Agroecotettix texmex Hill, 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Hill, JoVonn G.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Orthoptera
Acrididae
Agroecotettix
Agroecotettix texmex

description: Agroecotettix texmex sp. nov.
Figs 2 E, 4 E, 5 E, 11 A – J, 25, 26 B
Diagnosis.
Differentiated from other species in the genus by the combination of male cerci that have the lower branch longer than the dorsal branch (Figs 2 E, 11 A, B) and the male aedeagus that has a thickened sheath and valves that are longer than the sheath, and narrow valves that diverge in lateral view (Figs 4 E, 5 E, 11 C – G). Most similar to A. aristus, A. glochinos, and A. silverheelsi. Differs from A. aristus by that species by having valves that diverge laterally in caudal view and are broader in lateral view (Figs 4 C, D, 5 C, D) and from A. glochinos by having narrower valves (Figs 4 D, E, 5 D, E). Differs from A. silverheelsi by having a narrower and folded caudal edge of the sheath as opposed to an unfolded and open edge as in A. silverheelsi.
Male measurements (mm).
(n = 7) Body length 22.2–24.0 (mean = 23.1); pronotum length 4.6–6.5 (mean = 5.4); tegmen length 3.3–4.1 (mean = 3.6); hind femur length 11.5–13.5 (mean = 12.6); cerci length 1.6–1.8 (mean = 1.7); basal width of cerci 0.4–0.7 (mean = 0.6); mid-cercal width 0.4–0.6 (mean = 0.5); cerci dorsal fork length 0.4–0.7 (mean = 0.5); cerci dorsal fork apex width 0.1–0.3 (mean = 0.2); cerci ventral fork length 0.4–1.0 (mean = 0.7); cerci ventral fork apex width 0.1 (mean = 0.1).
Phallus measurements (mm).
(n = 2) Length 0.6–0.7 (mean = 0.7); apex width 0.4–0.5 (mean = 0.5); middle width 0.5–0.6 (mean = 0.6); basal width 0.3 (mean = 0.3); lateral apex width 0.2–0.4 (mean = 0.3); lateral medial width 0.2–0.5 (mean = 0.4); lateral basal width 0.2–0.6 (mean = 0.4).
Female measurements (mm).
(n = 7) Body length 25.2–29.8 (mean = 27.3); pronotum length 6.5–7.5 (mean = 6.9) tegmen length 4.1–5.1 (mean = 4.7); hind femur length 14.0–16.2 (mean = 15.1); dorsal ovipositor valve length 1.5–2.0 (mean = 1.7); ventral ovipositor valve length 0.6–2.0 (mean = 1.6).
Holotype.
• 1 ♂, USA, Texas, Jim Hogg Co., 26 mi S Hebronville, 19 August 1955, 5–700 ft., T. J. Cohn. Deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum.
Specimens examined.
Mexico, Tamaulipas: • 12 mi S Nuevo Laredo, 9 July 1936, H. R. Roberts (1 ♂, 1 ♀) • Nuevo Leòn, 34 miles S Sabinas Hildalgo, 12 IX 1958, 1700 ft, T. J. Cohn (1 ♂, 1 ♀) • Mamulique Pass, 10 July 1936, 1800 ft, H. R. Roberts (2 ♀); 19 mi W Santa Catarina, 9 August 1959, T. J. Cohn (♂) • 6 mi SE Santiago, 29 September 1958. T. J. Cohn, 1550 ft (1 ♂, 1 ♀) • Villa de Santiago, 4 July 1964, T. J. Cohn (1 ♂).
Habitat.
Cohn (1959) states the habitat at 19 mi W of Santa Catarina was above an arroyo in an area with large smooth margined leaved oaks and a variety of low bushes, succulents, broadleaf blackberry, and sparse but good weeds in clumps. The habitat at Villa de Santiago was rolling country in spined bushes that were fairly thick and more than 8 feet tall (Cohn 1964).
Distribution.
Southern Texas and northeastern Mexico (Figs 25, 26 B).
Etymology.
The name texmex is a portmanteau of Texas and Mexico as this is the only known species of Agroecotettix that occurs in both countries.
Suggested common name.
Texmex aridland scrub jumper.
description: Published as part of 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, pp. 177-230 in ZooKeys 1218 on pages 177-230, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1218.133703