Alphabetical index to species names

Valid names in boldface, others are junior synonyms. Generic names in parentheses are those in original descriptions if different from Zoniopoda.

Species described in the genus Zoniopoda but not belonging in it:

Fig. 1.

Genera Zoniopoda Stål 1873, Chariacris Walker 1870 and Diponthus Stål 1860, species as indicated. A. Head and pronotum, dorsal. B. Same, lateral. C. Prosternal tubercle. D. Head, frontal. E. Hind femur. F. End of male abdomen, dorsal. G. Same, lateral. Chariacris dulcis from Brasil, Mato Grosso, Sinop. Zoniopoda tarsata from Uruguay, Dept. Rivera. Diponthus nigroconspersus from Uruguay, Dept. Tacuarembó.

Typus generis: Acridium tarsatum Serville 1831

Etymology.— From (Greek) zone = belt, girdle, and podo, -poda = foot; apparently an allusion to the black-banded legs of the species (Acridium tarsatum and Zoniopoda emarginata) on which Stål based this genus.

Geographical distribution.— (Figs 20, 21) As known at present, the species of Zoniopoda are found in South America east of the Andes, between parallels 15 and 36 South.

Habitat.— There is no general habitat of all the species of Zoniopoda. The little that has been recorded on the subject indicates that different species live in different types of habitats. Grasslands have been indicated for some species; others seem to prefer low, humid places with tall herbaceous plants or arbustive vegetation. Z. juncorum, has been found in Uruguay and Argentina, perching on rushes growing in places covered by shallow water. What is known on this subject has been recorded below, under each of the species.

Food-plants, economic importance.— The few records of the plants eaten by these insects indicate that they can feed on plants of the families Gramineae (grasses), Leguminosae (alfalfa and others), Oleaceae (olive trees in nurseries) and Solanaceae (tobacco). They are apparently polyphagous, eating plants of a variety of families. Gangwere and Ronderos (1975:178) classify Z. iheringi, Z. omnicolor and Z. tarsata as unselectively polyphagous, with mandibles of the forbivorous type; their feces contained pieces of leaves of dicots. Economic importance of most species is minor or null, but there are a few recorded instances when populations of some of them increased and became locally destructive to crops.

Caryology.— Data on the caryology of species of Zoniopoda are summarized in Mesa et al. (1982). Most species studied (Z. hempeli, Z. juncorum, Z. omnicolor, Z. similis, Z.tarsata and two unidentified species) have a caryotype of 23 XO (males) and 24 XX (females). That of Zoniopoda iheringi, however, is 22 XY in the male and 22 XX in the female. Cardoso and Di Tomasi (1979) studied chromosomal structure and heterochromatic regions in Z. tarsata.

Taxonomy.— The general aspect of the species of the genus can be seen in the illustrations of this work. Individuals of the species in this genus are medium-sized; males range from 30 to 45 mm, females from 40 to 60 mm.

Separation of species is easy in the group TARSATA, (see below) where colors and color patterns are very distinctive for each of them. By observing the figures and reading the description of colors, accurate identifications may be made. Species in the group IHERINGI, which are all yellowish-green and with few specific characters, are more difficult to identify. In these species, however, there are some details such as the profile of the pronotum, the shape and colors of the epiproct and cerci of the males, the shape of the epiphallus, the colors of parts of the legs and other characters mentioned in the corresponding descriptions, that allow correct identifications.

Examination of the phallic complex, useful in other groups for the identification of the species, is in this genus of little use. It is rather uniform in all the species; its most useful character for taxonomic purposes being the shape of the epiphallus, but even this character is fairly variable within the species.

Generic characters.— Integument rugose in most species, smooth on parts of head, legs and abdomen, in some species also on parts of pronotum. Antennae filiform, markedly longer than head and pronotum together. Head hypognathous. Fastigium of head limited caudad by transverse furrow on interocular space. Pronotum: pro- and metazona subequal in length; either may be somewhat longer or shorter; pronotal front edge slightly projected over occiput, the caudal one extending in an obtuse angle over base of tegmina; mid-dorsal carina varying from well-marked, ridge-like and denticulate, to smooth and almost obsolete in different species, always cut by three transverse sulci. Lateral carinae marked only on metazona, where they are rather rounded and somewhat indistinct. Prosternal tubercle spiniform, straight, acutely pointed. All known species long-winged. Stridulatory structures are of the romaleid or tegminoalar type; the denticulate cross-veins on hind wings rather weak as compared with those of other romaleines. Ovipositor of soil-laying type. Male abdominal terminalia as figured for each species; shape and position of furculae and shape of epiproct and cerci of taxonomic value. Phallic complex typically romaleid, rather uniform throughout the genus.

