral fork apex width 1.

Phallus measurements (mm).

(n = 1) Length 1; apex width 0.4; middle width 0.4; basal width 0.6; lateral apex width 0.5; lateral medial width 0.7; lateral basal width 0.7.

Female measurements (mm).

(n = 1) Body length 25.1; pronotum length 6.2; tegmen length 3.7; hind femur length 15.1; dorsal ovipositor valve length 2; ventral ovipositor valve length 2.

Holotype.

• 1 ♂, USA, Texas, Presidio Co., 32 mi SW Marfa , 30.0488, -104.4663, 15 July 2023, J. G. Hill, thorny shrub in Chihuahuan Desert, Chianti Mountains. Deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum. GoogleMaps

Specimens examined.

USA, Texas: • Presidio Co.; Chianti Mountains , 30 September 1928, E. R. Tinkham, (1 ♀) • 2.3 mi S Shafter , 23 July 1956, T. J. Cohn, B. Mathews (1 ♂) • Shafter cemetery , 29.8112, -104.3058, 28 September 2024, J. G. Hill, J. L. Seltzer (1 ♀) GoogleMaps .

Habitat.

Chihuahuan Desert Scrub (Fig. 33 C View Figure 33 ) on leguminous shrubs and Yucca . Cohn (1956) describes the habitat at 2.3 mi S Shafter as “ rocky foothills of the Chiantis on Spanish bayonet [ Yucca sp. ] ”.

Distribution.

Known only from the Chianti Mountains of southwest Texas (Figs 25 View Figure 25 , 26 A View Figure 26 ).

Etymology.

The species name chiantiensis is derived from the Chianti Mountains where the species is apparently endemic to and the suffix “ - ensis ” (Latin) meaning “ originating from ” or “ inhabiting ”. This name reflects the endemic nature of the species and hopefully draws attention to the importance of conservation of the unique biodiversity in this understudied mountainous region.

Suggested common name.

Chianti aridland scrub jumper.