Ozmacris, Hill, 2025

Hill, JoVonn G., 2025, Two new genera of grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae) from Baja California, Mexico, with a regional key to the genera of Melanoplinae, ZooKeys 1238, pp. 75-97 : 75-97

Ozmacris gen. nov.

Figs 2 C , 3 H , 6 B , 9 B , 12 A–J , 13 A–E , 14 A–D , 15 A–D , 16

Generic description.

External morphology. A genus of small (15.0– 23.5 mm), brachypterous grasshoppers (Figs 2 C , 6 B 12 J). Head moderately sized and in equal in width to the anterior edge of the prozona; vertex between the eyes much wider than the basal antennomere; fastigium broad rounded, being more pronounced dorsally than ventrally, with a narrow deep medial depression dorsally, and a broad, shallow depression anteriorly. Eyes somewhat prominent, especially in males. Three ocelli present. Antennae filiform, usually with 22 flagellomeres in males, and 24–25 in females; nearly cylindrical, but slightly flattened dorso-ventrally; equal in width throughout, except two basal articles. Clypeus trapezoidal with lateral sulci and a shallow medial notch on the ventral edge. Thorax with prosternal spine well developed, broadly rounded distally. Pronotum convex in cross section, anterior margins sub-truncate, posterior margin broadly rounded, medial carina cut by three sulci, lateral carinae absent and humeral margins rounded. Prozona mostly smooth, but with light rugulation dorsally; lateral lobes broadly rounded (more so in females) with parallel lateral margins and the ventral margin sharply angled caudally. Metazona lighly punctate anteriorly and heavily punctate caudally, with humeral margins rounded and in dorsal view, slightly diverging posteriorly. Median carina low, but distinct throughout, except where the sulci cross it. Anterior, median, and posterior sulci are apparent, and all dissect the median carina and nearly reach the ventral margin of the lateral lobes. Lateral pronotal margins broadly rounded throughout. Interspace between mesosternal lobes nearly twice as long as broad. Tegmina elongate lobate with rounded apicies; dorsal margins broadly separated dorsally, strongly veined, and extending little past the anterior margin of the second abdominal tergite. Pro and meso thoracic legs not robust or inflated appearing. Hind femur enlarged with basal end bi-lobed. Hind tibia with 10 or 11 pairs of spines, but typically 10. Tympanum present under tegmina, appearing as an opaque whitish disk. Abdomen cylindrical with distal portion distinctly, but not greatly enlarged in males. Terminalia of the male without furcula (Fig. 12 A, B ). Supra-anal plate (Fig. 12 A, B ) broadly triangular, being broader than long, with the anterior margin distinctly bi-lobate; the median groove anteriorly distinct with elevated sides but only extending approximately over half the plate (Fig. 12 A ). A low carina divides the apical and caudal halves and terminates in mid-distal short lateral spinules. Cercus of the male (Figs 3 H , 12 A, B ) subquadrate, but longer than wide, with a small tooth on the ventral apical margin. species, Subgenital plate with a low, but even margin.

Phallic structures. The dorsal valves of the aedeagus are produced as cuneiform plates that are sculptured with small serrations and are slightly shorter than the ventral valves (Fig. 12 C, E ). The ventral valves are linear, parallel plates with distinct angles along the disto-lateral margins. They have a smoother texture and are slightly longer than the dorsal valves (Fig. 12 C – G ). The epiphallus is of the typical melanoploid shape, having lophi, ancorae, and an undivided bridge, but more precisely, Ozmacris has a concave bridge, broadly bidentate lophi, concavely curved lateral plates that are subdeltate in shape with an angular anterior lobe and caudal tip, and ancora that are triangular (Fig. 12 H, I ). See Fig. 7 for labeled image.

Females are similar to the males, but differ in being larger, more robust, and in the shape of the terminalia (Figs 9 B , 13 A – D , 14 B – D , 15 A – C ). Terminalia of female with triangular cerci and ovipositor valves that are subequal in length. The dorsal valves with their dorsal margin nodose proximally and slightly serrate distally, and with the distal apices concave and upcurving to a tip. The ventral valves with their ventral margins straight basally and then arching distally (Fig. 9 B ).

