Gymnoscirtetes rex, Hill, 2022

Hill, JoVonn G., 2022, Revision of Gymnoscirtetes (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae): a genus endemic to the grasslands of the southeastern North American Coastal Plain, ZooKeys 1134, pp. 101-127 : 101

Gymnoscirtetes rex sp. nov.

Figs 3C, D , 4A , 5B , 7A-J , 12 , 14H

Diagnosis.

Differs from G. morsei in having more narrow male cerci and curving or rotating medially apically, with the apex curving back laterally. In some individuals the apex of the cerci may be less acute or sometimes rounded (Fig. 7A, B ). The dorsal valves of the male genitalia are truncated and decurved distally. The ventral valves are decurved and taper to a point distally (Fig. 7G ). The tubercle of the subgenital plate is often narrower in most individuals of G. rex than in specimens of G. morsei .

Male measurements.

(mm): (n = 14) Body length 13.3-16.5 (mean = 14.7); pronotum length 2.3-2.5 (mean = 2.3); hind femur length 6.9-8.3 (mean = 7.5); cerci length 1.0-1.2 (mean = 1.1); basal width of cercus 0.4-0.5 (mean = 0.4); mid-cercal width 0.2 (mean = 0.2); cerci apex width 0.3 (mean = 0.3). tubercule length 0.1-0.3 (mean = 0.2); tubercule width 0.1-0.3 (mean = 0.2).

Female measurements.

(mm): (n = 14) Body length 18.3-22.2 (mean = 20.7); pronotum length 2.4-3.4 (mean = 2.9); hind femur length 8.5-10.0 (mean = 9.5).

Type information.

1♂, FLA., Bay Co., Ecofina Creek WMA, 30°25'41"N, - 85°35'32"W, 27 October 2015, J.G. Hill, sandhill in short grasses and Licania michauxii Prance ( Chrysobalanaceae ). Deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum.

Paratypes.

Ecofina Creek WMA, 30°25'41"N, - 85°35'32"W, 27 October 2015, J.G. Hill, sandhill (4♂, 5♀).

Other specimens examined.

Florida: Bay Co. 10 mi W Youngstown , 30°25'40"N, - 85°35'25"W, 13 Sept. 2013, J.G. Hill (4♂, 7♀) ; Calhoun , 3.5 mi N Blountstown, 22 August 1951, I.J. Cantrall (5♂, 3♀) ; Blountstown , 22 August 1951. I.J. Cantrall (13♂, 10♀) ; 3.5 mi S Altha , 22 August 1951, I.J. Cantrall (1♂) . Franklin Co., 3.1 mi S Sumatra on Fla. 65, 23 August 1951, I. J. Cantrall (1♂) ; 8.3 mi S Sumatra on Fla 65, 23 August 1951, I.J. Cantrall (11♂, 4♀) . Gulf Co., 2.2 mi S Port St. Joe , 16 October 1948, I.J. Cantrall (3♂) ; 6.8 mi S Wewahitchka , 16 September 1940, I.J. Cantrall (1♂) . Jackson , 0.9 mi E Grand Ridge, 14 October 1948, I.J. Cantrall (1♂) . Liberty Co., 3 mi S Wilma on Fla 65, 23 August 1951, I.J. Cantrall (13♂, 5♀) ; 3.2 mi N Wilma on Fla 65, 23 August 1951, I.J. Cantrall (12♂, 8♀) ; 4.3 mi N Sumatra on Fla 12, 23 August 1951, I.J. Cantrall (8♂, 7♀) 7.9 mi N Sumatra on FLA 12, 23 August 1951, I.J. Cantrall (4♂, 3♀) ; 14.1 mi W Sumatra, 23 Sumatra 1941, I.J. Cantrall (9♂, 14♀) .

Distribution.

Occurs in a narrow portion of the eastern Florida panhandle. At present, it is known only from Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, and Liberty counties (Fig. 12 ).

Etymology.