Affinities.— The romaleine genera most closely related to Zoniopoda seem to be Chariacris Walker 1870 and Diponthus Stål 1860. Both differ from Zoniopoda in some important characters (see Fig. 1). In Chariacris, the furculae of the tenth segment in males are very long, far surpassing the posterior margin of the epiproct and with very acute tips, which permits easy separation from Zoniopoda. Also in Chariacris the frontal carina is absent below the median ocellus (it reaches the epistomal suture in Zoniopoda), and chariacris species have, at the base of the tegmina, conspicuous spots (a band in one species) of a color contrasting with that of the rest of the tegmen, white, yellow or orange according to the species (these spots not present in Zoniopoda). Hind femora in Chariacis have dorsal carinae minutely serrulated, while these are smooth in Zoniopoda.

Differences with Diponthus are also evident. Antennae in Zoniopoda are considerably longer than head+pronotum, while in Diponthus they are either shorter or only slightly longer. Shape of the head is very different in Diponthus, where the union frons–fastigium in lateral view is quite rounded, while it is angulated in Zoniopoda. Hind femora are, in all species of Diponthus, much wider and more robust than in Zoniopoda. And a difference that has frequently been used to separate these genera is the shape of the prosternal tubercle: conical, straight and spiniform in Zoniopoda, in Diponthus compressed and retrorse.

Chromacris Walker 1870 may be also related to Zoniopoda, but its pronotum has a very different shape, and its hind wings have a characteristic color pattern (Roberts & Carbonell 1982).

Characters used for separation of species.— The most obvious one is the color-pattern for the species of the group Tarsata, but pattern is important too, though less evident, in the Iheringi group. Morphological characters lie mainly in the pronotum, especially in the relief and other characters of its dorsal median carina (height, denticulations, etc.) (Fig. 8), and in the male abdominal terminalia (furculae, epiproct and cerci). The phallic complex is fairly uniform within the genus, its most significant character being the shape of the epiphallus (Figs 3, 4), even if it is somewhat variable within each species. Color of hind wings, generally used in the old descriptions, lost importance when it was found it varies geographically (from red to blue) in some of the species.

Fig. 2.

Zoniopoda tarsata, phallic complex. A. Lateral view, without epiphallus. B. Same, without lateral plates. C. Endophallus without apical valves. E. Dorsal view without epiphallus. F. Cingulum and endophallic valves. Specimen from Uruguay, Dept. Artigas.

Fig. 3.

Epiphalli of species of Zoniopoda: A. Frontal. B. Dorsal. Z. tarsata from Brasil, Minas Gerais, Serra do Caraça. Z. danottei from Brasil, Distrito Federal. Z. exilipes and Z. omnicolor (center and right) from Paraguay, Sapucay. Z. fissicauda from Brasil, Mato Grosso do Sul, north of Campo Grande.

Fig. 4.

Epiphalli of species of Zoniopoda: A. Frontal. B. Dorsal. Z. hempeli from Paraguay, Sapucay. Z. iheringi from Uruguay, Dept. Artigas. Z. juncorum from Uruguay, Dept. Florida. Z. mimicula from Brasil, Mato Grosso, Gaucho. Z. similis (center) from Uruguay, Dept. Rivera; (right) from Brasil, Rio Grande do Sul, Ronda Alta.

TARSATA species group

The species in this group are treated below in the order of their publication.

Fig. 5.

Zoniopoda tarsata, variation of end of male abdomen and epiphallus. A. Frontal. B. Dorsal. Left column, specimen from Brasil, Minas Gerais, Serra do Caraça. Center column, specimen from Brasil, Rio de Janeiro. Right column, specimen from Uruguay, Dept. Artigas.

Fig. 6.

Zoniopoda, end of male abdomen, species as indicated. Z. tarsata from Uruguay, Dept. Artigas. Z. danottei from Brasil, Distrito Federal. Z. fissicauda from Mato Grosso do Sul, north of Campo Grande. Z. exilipes and Z. omnicolor from Paraguay, Sapucay.

Fig. 7.

Zoniopoda, end of male abdomen, species as indicated. Z. juncorum from Uruguay, Dept. Florida. Z. similis, A from Brasil, Rio Grande do Sul, Ronda Alta; B from Uruguay, Dept. Rivera. Z. hempeli from Paraguay, Paraguarí. Z. mimicula from Brasil, Mato Grosso, Gaucho. Z. iheringi, A from Brasil, Santa Catarina, Papanduva; B from Uruguay, Dept. Artigas. Z. sp., unidentified species from Paraguay, Caaguazú, near Ihú.

Fig. 8.

Zoniopoda: A. Dorsal carina of pronotum in lateral view. B. Transverse section of pronotal metazona. Species as indicated. All drawings different scale, making each drawing of same size.

Fig. 9.

Z. tarsata, egg pod: from Uruguay, Dept. Florida.

Fig. 10.

Zoniopoda tarsata (Serville 1831); male, from Brasil, Rio Grande do Sul, Nonoai. Length 35 mm.

Etymology.— Specific name: from Greek tarsos, meaning (among other things) the part of the foot between toes and heel; refers indeed to the brightly colored tarsi of the individuals of this species, which are banded with red and black. Blanchard's name cruentatum, from Latin cruentus, meaning “stained with blood”, may be due to the many red markings on the head and legs of individuals of this species.

