Description of Heteracris lecoqi Yetchom-Fondjo & Kekeunou sp. nov. and Heteracris hannai Wandji & Kekeunou sp. nov. and redescription of Heteracris guineensis (Krauss, 1890) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) with comments on its ecology in the Southern part of Cameroon
Author
Wandji, Alain Christel
Zoology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon.
Author
Yetchom-Fondjo, Jeanne Agrippine
Zoology Unit, Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Animal Organisms, Graduate School in Fundamental and Applied Sciences, University of Douala, Cameroon.
Author
Kekeunou, Sévilor
Zoology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon.
Author
Kenne, Martin
Zoology Unit, Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Animal Organisms, Graduate School in Fundamental and Applied Sciences, University of Douala, Cameroon.
Author
Missoup, Alain Didier
Zoology Unit, Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Animal Organisms, Graduate School in Fundamental and Applied Sciences, University of Douala, Cameroon.
Author
Tindo, Maurice
Zoology Unit, Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Animal Organisms, Graduate School in Fundamental and Applied Sciences, University of Douala, Cameroon.
Author
Simeu-Noutchom, Alain
Zoology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon.
Author
Mbadjoun-Nzike, Marcelle
Zoology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon.
Author
Xu, Sheng-Quan
Author
Djomnang-Nkwala, Alfiery Laurel
Author
Fomena, Abraham
text
Zootaxa
2021
2021-01-20
4915
1
95
106
journal article
8684
10.11646/zootaxa.4915.1.6
ffb3e7d0-4160-4dc4-8d01-cb5af702bd4c
1175-5326
4452499
EC4FEE38-B96C-4738-A5CA-FC819D4D5120
Heteracris hannai
Wandji & Kekeunou
sp. nov.
Material examined:
Holotype
:
1 male
,
Cameroon
,
Centre region
, type locality:
Talba
(4°37’704”N, 11°29’815”E); fallows,
26 May 2016
;
Coll. Wandji
&
Kekeunou
;
sweep net
; deposited in the
Zoology Laboratory
, of
University of Yaoundé
1,
Cameroon
(
ZLUYC
).
Paratype
:
1 male
,
Cameroon
,
Centre region
, type locality:
Talba
(4°37’704”N, 11°29’815”E); fallows,
26 May 2016
;
Coll. Wandji
&
Kekeunou
;
sweep net
; deposited in the
Zoology Laboratory
, of
University of Yaoundé
1,
Cameroon
(
ZLUYC
)
.
Other material studied:
1 male
and
1 female
from Bangoulap (
5°06’013”N
, 10°32’332”E),
2 females
from Kumba (4°39’101”N, 9°24’502”E),
8 males
and
9 females
from
Talba
(4°37’704”N, 11°29’815”E), and
1 female
from
Tombel
(4°45’359”N, 9°40’215”E); deposited in the
Zoology Laboratory
, of
University of Yaoundé
1,
Cameroon
(
ZLUYC
)
.
Etymology
: The new species is named in honor of Dr. Rachid Hanna, former
Cameroon
IITA representative for his research interests.
Diagnosis
: male cercus curved inwards with rounded apex; lophus with curved posterior margin in profile view; interlophal space forming a U-shaped structure; external margins of lateral plates straight; apodemes of cingulum robust, slightly parallel and forming a U- shaped structure; valves of cingulum shorter than apical valves of penis in lateral view; rami of the cingulum in ventral view strongly opened, leaving free the endophallic sclerites; hind wings blue at base; posterior femur robust; black posterior tibias, with a white basal ring; tibiae spines fully black.
Description
: male: length of body 25.85 ±
1.55 mm
(n = 5 individuals), female: length of body 45.85 ±
2.95 mm
(n = 5 individuals). Integument finely rugose; antenna filiform, slightly widened and thickened in middle, longer than head and pronotum together; large and ridged eyes; fastigium of vertex short, with truncated apex; pronotum slightly tectiform, with weak lateral carinae; median carina raised and crossed by three sulci; metazona slightly longer than prozona, its posterior margin excurved; prosternal process cylindrical, with rounded apex; tegmina and wings fully developed, with rounded apex; tympanum present; hind femur moderately widened; male supra-anal plate conical, with a transverse sulcus on the middle field; male cercus curved inward and almost in contact one to another (fig. 2f); male subgenital plate conical. Bridge of epiphallus strongly excurved; ancorae swavying with a hooked apex; lophi lobiform, with curved posterior margin; interlophal space forming a U-shaped structure; external margins of lateral plates straight; anterior projections large, posterior ones narrow (fig. 3IIIc); apodemes of cingulum robust, slightly parallel, forming a U-shaped structure and not reaching the apex of basal valves of penis; valves of cingulum in lateral view, strongly exceeded the apex of apical valves of penis; rami of the cingulum in ventral view strongly opened, leaving free the endophallic sclerites (fig. 3IIIf, 3IIIi and 3IIIl).
Coloration
(fig. 2e): body generally brown to gray; elytra black laterally and yellowish dorsally; hind wings at base blue; posterior tibiae black, with a white basal ring; tarsi gray.
Ecology:
Heteracris hannai
sp. nov.
is present in the natural vegetation of the southern
Cameroon
in one univoltine population.
The nymphs of
Heteracris hannai
sp. nov.
were not observed during this study. In the Centre region of
Cameroon
, the adults occurred between March and September (almost 6 months). In the West and
South-west
regions of
Cameroon
, the adults were observed only during the months of February and September respectively (fig. 6). The species is more abundant in fallows and crop fields and very few in in agro-forests and forests (fig. 5b).
Heteracris hannai
sp. nov.
is an accidentally collected species regardless of the
type
of vegetation (table 1).