Pseudoscopas itapuensis, Costa & Acosta & Timm & Zefa, 2025

Costa, Maria Kátia Matiotti Da, Acosta, Riuler Corrêa, Timm, Vítor Falchi & Zefa, Edison, 2025, Three new species of grasshoppers Dichroplini (Orthoptera: Acrididae Melanoplinae) from State of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil, Zootaxa 5613 (2), pp. 279-293 : 282-287

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5613.2.4
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F312E5F2-EA17-4828-9BB6-8D4B07BB102A
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15230844
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5B2587D4-3C63-FFBF-FF12-F954FDC721ED
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Pseudoscopas itapuensis
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Pseudoscopas itapuensis sp. nov. Matiotti da Costa, 2024

( Figs 3A–B View FIGURE 3 ; 4A–4L View FIGURE 4 ; 5A–B View FIGURE 5 )

Type locality. Parque Estadual de Itapuã , Viamão, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (30°20’48.58”S, 51° 1’33.14”W) ( Fig. 9A–D View FIGURE 9 ) GoogleMaps .

Depository. Holotype and paratype of Pseudoscopas itapuensis sp. nov. (01 male and 04 females). Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia da PUCRS ( MCTP) .

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the Parque Estadual de Itapuã, where these grasshoppers were first sampled.

Diagnosis. (i) epiproct subtriangular with sulci well marked longitudinally in the median region, and with four protuberances; (ii) cerci short, sclerotized apex bordered by three inner projections; cerci toothed on the inner part; (iii) lophi of the epiphallus rounded and sclerotized; (iv) anterior projections and anchorae of epiphallus of the same size; (v) furculae sclerotized and separated in two lobes.

Description. Male Holotype ( Figs 3A–B View FIGURE 3 ; 4A–G View FIGURE 4 ). Body medium in size (15 mm length). Micropterous. Head. Prominent and ovoid eyes. Fastigium subtriangular, short with wide deep marked sulci ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Front subvertical. Antennae filiform, with 18 antennomeres. Interocular space narrow ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Thorax. Pronotum with horizontal disc, without saliences between three transverse sulci, slightly wider than the head and prothorax together; presence of the median carinae with prominence; anterior and posterior edge without emargination ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Tegmina short, lobuliform, lateral, surpassing the first uromere ( Figs 3A View FIGURE 3 , 4A View FIGURE 4 , 5A View FIGURE 5 ). Abdomen. carinated dorsally ( Figs 3A View FIGURE 3 , 4A View FIGURE 4 ), tympanum present, subgenital plate short and acutely at the apex ( Figs 4D–E View FIGURE 4 ). Cerci triangular with apex bordered by three inner projections; cerci toothed on the inner part. Furculae well developed, sclerotized and separated into two large, inverted V-shaped saliences; epiproct subtriangular with sulcus, depressions bearing four saliences in the median region. Pallium with small and salient lobes ( Figs 4D, 4F View FIGURE 4 ). Phallic complex. Cingulum with long apodemes, arch developed; gonopore with a rectangular ventral projection ( Fig. 4F View FIGURE 4 ); aedeagus long with upper and lower valves of the same size; sclerites of aedeagus covered by the wide ectophallic sheath ( Fig. 4F View FIGURE 4 ). Epiphallus with plan bridge and with median reentrancy; anchorae of the same size than of the anterior projections; prominent, rounded and sclerotized; with internal conical protuberance ( Fig. 4G View FIGURE 4 ).

Coloration

Body brown ( Figs 3A View FIGURE 3 , 4A View FIGURE 4 , 5A View FIGURE 5 ). Head mostly brown-light with a black pair of retro-ocular bands that take part of the genae and continue in the dorsal half of the pronotum lateral; lobes, tegmina, pleural and sides of the abdomen of the ivory coloration. Antennae brown. Fastigium brown ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ). Dorsally brown spots in pronotum and narrow ivory-colored dorsal band across the entire length of the head and pronotum ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ). Lateral lobes of the pronotum with an ivory band ( Figs 3A View FIGURE 3 , 5A View FIGURE 5 ). Tegmen brown, with a narrow ivory band surrounding the dorsal portion of the wing ( Figs 3A View FIGURE 3 , 4A View FIGURE 4 , 5A View FIGURE 5 ). Genicular lunules black. Legs I, II and II green, with tarsus tip, arolium and claws red color; genicular lobe black; tibiae III blue green ( Figs 3A View FIGURE 3 , 4A View FIGURE 4 , 5A View FIGURE 5 ). Lateral segments of the abdomen with dark black spots.

Female. Larger in size to male, robust (body length 18 mm) ( Figs 3B View FIGURE 3 , 4H View FIGURE 4 , 5B View FIGURE 5 ). Head dorsal brown ( Figs 4I–J View FIGURE 4 ); fastigium more prominent and wider than in males and with brown spots; eyes more prominent lateral ( Figs 4H–I View FIGURE 4 ); retro-ocular bands that take part of the genae and continue in the dorsal half of the pronotum lateral lobes brownish. Interocular space wider ( Figs 4H–I View FIGURE 4 ). Pronotum dorsally light brown, with several punctures. Dorsally brown spots in pronotum and thicker ivory-colored dorsal band across the entire length of the head and pronotum ( Fig. 2I View FIGURE 2 ). Lateral lobes of the pronotum with an ivory band, from upper to lower portion more salient ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Legs I and II green, with tarsus reddish, tibiae III blue green ( Figs 3B View FIGURE 3 , 4H View FIGURE 4 ). Ovipositor valves short in lateral view and margins slightly serrated ( Fig. 4K View FIGURE 4 ); dorsal valve of the ovipositor robust and apical tooth of the external ventral valve of ovipositor little prominent. Hind edge of the female subgenital plate forming two large lobes on both sides and without sclerotization ( Fig. 4L View FIGURE 4 ). Cerci short, conical, not reaching the epiproct tip ( Fig. 4K View FIGURE 4 ). Epiproct subtriangular with median sulcus well marked, interrupted transversely in the median region.

Habitat and Habits. Individuals of P. itapuaensis sp. nov. were collected between 1 and 4 pm in the edge of forest with many pteridophytes and even Brachiaria ( Poaceae ) ( Fig. 5C View FIGURE 5 ). Males were found mainly on stems of small plants, up to 50 cm above the ground. Females, on the other hand, were found mainly close to the ground.

Measurements (mm): Male (n = 1): BL = 15.1; PL = 0.3; FL3 = 0.7; TL = 0.3. Female (n = 4): BL = 18.2 (17.1–18.2); PL = 0.5 (0.4–0.5); FL3 = 0.9 (0.8–0.9); TL = 0.4 (0.3– 0.4).

Type material. Holotype ♂ and 4 Paratypes ♀ ( MCTP). BRAZIL: Rio Grande do Sul, municipality of Viamão, Parque Estadual de Itapuã, 20.x.2022, Acosta , R. C. leg . Holotype condition: genitalia were extracted and maintained in holotype’s tube.