Size.— Males 37 to 38 mm, females 40 to 50 mm. See Table 10 for other measurements.

Identification.— (Fig.10) Integument smooth on legs and abdomen. Rugose on head and thorax: the upper parts of these rugae are in general of a color different from that of the intervening surface. Mid-dorsal pronotal carina well marked but low, not ridge-like; transverse sulci deep on dorsum and sides. Pro- and metazona may be of equal length, or prozona may be shorter than metazona. Male abdominal terminalia as shown in Figs 5 and 7.

Chromatic characters.— General coloration of the pronotum and tegmina yellowish-green, varying in different specimens from olive-yellow (52) to lime-green (59). Legs banded with black, red (11) and yellow (56). Antennae black. Head: dorsal and lateral areas red (11); front partially yellow (56) on surface of rugae; fastigium and interocular area mostly black; clypeus, labrum and mandibles black; labial and maxillary palpi yellow, or yellow with black bands in different individuals. Pronotum and meso-metapleurae with green rugae (52, 59) on black background. Pronotum is in some specimens uniformly colored (as in Fig. 10), in others it has yellowish-green longitudinal bands where rugae and background are of the same color, alternating with bands that look darker by having green rugae on a black background. Light-colored bands in these specimens are: a narrow median one along dorsal carina; paired ones along lateral carinae, at middle of lateral lobes and along their lower margins. Mesometapleurae as described for pronotum, sometimes uniform, sometimes with darker and lighter areas. Tegmina entirely yellow-green (52, 59) with veins of a slightly lighter hue. Hind wings hyaline, with a purplish-blue tint, between lilac (76) and lavender (77). Fore and middle legs: coxatrochanter black sometimes with small red (11) or yellow (56) areas; femur black with wide red median band and (generally) small areas at base and apex red (11); tibia black with small red basal area and wide yellow (56) median band. Tarsi: first article red with black apex; second one black; third article with black basal half, red apical half, claws black, arolium red. Hind legs: coxatrochanter black with small yellow areas; femur yellow (56) with two wide transverse bands and apex black, this apical black part with small red dorsal spot; tibia with red base, a small black transverse sub-basal band, then a wide black band, then a yellow band, the apical half black; tarsus as described for fore and middle legs. Individuals from the southern parts of the species' range are lighter-colored than those from the north. There is a north-south color gradient, with the northern specimens darker and with brighter reds and yellows, the southern ones paler, their colors less intense. There is also an east to west color gradient. Comparing specimens of Z. tarsata from the extreme northwestern part of its area (Salta, Argentina) with those of the Atlantic coast at the same latitude (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), many small differences in the distribution and extent of colors on body and legs can be observed. However, none of these differences should lead to misidentifications, the other species in this group being clearly different.

Geographical distribution.— (Fig. 20) Z. tarsata is the most common, abundant and widespread species of the genus and as such, has been mentioned in numerous publications. This species inhabits the whole of the territory we have signaled for the genus, that is the part of South America east of the Andes, between parallels 15° and 36° South.

Habitat, food plants, bionomics.—Most mentions in the bibliography just give data of this species' distribution, but some are of interest for adding knowledge of its habitat, food plants, bionomics, etc. Bruner (1900: 61) says that the species “occurs for the most part on low ground or in the vicinity of water where vegetation is rank. It has sometimes been reported in sufficient numbers to cause noticeable injury to vegetation.” My own observations of the species in Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil confirm the previous statement of Bruner with regard to preferred habitat. In Uruguay, the insect is sometimes very abundant in low places with vegetation where tall plants (1 to 2 m) of the Compositae family are prevalent. The insects are found usually on these plants, but when collected and put in cages would not eat any of these plants but only grasses and leguminous plants. They probably leave the Compositae at some time in the day, or at night, to feed on the grasses and perhaps on other plants below. Collecting them in the daytime in bright sunlight is difficult because they readily fly, but at night they can be collected in numbers by hand. Gangwere and Ronderos (1975) classify this species as unselectively polyphagous with mandibles of the forbivorous type. A detailed report on the species is found in COPR 1982: 125, where a female specimen is figured. Several species of Compositae are mentioned as food plants, but from my own observations I believe that these plants, where the insects perch, may not be used as food.

Among crop plants attacked COPR mentions alfalfa, natural grasses, olive and tobacco— none of these plants belonging in the Compositae family. Liebermann (1948, 1949b) mentions concentrations of this insect on Wedelia glauca and Ambrosia tenuifolia (Compositae, Heliantheae) in Argentina. Bruner (1906) states that it is found on aquatic plants, a fact that I have been unable to confirm in the many situations where I have met with this insect. Barrera and Paganini (1975) state that in Tucumán (Argentina) individuals of this species, together with other grasshoppers, are found in dense associations on tall graminaceous plants on which they feed, and that their egg pods contain up to 59 eggs. An egg pod of this species is shown in Fig. 9. Schiuma (1951) mentions Baccharis articulata (Compositae, Eupatorieae) as the food plant of this species but, as said above, these plants might serve as perching substrate and not as food.

