Bajatettix, 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

Bajatettix gen. nov.

Figs 2 B , 3 G , 6 A , 8 A–D , 9 A , 10 A–F , 11

Generic description.

External morphology. Small (17.2–22.3 mm), apterous grasshoppers (Figs 2 B , 6 A ). Head moderately sized and equal in width to the anterior edge of the prozona; vertex between the eyes much wider than the basal antennomere; fastigium broadly rounded being more pronounced dorsally than ventrally, with a dorsal shallow medial depression that is broad apically and narrow caudally. Eyes prominent, especially in males. Three ocelli present. Antennae filiform, usually with 20–23 flagellomeres in males, and 21–25 in females, nearly cylindrical, but slightly flattened dorso-ventrally, especially the distal two articles, 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 short, broad, and bluntly rounded distally. Pronotum convex in cross section, anterior margins broadly rounded, posterior margin truncate, medial carina cut by three sulci, lateral carinae absent and humeral margins rounded. Prozona punctate; lateral lobes with parallel lateral margins and the ventral margin sharply angled caudally. Metazona punctate throughout, with humeral margins rounded and in dorsal view, slightly diverging posteriorly. Median carina low, almost indistinct. 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 quadrate, being as long as broad. Tegmina absent. Pro- and meso-thoracic legs not robust or inflated appearing. Hind femur enlarged with basal end bi-lobed. Hind tibia with 7 or 8 pairs of spines, but typically 8. Tympanum present, appearing as an opaque whitish disk. Abdomen cylindrical with distal portion distinctly, but not greatly enlarged in males. Terminalia of the male with short furcula that are widely separated at their bases (Fig. 8 A, B ). Supra-anal plate (Fig. 8 A, B ) broadly triangular, being broader than long, median grove notably indistinct. (Fig. 8 A ). Cercus of the male (Figs 3 G , 8 A, B ) triangular, being longer than wide, acutely pointed distally. Subgenital plate with a low, but even dorsal margin, and a distinct median carina (Fig. 8 A ).

Phallic structures. The dorsal valves of the aedeagus are produced as broadly rounded plates in lateral view and in dorsal view are slanted caudally approximately 30 degrees medially to distally. The dorsal valves are widest in the middle and taper more sharply toward the distal end than at the base (Fig. 8 C, E ). In dorsal view, are parallel and join medially to form a quadrate process that extends slightly beyond the dorsal valves. In lateral view, the ventral valves appear as blunt tipped acutely angled triangle (Fig. 8 D, F ). In caudal view, the dorsal valves are broad arches, and the ventral valves meet medially to form a concave channel (Fig. 8 G ). Rami of the cingulum expanded into a broad plate in lateral view (Fig. 8 D, F ). Zygoma obsolete. The epiphallus is of the typical melanoploid shape, having lophi, ancorae, and an undivided bridge (Fig. 8 H, I ). More precisely, the epiphallus of Bajatettix have a slightly concave bridge, acutely sloping lophi with a broadly rounded apex, convexly curved lateral plates that are subdeltate in shape with a rounded anterior lobe and a rounded caudal tip, and ancora that are triangular, often tapering to a point (Fig. 8 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 (Fig. 9 A ). Terminalia of female with triangular cerci and ovipositor valves that are subequal in length. The dorsum of the dorsal valves is nodose to slightly serrate proximally and concave and upcurving to a tip distally; the ventral valves have ventral margins curving basally and then about mid-point abruptly straighten distally (Fig. 9 A ).

Coloration overall ecru (grayish yellow) with raw umber (dark brown) bands on the head, mesothorax, abdomen, and hind femur (Figs 6 A , 8 J , 10 A – F ). Antenna ecru. Head ecru with a raw umber stripe on the gena. Pronotum with prozona ecru without a post ocular stripe; Mesothorax cinereous raw umber; metathorax ecru. The fore and middle legs ecru and unmarked. Hind femur ecru with an oblique cinereous raw umber band laterally that continues onto the dorsum; a dark crescent at the upper lateral femorotibial joint; hind femur coral red with black tipped spines. Abdomen ecru with a lateral raw umber stripe on some segments, especially in line with the oblique band on the hind femur.

Diagnosis.

Bajatettix lacks wings which easily differentiates it and Psilotettix from Oedomeris and other melanoplines on the Baja peninsula. The body surface of Bajatettix is generally smooth with the mesothorax and metathorax covered with a broad dark band (Figs 2 B , 6 A ), whereas the surface of Psilotettix is rugose and punctate and variously colored.

Type species.

Bajatettix cabopulmoensis sp. nov.

Etymology.

Prefix “ Baja - “ from Baja California, where the genus is endemic, and the suffix “ - tettix ” (Greek) meaning grasshopper.

Suggested common name.

Saltadorito from the Spanish meaning tiny leaper.

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

Figure 10. Bajatettix images from iNaturalist A male is lateral view B male in dorsal view C male in semi-anterior view D male in dorsal view E male feeding on cactus fruit F pair in copula Photo credit: James Baily (A – C), Jim Roberts (D, E), Michael Schmidt (F).

Figure 11. Distribution of Bajatettix cabopulmoensis.