Review of Hebridea Willemse, 1926, an endemic genus of grasshoppers from Vanuatu (Orthoptera, Caelifera) with the description of a new species from Malekula Author Hugel, Sylvain INCI, UPR 3212 CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 21 rue René Descartes, F- 67084 Strasbourg cedex (France) hugels @ inci-cnrs. unistra. fr text Zoosystema 2012 2012-06-30 34 2 267 277 http://dx.doi.org/10.5252/z2012n2a5 journal article 10.5252/z2012n2a5 1638-9387 4547512 Hebridea rufotibialis Willemse, 1926 ( Figs 1 A-F; 2; 3A-F; 4; Table 1 ) TYPE MATERIAL. —[ Vanuatu ], N[ew] Hebrides , Espir[itu] Santo Isl., Hog Harbour, clearings, 4.I.1923 , John R. Baker ( OUMNH type ORTH. 907). TYPE LOCALITY. — Vanuatu , Sanma Province , Espiritu Santo. OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — SANTO 2006, Vanuatu , Sanma Province , Espiritu Santo Isl. , Funafus , 15°32’46.4”S , 167°00’46”E , jour, 30.X.2006 , S. Hugel , 2 ♂♂ ( MNHN SH-137, SH-138), 1 ♀ ( MNHN SH-140) ; same data, but T. Robillard , 1 ♀ ( MNHN SH-139) ; same data, but L. Desutter-Grandcolas , 1 juv. ( MNHN SH-141).— Big Bay , Matantas , Vatthé Conservation Area , 15°20’S , 166°95’E, 25.X.2006 , 2 ♂♂ ( MNHN SH-142, SH-143), 27.X.2006 , S. Hugel , 2 ♀♀ ( MNHN SH-144, SH-145). — Peavot , Mt Nouresororo , 14°59’26”S , 166°45’14”E , 636 m alt., forêt de brume, nuit, 22.X.2006 , S. Hugel , 3 ♀♀ ( MNHN SH-146, SH-147, SH-148), 2 juv. ( MNHN SH-149, SH-150) ; same data, but L. Desutter-Grandcolas , 2 juv. ( MNHN SH-151, SH-152). — Butmas , forêt sur plateau de Tankara , 15°21’56”S , 166°59’04”E , 600 m alt., 13.X.2006 , L. Desutter-Grandcolas , 1 juv. ( MNHN SH-153) ; same data, but 14.X.2006 , 1 juv. ( MNHN SH-154) . HABITAT AND LIFE HISTORY TRAITS. — Hebridea rufotibialis was found in both preserved and moderately degraded forested areas. This species occurs in undergrowth vegetation (20 cm- 1 m ), often in groups of few specimens. We observed this species on monocots (tall herbaceous plants, Dracaena sp., and also on small palm trees, Pandanus sp., etc.). Juveniles were seldom observed on ferns. DIAGNOSIS (EMENDED). — Hind femur upper carina with a weak concavity before the knee ( Fig. 1D; N.B .: this non sexual character seems valid on the examined specimens, but should be used with caution). Male . Penultimate abdominal tergite (tergite 10) with well-distinct rounded furculae ( Fig. 1F ). Supra-anal plate with lateral bulges ( Fig. 1F , arrow). Supra-anal plate with long posterior median projection ( Fig. 1F ). Epiphallus: interspace between lophi at least twice as wide as lophi width ( Fig. 3A ). Dorsal valves exceeding ventral valves ( Fig. 3D ). In mature males, hind femora blue/green (inner and outer fields). FIG. 1. — Hebridea Willemse, 1926 : A-F , H. rufotibialis Willemse, 1926 male (not a type); G-K , H. amedegnatoae n. sp. male holotype (MNHN-CAELIF595); A , right antenna, dorsal view; B , G , head and pronotum, dorsal view; C , H , head and pronotum left side view; D , I , hind femur right side view; E , J , right forewind; F , K , male supra-anal plate, dorsal view,note the bulge (arrows).Scale bars:1 mm. FIG. 2. — Hebridea rufotibialis Willemse, 1926 male (not a type): A , sternum in ventral view; B , detail of the prosternal process in frontal view (upside down). Scale bar: 1 mm. REDESCRIPTION In addition to generic characters: hind femur upper carina with a weak concavity before the knee ( Fig.1D ). Male Penultimate abdominal tergite (tergite 10) with well-distinct rounded furculae ( Fig. 1F ). Supra-anal plate with lateral bulges ( Fig. 1F , arrow), with long posterior median projection ( Fig. 1F ). Epiphallus ( Fig. 3A, B ): interspace between lophi at least twice as wide as lophi width. Dorsal valves exceeding ventral valves ( Fig. 3D ). Females It is not clear whether the females display useful characters at the species level. Terminalia are illustrated Figure 3E, F . General colouration of adults green (more or less yellowish; badly preserved specimens are darker such as the holotype ; Fig. 4 ); hind tibia red or purple, tibial spines with black apex; hind knees dorsally yellowish. In mature males, fore and mid femora green with sometimes the middle reddish; hind femur blue/green (inner and outer fields); hind tibia proximally darker. In females, middle of fore and mid femora sometimes reddish; inner field of hind femur sometimes purple. Non adult specimens entirely lack green, blue and red colour; these are brown on the sides with a cream band on the dorsum (from fastigium to Prn and often to abdomen apex); Prn lateral carinae light cream; outer median field of FIII with some dark pattern. REMARK Two male specimens from Espiritu Santo identified as Hebridea sp. by David Hollis are in NHM collections. The supra-anal plate of these specimens is very similar to that of Hebridea rufotibialis illustrated in the present article (Judith Marshall, in litt. ). For the distinctive characters between Hebridea rufotibialis and H. amedegnatoae n. sp. see Table 3 .