The economic importance of Z. tarsata appears to be minor, its populations rarely increasing and becoming destructive to cultivated plants. Hepper (1945) mentions the weak stridulation individuals of this species produce, “by moving their hind legs against their tegmina”. However, the presence of stridulatory crossveins on the hind wings and the strongly raised first vannal veins on the undersurface of the tegmina, point to stridulation produced by the tegminoalar mechanism found in most romaleines.

Fig. 11.

Zoniopoda omnicolor (Blanchard 1843); male, from Paraguay, Sapucay. Length 40 mm.

Etymology.— Specific name, from Latin omnis (= all) and color; literally, “of all colors”, refers indeed to the bright colors of this insect. As to Stål's name emarginata, that may mean “without margin” or “notched at apex”; according to Brown (1956), it refers to the slight notch in the middle of the anterior pronotal margin of the female: “pronoto apice leviter emarginato” writes Stål in his description of this species.

Size. Males 32–36 mm, females 46–48 mm. Other measurements in Table 7.

Identification.— (Fig 11) Integument smooth, shiny on head, pronotum, abdomen, legs; somewhat rugose on meso-metapleurae; parts of prozona and most of metazona impressopunctate. Mid-dorsal carina of pronotum almost obsolete on prozona, very slightly marked on metazona; transverse sulci rather deep. In the specimens examined, pro- and metazona in males about equal in length, either of them might be slightly longer or shorter than the other; in females prozona always somewhat longer than metazona. Male abdominal terminalia as shown in Fig. 7.

Chromatic characters.— Antennae black. Head mostly red (11), black over lateral ocelli, behind eyes, on parts of genae and on clypeus, labrum, and mandibles; yellow (56) band below eyes and antennal sockets. Pronotum black with longitudinal yellow bands along median carina, on lateral carinae and on middle of lateral lobes; ivory-colored area runs along pronotal edges, narrow anteriorly, wide inferiorly and posteriorly. Mesometapleurae black, with narrow yellow oblique band. Tegmina black, with yellow veins. Hind wings hyaline, very pale lavender (77). Abdominal tergites black with yellow posterior and inferior margins. Coxaetrochanters of all legs black; fore and middle legs: femora black with narrow basal band, wide median one and apical spot yellow; tibiae black, with middle yellow band; tarsi with 1^st segment black with yellow middle band, 2^nd segment black, 3^rd segment with basal half yellow, apical half black; claws black, arolium brown. Hind legs: coxa black basally, yellow distally; femur mostly yellow, with a basal fragmented black transverse band, black middle band, black apical band with dorsal yellow spot; tibia mostly black, yellow basal spot, yellow sub-basal band (sometimes incomplete), wide yellow band at mid tibia; tarsi as described for fore and middle legs.

Geographical distribution.— (Fig. 20) Data from the bibliography and the specimens examined, indicate that this species is found from southern Mato Grosso in Brasil to La Pampa in Argentina, that is, between parallels 17 and 36 S. However, between these parallels I have seen no specimens from localities east of the Paraná River, except the type specimen, labeled “Corrientes”. This is an old specimen that may have been sent to Paris from Corrientes, but might have been collected on the other side of the river, in the province of Chaco, where this species certainly exists. The species seems to be absent from a wide territory along the Atlantic coast that includes all the eastern Brazilian states from Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais to Rio Grande do Sul, the Argentine provinces of Misiones, Corrientes and Entre Rios and the whole of Uruguay.

Habitat, bionomics, food plants.—Among the specimens examined for this work, are some collected by Roberts and Ronderos in the Bolivian Province of Santa Cruz, on the labels of which is recorded “Grassland, low shrubs”, this being the only indication I know about the habitat of this species.

Gangwere and Ronderos (1975: 178) class this species among those unselectively polyphagous, with mandibles of the forbivorous type. Virla de Arguello (1978: 115, 116, 118, 119) mentions this species, together with Chromacris speciosa, as damaging alfalfa in the Province of Córdoba, Argentina. She qualifies it as abundant and highly dangerous for this crop, illustrates its mandibles of the forbivorous type, and describes its feces as asymmetrical, containing unaligned fragments of dicots. She states that 82.13 % of the feces of Z. omnicolor contained only fragments of alfalfa, 10.71 % alfalfa and grasses and 7.14 % of other dicots. From mentions in the literature it can be deduced that this species occasionally becomes destructive for some crops in northern Argentina, but usually only scattered specimens are found.

Fig. 12.

Zoniopoda exilipes Bruner 1906; male from Paraguay, Sapucay. Length 41 mm.

