Horatosphaga scalata Hemp, 2019

Massa, Bruno, 2022, New and less known Orthoptera from biodiversity hotspots of Mozambique and Zambia (Tettigoniidae; Acrididae), Fragmenta entomologica 54 (1), pp. 27-44 : 30

Horatosphaga scalata Hemp, 2019

Material examined. Zambia: Redcliff Zambezi Lodge , Luangwa, Lepiled Light Trap 11-17.III.2019, V. Dérozier, M. Imakando, W. Miles, L. Mulvaney ( 2♂) ; Zambia: Redcliff Zambezi Lodge , Luangwa, Actinic Light Trap 11-17. III.2019, V. Dérozier, M. Imakando, W. Miles, L. Mulvaney ( 2♂, 1♀) ; Zambia: Bruce-Miller Farm , Choma, Lepiled Light Trap 28.II-8.III.2019, V. Dérozier, M. Imakando, W. Miles, L. Mulvaney ( 1♂) ; Zambia: Bruce-Miller Farm , Choma, Actinic Light Trap 28.II-8.III.2019, V. Dérozier, M. Imakando, W. Miles, L. Mulvaney ( 9♂) ; Zambia: Gwabi River Lodge , Chirundu, Actinic Light Trap 8-11.III.2019, V. Dérozier, M. Imakando, W. Miles, L. Mulvaney ( 1♂) ; Zambia: Gwabi River Lodge , Chirundu, MV Light Trap 8-11.III.2019, V. Dérozier, M. Imakando, W. Miles, L. Mulvaney ( 1♂) ; Zambia: Lakeview Lodge , Sinazongwe ( 493m), MV Light Trap 23-28.II.2019, V. Dérozier, M. Imakando, W. Miles, L. Mulvaney ( 1♂) ( ANHRT).

Remarks. Characters of the above listed specimens match quite well with those of H. scalata (cf. Figs 8a, 8c, 8d, 8e and compare them with figures in Hemp & Heller 2019), known only from central Tanzania ( Hemp 2021). H. scalata belongs to a group of species with an unmodified tenth abdominal tergite, hind wings longer than forewings, and tympanic auricles inflated in the male; interestingly, H. hemporum Massa, 2021 from Zambia belongs to the same group too ( Massa 2021a).

Description of the female. Similar in size and colour as male (cf. Hemp in Hemp & Heller 2019), tympanic auricles of fore tibiae conchate, not inflated, tegmina shorter and wider, and hind wings stronger reduced than in male, ca. 4.0 mm long ( Fig. 8b ). Subgenital plate with triangular apex. Ovipositor stout, slightly up-curved and strongly serrated ( Fig. 8f ). Cerci thick and short.

Measurements of the female (in mm). Body length: 23.6; length of pronotum: 6.3; height of pronotum: 3.7; length of hind femora: 29.9; length of tegmina: 29.8; width of tegmina: 9.8; length of ovipositor: 13.8.

Figures

Fig. 8 – Horatosphaga scalata Hemp, 2019 from Zambia: a, habitus of the male; b, habitus of the female; c, tympanic auricles of fore tibiae in the male; d, male cerci and subgenital plate in dorsal view; e, stridulatory file under the left tegmen of male; f, lateral view of the ovipositor.