Coloration light citron (green with a yellow tinge) overall, with individual variation that can have extremities with a light tan hue (Figs 2 C , 6 B , 9 B , 12 J , 14 A – D , 15 A – D ). Antenna light testaceous (dull brick-red). Head citron with black markings, including a dorsal more or less broken, black band which follows the sulcus of the fastigium and broadens caudally, and a broad post-ocular stripe. Genae citron. Pronotum citron with an olivaceous tinge; lateral lobes marked with the post-ocular stripe beginning just behind the anterior border of the prozona across the mesosoma and then disappearing on the metazoa; disk with median carinae and two subdorsal lines. Tegmina black on the lower two-thirds, above third white (3 A, 13 A – E). The fore and middle legs unmarked. Hind femur pallid citron, the entire geniculation except most of the lower lobe black; hind tibia brownish citron to pale blue with black spines. Abdomen with a narrow medial black stripe; medial carinae citron or testaceous depending on the individual.

Diagnosis.

Ozmacris is a medium-sized, brachypterous green grasshopper with bicolored tegmina, which easily differentiates it from other melanoplines on the peninsula (Figs 2 C , 6 B ). It is separated from Barytettix in having oval tegmina, toothed male cerci, a subgenital plate that is not conical, and a distinct overall aedeagus shape. Ozmacris differs from Sinaloa by having bi-colored tegmina, toothed male cerci, less developed furculae, and a distinct overall aedeagus shape.

Type species.

Barytettix peninsulae Scudder, 1897 (by original designation).

Etymology.

Ozmacris is a combination of “ Ozama ” after Princess Ozma from L. Frank Baum’s Ozma of Oz ( Baum 1907) and acris from the Greek word for grasshopper. The name is a reference to the scene where Princess Ozma is transformed by the Nome King into an emerald-green grasshopper ornament beneath the Deadly Desert. Baum (1907: 180) described the scene: “ The room was quite empty of life after that. The Nome King had gained a new ornament, for upon the edge of the table rested a pretty grasshopper, seemingly crafted from a single emerald. It was all that remained of Ozma of Oz ”.

Suggested common name.

I designate the word ‘ bauble’ as the common name for this genus of grasshopper. This name evokes the image of the grasshopper as a shiny, jewel-like object or trinket.

Figures

Figure 2. Habitus of melanopline genera of Baja California A Psilotettix B Bajatettix C Ozmacris showing brachypterous bicolored tegmina D Oedomerus E Barytettix F Hesperotettix G Aeoloplides showing macropterous tegmina H Oedaleonotus.

Figure 3. Anatomy of select melanoplines of Baja, California A tegmen of Ozmacris peninsulae B tegmen of Barytettix C pronotum dorsum of Barytettix D pronotum dorsum of Oedomerus E pronotum dorsum of Hesperotettix F pronotum dorsum of Aeoloplides G cerci of Bajatettix H cerci of Ozmacris I cerci of Oedaleonotus J cerci of Barytettix K cerci of Aeoloplides.

Figure 6. Males A Bajatettix cabopulmoensis B Ozmacris peninsulae. Produced by Joe MacGown.

Figure 7. Morphology of the male phallic complex used in this work A dorsal view of the phallic complex B lateral view of the phallic complex C epiphallus dorsal and caudal views D caudal view of the aedeagus.

Figure 9. Female habitus of showing ovipositor valves A Bajatettix cabopulmoensis B Ozmacris peninsulae.

Figure 12. Ozmacris peninsulae A dorsal view of male terminalia B lateral view of male terminalia C dorsal view of phallic complex D lateral view of phallic complex E dorsal view of aedeagus F lateral view of aedeagus G caudal view of the aedeagus H dorsal view of epiphallus I caudal view of epiphallus J habitus.

Figure 13. Type specimen images of Ozmacris peninsulae A lateral habitus view B dorsal view of head and thorax C tegmina D lateral view of head and thorax E type labels.

Figure 14. Ozmacris images from iNaturalist A male in dorsolateral view B female in lateral view C another female in lateral view D group image showing multiple individuals — white arrows indicate Ozmacris specimens while the central individual is likely part of the Melanoplus aridus group. Photo credits: Alvero San Jose Elizundia (A), Lauren Harter (B), Damon Tighe (C, D).

Figure 15. Ozmacris image form iNaturalist A female in dorsal view B female in dorso-lateral view C female in antero-dorsal view D male is dorso-lateral view. Photo credits: Dan Fitzgerald (A), Demente Villegas (B), Lauren Harter (C), Tania Perez Fiol (D).

Figure 16. Distribution of Ozmacris peninsulae.