Melanoplus amphora Woller, 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Woller, Derek A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Orthoptera
Acrididae
Melanoplus
Melanoplus amphora

description: Melanoplus amphora sp. nov. Woller, Kelly, and Orfinger
(Figs. 1, 2A, 3, 5A & B, 6–8)
General Description
A full list of unique anatomical components that separate this species from the other two new ones described here are found in Table 3. However, the primary character that separates this species from all other congeneric species is the shape of the ventral valves of aedeagus (see Fig. 15 for a comparison of all three new species), which, in dorsal view, resemble the shape of a classic vase (the origin of its name, see Etymology section), a sideways fish (as drawn by a child), or an open-top hourglass, while, in lateral view, they resemble the curving-upwards tips of classic elf shoes. Described from 53 specimens total (adult male holotype, adult female allotype, and 51 paratypes): 25 males, 12 females, and 16 nymphs.
Detailed Description
Note that the descriptions for each body region below are for adults of both sexes unless otherwise noted.
General Body Coloration (Figs. 5A & B, 6): Males light brown-yellowish (medium to light brown in females), often with some lateral black striping and scattered splashes of black (less-so in females), although darker or mottled variations exist; in males, integument of pronotum’s dorsum, tegmina, and anterior abdominal areas tend to be slightly darker.
Head, Pronotum, and Thorax (Figs. 5A & B, 6): Antennae filiform and composed of 22 segments. Fastigium not overly pronounced, eyes very prominent and of variable coloration: yellow, red, brown, or a combination of these. Median carina obvious and raised slightly, intersected by three obvious sulci, one within the prozona’s posterior portion and the other two continuing on from the lateral sulci that delimit the meso/metazona. Prosternal process subconical and prominent, often extending ventrally enough to be in line with the sternum. An often-faint, thin black stripe emerges from just behind the midpoint of the eye and crosses onto the lateral sides of the pronotum where it darkens greatly and initially doubles in width, almost reaching the anteroventral edge, and then immediately narrows again diagonally, ending at approximately the same width it began and usually at the posterior edge of the mesozona, although with occasional bleed-over into dorsolateral region of the metazona. When viewed in isolation, the pronotal stripe roughly resembles a right-angled trapezoid (the right angle being the anterodorsal corner of the prozona). This black stripe (now more abstract and less stripe-like) emerges again at its full width on the pleurites just beyond the pronotum, passes behind the tegmen, and extends onto the abdomen. In females, the overall striping is less common and less obvious in general, particularly behind the eye (when present, most obvious on the pronotum).
Abdomen, Tegmina, Legs (Figs. 5A & B, 6): Both sides of abdomen’s anterior regions with the black stripe-like pattern that began on the thorax and head, typically ending at the posterior edge of tergite 2, with occasional black splashes beyond, mostly on tergites 3 and 4, and mostly on the anterior or posterior edges. In females, this pattern is less common and less obvious overall. Tegmina appear narrow, being moderately compressed dorsoventrally and reaching at least the end of tergite 1 or the first quarter of tergite 2 (common in most males and females); covered in dense, raised reticulations. Fore and midfemora (most common) with occasional black splotches, mainly on dorsal side; hind femora quite variable, with assorted black splotches on dorsal side (almost always fewer in size and number compared to midfemora) and/or sometimes along the medial area (if present, most common in males and usually more homogenous than splotchy). In females, outer ventral edge of hind femora often reddish, sometimes bleeding upwards onto the medial area. Hind tibiae ventral coloration most often yellowish in males, matching rest of leg, but also occasionally muted purple, which can be faint (most common) or strong (quite rare); in females, yellowish-brown, sometimes with a hint of muted purple.
Terminalia:
Male, external (Fig. 7A & B): Furculae short and rounded strongly at apices. Supra-anal plate triangular to subtriangular with rounded apex and shallow, median groove that extends apically for approximately 1/3 to 1/2 the total length. Cerci shape approximately twice as wide at the base and tapering gently upwards towards a rounded apex, often nearly reaching the apex of the supra-anal plate or, more rarely, reaching it or extending slightly beyond. Subgenital plate semi-conical with a rounded apex in posterior view; pallium embedded slightly beneath inner edge.
