Relationships and taxonomy of the genus Diponthus Stål (Orthoptera: Acridoidea Romaleidae) Author Pocco, Martina E. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE), CONICET - UNLP, La Plata, Argentina & División Entomología, Museo de La Plata - FCNYM-UNLP, La Plata, Argentina Author Lange, Carlos E. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE), CONICET - UNLP, La Plata, Argentina & Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CICPBA), Argentina Author Cigliano, María Marta Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE), CONICET - UNLP, La Plata, Argentina & División Entomología, Museo de La Plata - FCNYM-UNLP, La Plata, Argentina text Zootaxa 2023 2023-08-21 5336 1 33 81 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.1.2 journal article 55337 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.1.2 c08b0a59-46a1-4860-817b-2238bd1119a5 1175-5326 8268533 F31F6A72-21B8-455D-8E64-3CE59613599C Diponthus argentinus Pictet & Saussure, 1887 ( Figs. 1a c, d, g, h, k–m, q, r , 2a, b , 6a–c , 7a, b , 8a , 9a, b , 10a , 11a , 12a, b , and 13 ). = Diponthus permistus ( Serville, 1838 ) = Diponthus communis Bruner, 1900 = Diponthus schulzi Bruner, 1900 = Diponthus pictus ( Bolívar, 1884 ) For references on this species and its synonyms see Pocco et al . (2014) and Cigliano et al . (2023) . Diagnosis. Pronotal disk with light longitudinal median band and two oblique bands that converge towards the principal sulcus; lateral lobes with light-colored horizontal band near the lower margin. Tegmina with white spots on proximal lateral field, transversal veins weakly and irregularly marked ( Fig. 8a ). Prosternal tubercle straight, with rounded apex. Male epiproct with rounded borders, pointed tip, and with tubercles on distal margin ( Fig. 9b ); furculae prominent and with subacute tips. Male cerci slender and tapering towards the apex, distal third slightly down-curved, slightly surpassing the tip of epiproct ( Fig. 9a ). Dorsal valves of aedeagus with distal third down-curved and apex weakly sclerotized ( Figs. 10a , and 11a ). Valves of cingulum narrow at the base, anterior margin straight, distal portion expanded and subcircular, posterior margin concave ( Fig. 10a ). Cingulum W-shaped; zygoma with anterior margin concave, V-shaped ( Fig. 11a ). Lophi of epiphallus placed perpendicular to bridge ( Fig. 12a ); subtriangular in frontal view ( Fig. 12b ). Chromatic variation : Body coloration and color pattern is highly variable ( Figs. 1a, b , and 6a–c ). At least four different color morphs (green with yellow; black and yellow; black and yellow with red markings; greenish brown) can be found ( Pocco et al. 2014 ). However, a high degree of variability within each color morph can also be found (oblique bands of pronotum reaching the main transverse sulcus or surpassing it; prozona with two yellow spots, one at each side of the median longitudinal band, or without them; some specimens exhibit black mottles on pronotum, abdomen, and legs; some females can exhibit a body color mostly black). A complete redescription of this species and the description of the color morphs are in Pocco et al . (2014) . Measurements (in mm): Body length: males: 24.6 (19–32); females: 33.8 (25–41); femur III length: males: 13.3 (10–16); females: 18.4 (16–24); tegmen length: males: 21.6 (17–26); females: 28.5 (25–35). Material examined: see Appendix 1 Distribution. Diponthus argentinus is the most common and widely distributed species of Diponthus , found in southern South America (mostly Argentina ; with only one record each from Bolivia and Uruguay but lacking locality information), between 21° and 39° S , and 69° and 55° W , with a wide distribution in central and northern Argentina ( Buenos Aires , Santa Fe , Entre Ríos , La Pampa , San Luis , Córdoba , Tucumán , Salta , Jujuy , Santiago del Estero , Formosa , Chaco , Río Negro, Mendoza , La Rioja ) ( Fig. 13 ). Habitat. In grassland areas with forbs, shrubs, and in edges of low forests.