Etymology.— Specific name exilipes, from Latin exilis (= thin, slender, weak) and pes, pedis (= foot). However, individuals of this species do not seem to have their legs noticeably weaker or thinner than those of most other species in the genus. As to the name collaris, from Latin collare, meaning a band or chain for the neck: this probably refers either to the white band at the posterior part of the head, or to that running along the anterior margin of the pronotum.

Size.— I have measured only two males, one of them slightly over 41 mm, the other 37.4 mm. See Table 1 for other measurements.

Identification.— (Fig. 12) Integument smooth and shiny throughout, impressopunctate on prothoracic metazona and slightly rugose on meso-metapleurae. Median carina of pronotum marked throughout but low; in lateral view its sections between the sulci smooth, without any denticulations. In the two males measured, the prozona was longer than the metazona.

Chromatic characters.— The general aspect of the specimens is of dark-colored insects with small contrasting yellow bands and spots. Dark-colored parts vary from fuscous (21) to black. Yellow parts range from the color of ivory to straw-yellow (56). Antennae: scape fuscous with yellow basal part; pedicel and five basal segments of flagellum fuscous, the rest of the antenna raw umber (23). Head capsule mostly fuscous to black, with the following yellow areas: paired lateral bands at sides of vertex: transverse band on front between antennal sockets and a very narrow one at epistomal suture; irregular vertical bands on front of eyes, and a rather wide one surrounding occiput. Pronotum with narrow yellow band along front edge, and a wide one along caudal edge, that widens downward at the sides and continues on caudal end of proepisternum; meso- and metapleurae fuscous with oblique yellow bands along cephalic edges of epimera, continued on areas of meso-metasterna over leg articulations. Tegmina may be entirely fuscous, or have main veins colored yellow on a fuscous background of membrane and secondary veins; hind wings hyaline, slightly smoked, turning bluish at end of vannal area. Fore and middle legs fuscous, except for small yellow areas on coxa and trochanters. Hind legs with yellow coxae; femora fuscous with three transverse yellow bands: one at leg base, one at end of basal third and one at middle of caudal half; end of rotular area yellowish. Hind tibiae and tarsi fuscous except for a small yellow part at tibial base. Abdominal segments very dark fuscous to black except for narrow yellow caudal edges. Male subgenital plate mostly yellow with fuscous ventral area.

Geographical distribution.— (Fig. 20) The species is a rare one. The few specimens known indicate it is distributed over a large territory that includes parts of the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso, Goias and São Paulo, and eastern Paraguay. That is, between parallels 15 and 27 S and meridians 45 and 58 W.

Nothing has been recorded about its habitat, food plants and bionomics.

Fig. 13.

Zoniopoda fissicauda Bruner 1906; male from Brasil, Mato Grosso do Sul, north of Campo Grande. Length 38 mm.

Etymology.— From Latin fissus (= cleave, split, fissura, = cleft; and cauda = tail) referring to the male subgenital plate with its apex markedly divided by a deep median notch (Fig. 6). This notch is present in all species of the genus, but in this species is much deeper than in any other.

Size.— The two males measured are between 37 and 41 mm in length, and the only female is nearly 47 mm. Other measurements in Table 2.

Identification.— Integument smooth, shiny, impressopunctate over most of pronotum, pitted on meso-metapleurae. Pronotum with median dorsal carina well marked but low; without any denticulations on its sections between the sulci as seen in lateral view. In the specimens examined, the prozona was longer than the metazona in males, shorter in females. Male abdominal terminalia as shown in Fig. 6. Male cerci in lateral view downcurved, with rounded apices.

Chromatic characters.— Prevalent color straw-yellow (56) to sulfur-yellow (57), with fuscous (21) or black areas, and parts of head and legs scarlet (15) to chrome-orange (16). Antennae black. Head capsule mostly scarlet to chrome-orange, darkened on fastigium and frons, becoming almost black on clypeolabrum. Pronotum straw-yellow (56); dorsally black-banded between transverse sulci 1-2 and 3–4 and on anterior part of metazonal dorsum. These black bands reach down to the middle of the lateral lobes: the one between sulci 3–4 turns forward to the area between sulci 2–3, and in some specimens forms a rather large dark spot in this area. Tegmina appear to be bluish-green with yellow veins in individuals with their wings folded, but when these are extended it can be seen that they are pale greenish-yellow, both in membrane and veins, and that the bluish tinge comes from the folded hind wings under the tegmina. These hind wings when extended are translucid and tinged with lavender (77). In meso-metapleurae, episterna 2 and 3 have cephalic and caudal thirds black, middle third yellow; epimera 2 and 3 are yellow; spiracle 2 shiny black. Fore and middle legs are yellow with coxae, basal and upper parts of femora tinged with chrome-orange (16); the latter with two black transverse bands sub-basal and sub-apical, as shown in Fig. 13; these bands can be well-marked or faint in different individuals; tibiae are yellow, gradually infuscated towards apices; tarsi mostly fuscous. Hind legs: coxae orange (17), femora yellow with lateral black spots, the first set on the basal part of the first half and the second set on the upper part of apical half and united superiorly, and a black band just anterior to the rotular area which is colored orange. Hind tibiae orange at base, then yellow, tinged with fuscous near its bases and towards its apices; hind tarsi dorsally orange, ventrally fuscous. Abdominal segments with cephalic halves black, caudal ones ivory-colored. Male cerci orange, subgenital plate mostly of this color. In the female, cerci and ovipositor are orange-colored.