Male, internal phallic complex (Fig. 7C–K): Overall, typical for a melanopline, particularly Puer Group sensu lato species, with the unique characters described below for the epiphallus, ectophallus, and endophallus, many of which are shared by M. spiracor sp. nov. and M. ferrarius sp. nov., with the sheath of aedeagus and ventral valves of aedeagus being the two most unique structures for each of the three species (Fig. 15, Table 3):
Epiphallus (Fig. 7C, D, J, K): Ancorae subtriangular, relatively elongate, bent slightly ventrally, and curving slightly inwards; lophi prominent, subrectangular, fairly narrow (laterally compressed), and covered in raised microstructures; anterior projections generally rounded with no defined shape; posterior projections, in dorsal view, either obscured by the lophi or slightly extending beyond posterior edges of lophi.
Ectophallus (Fig. 7C–F): Apodemes of cingulum elongate and zygoma shelf-like, meaning both resemble all other Puer Group species. Rami prominent, extending posteriorly at about a 45° angle and curving inwards slightly, with final 1/3 rd bent at a 90° angle that curves slightly upwards toward the ventral valves of aedeagus, terminating at approximately the midpoint of the valves, and tapering to a rounded apex; when viewed laterally, the ramus resembles an upside-down scythe. Sheath of aedeagus taking the form of two halves that do not meet, each consisting of an apical lobe that arises from the apical, “scythe blade” region of the rami, which extend dorsally at a 45° angle, and usually terminates just beyond the dorsum of the ventral valves of aedeagus. These lobes are relatively large, oblong in shape, and laterally compressed moderately, with apices more bulbous and marginally expanded; covered in raised microstructures.
Endophallus (Fig. 7G–I)): Apodemes of endophallus large and rounded like all other Puer Group species; arch of aedeagus well-developed. Dorsal valves of aedeagus do not meet flexures, are about 1/2 the length of ventral valves, with basal ½ more robust, and fused and fairly flat for entire length except final ¼, which has a y-shaped cleft, each half terminating in a lobe-like structure (covered in raised microstructures) just beyond the sheath of aedeagus that curves slightly around its corresponding ventral valve and flares upwards fairly strongly (when viewed posteriorly, shape resembles an eyebrow, see Fig. 7H). Ventral valves of aedeagus meet flexures, are twice as long as the dorsal valves, with basal third more robust, and the remaining 2/3 forming a unique rigid pattern. When viewed dorsally (with valve apices oriented north, see Fig. 7 I-1), the general pattern is as follows: the valves initially bow outwards (obviously to strongly, but not known to go beyond the midpoint of the apices of the lobes of sheath of aedeagus) just beyond the lobe-like structures of the dorsal valves, and then gently inwards again, usually almost meeting at the start of the final 1/4 th, then curve outwards almost as much as before, with the apices bending inwards again at an almost 45° angle, but retaining more distance between; overall, the dorsal shape resembles several objects, such as a classic vase (Fig. 7 I-2), a sideways fish (as drawn by a child), or an open-top hourglass. When viewed laterally (Fig. 7G), the first curve of the ventral valves rises gently a little way above the dorsal valves, with the next curve then plunging to be in line with the lower lobes of the sheath of aedeagus, and, finally, with the apices rising to be in line with the first curve; overall, the two valves are fairly parallel and line up well in lateral view, with the shape resembling a wave of fixed height but mixed wavelengths. When viewed posteriorly, the apices of the ventral valves resemble the curving-upwards tips of classic elf shoes.
Female, external (Fig. 8A & B): Supra-anal plate subtriangular; cerci relatively small and subconical, not extending beyond posterior edges of paraprocts; subgenital plate similar in appearance to abdominal sternites. In lateral view, dorsal valves of ovipositor curved deeply upwards while ventral valves of ovipositor moderately curved downwards with small tooth at anteroventral edge, thus resembling a shallow claw.
