Ozmacris peninsulae (Scudder), 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 peninsulae (Scudder) comb. nov.

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

Barytettix peninsulae Scudder, 1897: 28; Rehn and Hebard 1912: 74; Otte and Cohn 2002.

Sinaloa peninsulae (Scudder): Bruner 1908: 305; Hebard 1925: 288; Otte 1995: 413.

Diagnosis.

Ozmacris peninsulae is a medium-sized, brachypterous, greenish grasshopper with bicolored (black and white) oval tegmina (Figs 2 C , 6 B ). The green coloration and shape and color of the tegmina separate it from most other melanoplines on the Baja peninsula. It can be further distinguished from Barytettix in having a non-conical subgenital plate and toothed male cerci. While the genus is monotypic, the characters of the male terminalia and genitalia typically used for species-level identification in the Melanoplinae are detailed in the generic description above and illustrated in Fig. 12 A – I .

Male measurements

(mm). (n = 1). Body length 15.0; pronotum length 4.1; tegmen length 2.1; hind femur length 11.6; cerci length 0.9; basal width of cercus 0.3; mid-cercal width 0.3; cerci apex width 0.3.

Phallus measurements

(mm). (n = 1). Length 0.6; apex width 0.2; middle width 0.5; basal width 0.5. Because both pairs of valves are largely parallel and fit closely together the structures were measured as a single unit.

Female measurements

(mm). (n = 3). Body length 18.6–23.5 (mean = 21.2); pronotum length 4.2–5.0 (mean = 4.6) tegmen length 2.5–3.2 (mean = 2.9); hind femur length 10.5–13.2 (mean = 11.8); dorsal ovipositor valve length 1.7–2.0 (mean = 1.7); ventral ovipositor valve length 1.3–1.7 (mean = 1.7).

Holotype.

Lower California • 1 ♀; G. Eisen Deposited in the California Academy of Science.

Specimens examined.

Mexico • Baja California Sur, 1 ♀; Cabo San Lucas ; 17 October 1974 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; 3 km S Todos Santos at Km 55.5 ; 28 August 1995; el 120 m; DB Weissman, DC Lightfoot ( DB Weissman Stop # 95–89) • 1 ♀ 11.2 km S Todos Santos on road to Todos Santos ; 27 September 1979, DB Weissman, DC Lightfoot; # 79–208 .

iNaturalist observation numbers.

252092963, 191705108, 188043064, 99096505, 98953983, 17968068, 19187122.

Habitat.

From personal communication with Dave Weissman: “ At S 95–89, we were specifically looking for B. peninsulae . The GPS for the near exact spot is 23.418251 - 110.214600, 23 m elevation. The vegetation was scrub thorn but heavily overgrazed. The area had had adequate rain by the vegetation. We searched for 1 hour looking for hoppers. We checked many plants and stomped a lot of bushes. The last instar male and female that we collected were both in bushes, most of which had few leaves. They were a bitch to catch when we saw them and my notes say that we got both that we saw. Nothing on the ground. I had my colleague Bruce Bartholomew ( CAS Dept of Botany) ID some branches that I brought back: Ruellia californica × peninsularis ( Acanthaceae ) was his tentative ID but made difficult since I am not sure if there were even leaves present. ”

Distribution.

Ozmacris peninsulae is known only from the Cape Region of Baja California (Fig. 16 ).

Suggested Common Name.

Baja bauble.

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 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.