Geographical distribution.— (Fig. 20) Specimens have been found in eastern Paraguay and in some places in south central Brazil (Goias, Mato Grosso do Sul). Its range, such as known at present, lies between parallels 20 and 27 S and meridians 50 and 57 W.

Nothing is known of its habitat, food plants and bionomics.

Fig. 14.

Zoniopoda danottei n. sp.; male from Brasil, Distrito Federal. Length 37 mm.

Holotype.— a male labeled: “Brazil: NE side of Brasilia, 4 Feb.′74 (Otte)- BR-8”.

Paratypes.— Two females with identical labels as the holotype. Holotype and paratypes deposited in PHILADELPHIA.

Size.— Male holotype 38 mm, female paratypes 43.4 and 46.7 mm. Other measurements in Table 8.

Etymology. Dedicated to Dr. Daniel Otte, who collected all known specimens of this species, in recognition of his many and valuable works on Orthoptera.

Identification.— (Fig. 11) This species is closely allied to Z. tarsata, of which it seems at first sight to be a dark-colored and more robust form. Several anatomical and chromatic characters however, point to its being a separate species evolving from the same source as tarsata at the northern limit of the territory occupied by the genus. Integument strongly rugose on thorax, less so on abdomen, smooth on head and legs. Mid-dorsal pronotal carina marked, but not too prominent, smooth in profile between transverse sulci. In the specimens measured, the prozona was shorter than the metazona for both males and females. Male abdominal terminalia as shown in Fig. 6.

Chromatic characters.— In general similar to those of Z. tarsata, with the noticeable difference of more extensive black areas and the absence of any red color on the legs, this color being present only on the head. Antennae black. Head chrome-orange (16) except on fastigium, which is mostly black, this color extending to the part of the frons above lower margins of eyes and antennal sockets. Clypeo-labrum and mandibles black, and also of this color maxillary and labial palpi (these yellow in Z. tarsata). Pronotum strongly banded longitudinally with black and yellow; in dorsal view with a narrow yellow band along dorsal carina, and two wider ones along lateral carinae; two yellow bands on lateral lobes, upper ones at middle of lobes, lower ones along ventral edges. Such distribution of bands similar to that described for some individuals of Z. tarsata, where these bands when present, are far less evident. Meso and metapleurae yellow, the lower black band of the lateral lobe extending onto them, being here wider and rather fragmented and interrupted in some places by small yellow areas. Tegmina with yellow veins on almost hyaline membrane; hind wings hyaline but tinted with lavender (77). Fore and middle legs with black coxa and trochanter; femur black with yellow transverse band near middle; tibia black with transverse yellow band near middle; tarsus black. Hind legs: coxa and trochanter black; femur yellow with black latero-dorsal band at middle of basal half, a complete black band behind middle of femur and another black band covering end of femur including rotular area. Tibia with basal half black except for small dorsal yellow patch near base; a wide yellow area just behind middle of tibia; apical half and tarsus black. Abdomen mostly black, with longitudinal yellow markings and bands as shown in Fig. 14. Abdominal terminalia mostly black, epiproct as in Fig. 6. Cerci and paraprocts of female black; ovipositor mostly yellow.

Geographical distribution.— (Fig. 20) The species is known only from the type series, collected in the Federal District of Brazil, northeast of the city of Brasilia. Nothing is known of its bionomics and food plants.

IHERINGI species group

The species of this group are all of green color, without the many markings present in those of the Tarsata group. Identification is possible however, by means of some characters, chromatic and of form, that will be described for each of the species. Primarily, the species of this group could be separated by the following key. Identifications obtained with it must be confirmed by following the corresponding descriptions.

Fig. 15.

Zoniopoda iheringi Pictet & Saussure 1887; male from Uruguay, Dept. Tacuarembó, Caraguatá. Length 35 mm.

Fig. 16.

Zoniopoda juncorum Berg 1887; male from Uruguay, Dept. Florida, Casupá. Length 44 mm.

Etymology.— The specific name was dedicated to Dr. Hermann von Ihering, a German naturalist living at the time in Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, who collected the type specimen.

Size.— Males from 32.5 to 35.7 mm, females from 44 to 50 mm. Other measurements in Table 4.

Identification.— Integument strongly rugose, becomes tuberculate on pronotum. Pronotum: dorsal median carina high and serrate. In all specimens measured, the prozona was markedly shorter than the metazona. Abdominal terminalia in males as in Fig. 7; characteristic are the furculae of 10^th segment, placed close together, and the epiproct wide and posteriorly rounded.

