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| Floritettix phlox Hill, 2023 DOI: 10.3897/jor.32.94990 |
Abstract
Floritettix are endemic to the North American Coastal Plain. Here I describe a new species, Floritettix phlox sp. nov., from the Bombing Range Ridge in central Florida. This species appears to be restricted to the heavily burned scrub habitat on this small ridge. This species is described based on morphological and biogeographical evidence.
Keywords: Biodiversity, fire, grasshopper, islands, Lake Wales Ridge, sand ridges
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| Photos of live Floritettix phlox sp. nov. and the plant communities where specimens were collected. A. Lateral view of a live male; B. Dorsal view of a live male; C. Lateral view of live female; D. Low oak scrub at the type locality; E. Scrubby flatwoods; F. Scrubby Flatwoods. |
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Male Floritettix phlox sp. nov. Illustrated by Ashley Rude Baker. |
Family Acrididae MacLeay, 1821
Subfamily Melanoplinae Scudder, 1897
Genus Floritettix Otte, 2014
Type species.— Floritettix aptera .
Floritettix phlox sp. nov.
Diagnosis.— Differing from other Floritettix in the shape of the male genitalia, which has the sheath produced over the dorsal valves as two large adjacent, rounded-subquadrate lobes with a decided concavity caudad, ventral valves that slightly curve dorsally with broadly rounded apices, and a distinct geographic distribution (Figs 1D, 5C–J). Can be separated from F. nigropicta based on the green coloration of the body (grayish in F. nigropicta), the lack of black-colored body sutures, and the shape of the male genitalia that are rounded ventral valve apices and more rounded to subquadrate dorsal valve/sheath complex (Figs 1D, 6C–J), and Floritettix holotamico by the color of the dorsal lateral pronotal stripe (white in F. phlox, orange in F. holotamico) and the shape of apices of the ventral valves (round in F. phlox and falcate in F. holotamico). Floritettix hubbelli occurs in the hyperseasonal Florida dry prairies that surround the Bombing Range Ridge. Floritettix phlox can be distinguished from F. hubbelli by the coloration of the post ocular and dorsal stripes (yellow in F. hubbelli and white with a pink border in F. phlox) and the very different shapes of the internal male genitalia (Figs 1A, D, 6C–G, 7C–G).
Etymology.— “phlox” from the Greek word for flame, in reference to the frequent fires that occur on the Bombing Range Ridge that maintains the habitat for the species. Further, the terminalia and mandibular areas are pink like Phlox flowers.
JoVonn G. Hill. 2023. A New Floritettix (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae) from the Bombing Range Ridge, Florida, U.S.A. Journal of Orthoptera Research. 32(2): 133-142. DOI: 10.3897/jor.32.94990