From the Latin Gymnoscirtetes rex for monarch, in reference to the crown-like shape of the subgenital plate. The inspiration for this name came one day while at a local coffee shop (929) that had a crown as part of their logo. The shop was selling crown-shaped cookies by the cash register. I was working on this revision at the time and the shape of the cookies instantly remined me of the shape of the subgenital plate of this species.

Habitat.

This species can be found in much drier conditions that other members of the genus. At the type locality this species inhabited fine grasses in a sandy upland with Chrysoma pauciflosculosa (Michx.) Greene (Fig. 13B ). I have also collected this species from a large expanse of Quercus minima (Sarg.) Small in a sandhill. Specimen notes from other specimens indicate it inhabits bogs and savannahs as well.

Gymnoscirtetes pusillus group

Diagnosis. Typical of the genus, but with the male cerci triangular and subgenital plate with the lateral lobes not expanded dorsally and with the tubercule approximately as long as wide (Figs 3C , 4B ). Ventral valves of the aedeagus opaque and cylindrical in shape (Figs 8 - 11A-G ).

Figures

Figure 3. Dorsal and lateral SEM of Gymnoscirtetes male terminalia A G. morsei (dorsal) B G. morsei (lateral) C G. rex (dorsal) D G. rex (lateral) E G. pusillus (dorsal) F G. pusillus (lateral). Note: G. pageae, G. wadeorum, and G. georgiaensis are similar to G. pusillus.

Figure 4. Partial silhouettes of Gymnoscirtetes male terminalia: A subgenital plate in caudal view B cerci in lateral view. Note: G. pageae, G. wadeorum, and G. georgiaensis are similar to G. pusillus. Within species groups there may be overlap in the shape of the cerci, and the shape is highly dependent on angle of view. Those pictured here are drawn from single individuals.

Figure 5. Caudal view of Gymnoscirtetes male aedeagi A G. morsei B G. rex C G. pusillus D G. pageae E G. wadeorum F G. georgiaensis. Scale bars 0.2 mm.

Figure 7. Gymnoscirtetes rex: A dorsal view of male terminalia B lateral view of male terminalia C dorsal view of phallic complex D lateral view of phallic complex E dorsal view of aedeagus F lateral view of aedeagus G caudal view of the aedeagus H dorsal view of epiphallus I caudal view of epiphallus J habitus.

Figure 8. Gymnoscirtetes pusillus: (type) A dorsal view of male terminalia B lateral view of male terminalia C dorsal view of phallic complex D lateral view of phallic complex E dorsal view of aedeagus F lateral view of aedeagus G caudal view of the aedeagus H dorsal view of epiphallus I caudal view of epiphallus J habitus.

Figure 11. Gymnoscirtetes georgiaensis: A dorsal view of male terminalia B lateral view of male terminalia C dorsal view of phallic complex D lateral view of phallic complex E dorsal view of aedeagus F lateral view of aedeagus G caudal view of the aedeagus H dorsal view of epiphallus I caudal view of epiphallus J habitus.

Figure 12. Distribution of Gymnoscirtetes species. Green dots = G. morsei, yellow dots = G. rex, dark blue dots = G. pageae, orange dots = G. wadeorum, Light blue dots = G. georgiaensis, red dots = G. pusillus.

Figure 13. Plant communities at the collection localities of Gymnoscirtetes A pitcher plant bog (Splinter Hill Bog, Baldwin Co., Alabama) B Sandhill (Ecofina Creek Wildlife Management Area, Bay County, Florida) C long leaf pine savanna (Wade Tract, Thomas County, Georgia) D Mesic sandhill (6 mi S Old Town, Dixie County, Florida) E Cutthroat grass seep (Royce, Highlands County, Florida) F Florida dry prairie (Avon Park Air Force Range, Highlands County, Florida).

Figure 14. A Seasonal wetland (Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, Polk County, Florida) B seasonal wetland (Disney Wilderness Preserve, Osceola County, Florida) C Gymnoscirtetes morsei, male D Gymnoscirtetes pageae, male E Gymnoscirtetes rex, pair in copula F Gymnoscirtetes pusillus, female G Gymnoscirtetes pageae, male H Gymnoscirtetes pusillus, male.