Chromatic characters.— General color yellowish-green, varying in different individuals from citrine (51) to lime green (59). In the legs the color of tibiae-tarsi may differ from that of the body by being reddish, in the darkest specimens becoming almost ferruginous (41). Tegminae are almost hyaline, yellowish green with yellow veins; hind wings have a hyaline remigium, while the vannus is in some cases pink (7) to ruby (10), in others mauve (75) to lilac (76) (see below).

With reference to this species, Rehn (1905: 38) examining a male and a female specimen from Sapucay (Paraguay), says: “in the male the caudal femora are obscurely bi-annulate with blackish-fuscous”. In the many specimens of this species I have examined, I have not found any with caudal femora as described by Rehn. It may be a lapsus calami, or we may suppose that the only male Rehn was examining belonged to another species.

Geographical distribution.— (Fig. 21). The species has been found in Brazil (States of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goias, São Paulo, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul; in Eastern Paraguay; in Argentina, provinces of Jujuy, Salta and Misiones; in Uruguay over most of its territory. Distribution in Argentina must certainly be greater than indicated by the few specimens at hand.

Habitat, bionomics, food plants.— Individuals of this species have been found in places with vegetation of tall grasses and herbaceous dicots. Little is known of its food plants and bionomics: Gangwere and Ronderos classify it as unselectively polyphagous, and state that its feces contain remnants of dicots.

Etymology.— From Latin juncus, meaning rush, referring to the habitat of this species, it being found on rushes.

Size.— The largest species in the genus. Male 45 mm; females 54 to 60 mm. Other measurements in Table 5.

Identification.— Integument rugose, tuberculate on pronotum. Pronotal dorsal carina low, rather indistinct on prozona, well marked on metazona, its upper surface between transverse sulci irregular or granulose. In the specimens measured the prozona was shorter than the metazona. Male terminalia (Fig. 7) with small rounded furculae placed close together, epiproct angulate at sides and posteriorly.

Chromatic characters.— General color olive-yellow (52). Tibiae-tarsi of all legs light red (11). Characteristic of this species is a small crescent-shaped black macula at the base of the rotular region of hind femora (Fig. 16), not found in any other of its group.

Geographical distribution.— (Fig. 21). Reported by several authors from Bolivia (Caiza); Paraguay (Rio Confuso); Argentina (Chaco, Salta, Jujuy, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires) and Uruguay.

Habitat, food plants, bionomics.— I have found this species only once in southern Uruguay: about a dozen individuals perching on rushes (Scirpus sp.) growing in water. It has been found in Argentina in exactly the same habitat. Whether rushes are fed on by the insects is not known. In fifty years' collecting in South America, I have never found the species again, not even in the place where I first collected them, which I have visited many times. The species is apparently a rare one.

Fig. 17.

Zoniopoda similis Bruner 1906; male from Brasil, Rio Grande do Sul, Ronda Alta. Length 34 mm.

Etymology.— Latin similis, meaning like, resembling. An adjective frequently used as a specific name without any definite meaning. In his description Bruner says that this species resembles Z. tarsata, and this can be taken as the meaning of similis in this particular instance. However, the likeness of this species with Z. tarsata isn't readily apparent.

Size.— Males from 31.2 mm to 37.2 mm. Females from 39 to 47.7 mm. Other measurements in Table 9.

Identification.— (Fig. 17) Integument rugose except on top of head and legs. Dorsal carina of pronotum low, smooth dorsally. In the specimens measured, the prozona was longer than the metazona in all males but one, and shorter than the metazona in all the females. Abdominal terminalia of male (Fig. 7) with furculae placed close together, pointed or rounded; epiproct with rounded caudal edge.

Chromatic characters.— Antennae cinnamon (39). Head, body, tegmina and legs (except for tarsi) olive-yellow (52) to sulphur-yellow (56). Very characteristic of this species are: a narrow yellow band running along dorsal carina of pronotum, and the bright red (11) color of the hind tarsi and tips of hind tibiae, this color also present but less intense on same parts of front and middle legs. Hind wings of all specimens examined are hyaline, tinted with lavender (77) towards the vannal region.

Geographical distribution.— (Fig. 21) Bolivia: Santa Cruz. Brasil: States of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goias, São Paulo, and Rio Grande do Sul. By the recorded distribution in Brasil it is very probable that it lives also in the intervening states of Santa Catarina and Parana. It has not been found in Uruguay.

Habitat, food-plants, bionomics.— Nothing on these subjects is recorded in the literature.

Fig. 18.

Zoniopoda mimicula Rehn 1909; male from Brasil, Mato Grosso, Chapada dos Guimaraes. Length 30 mm.

Etymology.— From Greek, mimos, an imitator, an actor. Rehn states in his description that this species closely resembles Z. iheringi, and this might be the reason of his naming this species as mimicula

Size.— Males 31 to 37 mm, females 42 to 50.5 mm. Other measurements in Table 6.