Male measurements (in mm) (n = 23, including holotype): Body length 9.57–13.43 (average 12.13 ± 0.80); pronotum length 2.29–3.14 (average 2.86 ± 0.22); pronotum width 2.14–2.57 (average 2.32 ± 0.16); tegmina length 1.57–2.43 (average 2.11 ± 7.63); and hind femur length 6.71–8.29 (average 7.63 ± 0.42).
Female measurements (in mm) (n = 11, including allotype): Body length 14.71–19.86 (average 17.02 ± 1.36); pronotum length 3.43–4.14 (average 3.77 ± 0.27); pronotum width 2.86–4.00 (average 3.59 ± 0.34); tegmina length 2.14–3.29 (average 2.69 ± 0.38); and hind femur length 9.00–10.43 (average 9.73 ± 0.47).
Geographic Distribution (Fig. 1): This species is currently only known from a relatively small region of southeastern Florida across four counties: Okeechobee, Brevard, Indian, and St. Lucie, with the latter three being along the east coast. Ten Mile Ridge is located within this region while the Atlantic Coastal Ridge runs through it, and specimens have been collected from both, which suggests a possible historical ridge connection that needs further exploration. Of the other Puer Group sensu stricto species, only Melanoplus kissimmee Otte, 2012 (“2011”) (Table 1) overlaps, with a single known location found 4.28 km (2.66 miles) from the closest known one for M. amphora sp. nov. (Fig. 1B) and relatively far from all other known locations of M. kissimmee, which are more towards south-central Florida. Of the other Puer Group sensu lato species, only M. indicifer Hubbell, 1933 (Table 1) has been collected in some of the same locations, suggesting similar habitat preferences.
Known Habitat (Fig. 3): Mainly collected from classic scrub habitat with minimal trees (dominantly pines, slash (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) and longleaf (Pinus palustris Mill.)), plenty of scrubby oaks (Quercus spp.), occasional gopher apple (Licania michauxii Prance) patches, scattered saw palmetto (Serenoa repens (Bartram)), Smilax spp. vines, and even scrub rosemary (Ceratiola ericoides Michx.) now and then. Florida scrub jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens (Bosc, 1795)) are also present at some sites and, more commonly, gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus (Daudin, 1802)). Some encountered habitats were remnants of classic scrub and quite overgrown. All specimens collected by DAW and colleagues (Table 2) were in scrubby oaks and/or gopher apple.
Etymology: M. amphora sp. nov. is named after the Latin word for “vase” because its ventral valves of aedeagus in dorsal view strongly resemble a classic vase shape (Fig. 7I).
Holotype: Male (Fig. 6A & B). U.S.A.: FL: Brevard Co.: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, along Scrub Jay Link Trail, trailhead just N. of Fellsmere Rd. /CR 512, [A: 27.770833, -80.565000], [B: 27.772778,-80.566667], [C: 27.772222,-80.567222] (Figs. 2A, 3D–F), 16-V-2015, coll. D.A. Woller, S.L. Kelly, & A.B. Orfinger, Field #PG200-1-A/B/C, mix of overgrown and classic scrub, did not separate A, B, or C specimens. Deposited in the UCFC, specimen with the unique identifier UCFC 0 577 309. Measurements (mm): Body length 12.71; pronotum length 3.14; pronotum width 2.57; tegmina length 2.43; and hind femur length 8.29.
Allotype: Female (Fig. 6C & D). Same locality info as holotype (Figs. 2A, 3D–F). Deposited in the UCFC with the unique identifier UCFC 0 577 311. Measurements (mm): Body length 16.14; pronotum length 3.71; pronotum width 3.29; tegmina length 2.14; and hind femur length 9.57.
Additional Type Material: 51 paratypes: 24 males, 11 females, 16 nymphs. See Table 2 for locality details and other information.
description: Published as part of Woller, Derek A., 2025, Three new grasshopper species in the Florida Melanoplus Puer group (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Melanoplinae), pp. 269-307 in Zootaxa 5631 (2) on pages 284-290, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5631.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/15370580