Identification.— (Fig. 18) Integument rugose, except on top of head and legs. Dorsal carina of pronotum almost obsolete on prozona, only slightly marked on metazona, its dorsal profile irregular between transverse sulci. In the specimens measured, prozona and metazona were of equal length or either one was slightly shorter or longer than the other. Male abdominal terminalia (Fig. 7) with very small, rounded furculae placed close together; epiproct slightly pointed caudad, with rounded edges.

Chromatic characters.— Antennal segments drab (27) with distal edges yellow. General color of head, body, tegmina and legs olive-yellow (52) to sulphur-yellow (56) except hind tibiae and tarsi which are light red (11). Hind wings of the few specimens examined have the remigium hyaline, and the vannus tinged with lilac (76).

Geographical distribution.— (Fig. 21) This species is reported from Brazil, states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Goias, from eastern Paraguay and from Prov. of Tucumán in Argentina. Its distribution is probably much larger than that recorded on the basis of the few specimens in collections.

Habitat, bionomics, food plants.— Nothing has been reported on these subjects.

Fig. 19.

Zoniopoda hempeli Bruner 1911; male from Brasil, Rio Grande do Sul, Ronda Alta. Length 31 mm.

Fig. 20.

Zoniopoda, group Tarsata, geographical distribution, species as indicated. Abbreviations: (Argentina, provinces) B. Air. Buenos Aires; E. Ri. Entre Rios; Cat. Catamarca; Cha. Chaco; Cor. Córdoba; Crr. Corrientes; For. Formosa; Juj. Jujuy; L. Pam. La Pampa; L. Ri. La Rioja; Men. Mendoza; Mis. Misiones; Sal. Salta; S. Ju. San Juan; S. Lu. San Luis; S. Fe, Santa Fe; Sgo.Est. Santiago del Estero; Tu. Tucumán. (Brasil, states) Ba. Bahia; DF. Distrito Federal; E.S. Espirito Santo; Go. Goias; M.Ger. Minas Gerais; M.Gr. Mato Grosso; M.Gr.S. Mato Grosso do Sul; Par. Parana; S. Ca. Santa Catarina; R.J. Rio de Janeiro; S.Pa. Sao Paulo; R.S. Rio Grande do Sol.

Fig. 21.

Zoniopoda, group Iheringi, geographical distribution, species as indicated. Abbreviations as in Fig. 20.

Fig. 22.

Zoniopoda, measurements taken (A, B, C, etc. see APPENDIX II, Tables 1 to 10).

Etymology.— Bruner dedicated this species to its collector, the entomologist A. Hempel of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Size.— Males range from 31.5 to 39.8 mm, females from 39.0 to 47.7 mm. See Table 3 for other measurements.

Identification.— This is the most common and abundant species of the Iheringi Group. Integument rugose except on top of head and legs. Pronotal median carina (Fig. 8) well marked throughout but not ridge-like, slightly irregular between transverse sulci. In all specimens measured the prozona was shorter than the metazona. Male abdominal terminalia (Fig. 7) made characteristic by wide, rounded furculae placed far apart, and epiproct with straight sides bent laterally at an obtuse angle and then meeting apically also in an obtuse angle.

Chromatic characters.— Antennal segments drab (27), yellow at distal ends and sides. Body and legs olive-yellow (52) to sulphur-yellow (57) except for hind tibiae and tarsi that are pale salmon color (6) or flesh color (5). Characteristic of this species are the veins of the tegmina which are spectrum-yellow (55): the subcosta and radius 1 and 2, being close together form conspicuous yellow lines at the limits of the discal and lateral parts of the tegmina. Also the second cubital and vannal veins 1 and 2 form another, less notable yellow line lower down on the tegmina. These bands are most visible in living and in well-preserved collection specimens: they can fade in poorly preserved ones. They are also better marked in specimens from the southern parts of the species' range, less so in those from the northern parts. Hind wings have the remigium hyaline, the vannus either pink (7) or lavender (77) in different individuals: specimens from the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso, Goias, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have pink wings, while those from southeastern Bolivia, eastern Paraguay, the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Rio Grande do Sul, have lavender wings.

Geographical distribution.— (Fig. 21) This species has been found over a large territory that includes the north of the Province of Junín in Peru, the southern part of the Province of Santa Cruz in Bolivia, most of Paraguay and the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, Goias, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul, (very probably also Santa Catarina and Parana). The specimens (in PHILADELPHIA) from the Province of Junín in Peru mark the most northern and western locality where a species of this genus has ever been found. They are labeled “Chanchamayo, 1000 m. Peru”, without indication of province or collector. Among several localities of this name in Peru, I have chosen the one in Junín as the most probable, since the River Chanchamayo in northern Junín flows at altitudes of about 1000 m. However, the presence of this species in Peru needs to be confirmed.

Habitat, food plants, bionomics.— Habitat of this species, as observed in northern Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and in Sapucay (eastern Paraguay) is vegetation consisting of tall herbaceous plants at the edges of native woods. Nothing is known of its food plants.