Ritchie,J. Mark

Ritchie, J Mark

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A Flightless Grasshopper of the genus Uganda Bolivar, from the Aberdares National Park, Kenya (Orthoptera, Acrididae)

JOURNAL
OF THE EAST AFRICA NATURAL HISTORY
SOCIETY AND NATIONAL MUSEUM
June 1992 Volume82 No 200
A FLIGHTLESS GRASSHOPPER OF THE GENUS UGANDA
BOLIVAR, FROM THE ABERDARES NATIONAL PARK,
KENYA (ORTHOPTERA, ACRIDIDAE)
J. MARK RITCHIE
InternationalInstituteof Entomology,
56Queen'sGate,London,SW7 5JR, UK.
ABSTRACT
A newspeciesof thegenusUg0nd4.U. darlinglOtllle,is describedfrommoorlandabove3000m in the
AberdaresNationalPut,KenYL The habitatof thespeciesis describedandmorphologicalcharacters
distinguishingU. darlUaglOtlllefrom theothermontanespeciesof thegenusaredescribedandfiguredwith
comparativemeasurements.
INTRODUCTION
The montanegrasshopperfaunaof Africa containsa numberof short-wingedspecieswhichare
usuallyrecognisablyderivedfromlowlandmacropterouspecies,asfor examplein suchgeneraas
CoryphosimaandEyprepocnemis.Uvarov(1977)commentedthatParacinemawasreplacedat
higheraltitudesby thecloselyrelatedbrachypterousgenusUganda.
The genusParacinemawaslastrevisedby Key (1936)whorecognisedtwospecies,
ParacinemalucJdentaKarschandP. tricolor ('Thunberg).P. luculentaoccursin WestandCentral
Africa (Togo,Ghana,SierraLeone,Zaire)whileP. tricolor occursthroughouthewetterpartsof
Africa andintoMadagascarandsouthernEurope. In EastAfrica, P. tricoloroccursassubspecies
montanaKey in Ethiopia(Wouramboulchi,or.DjemDjem),ataround2800metres(Key 1936).
Specimensof thenominatesubspecieshavebeenfoundataround2400metresin theImpenetrable
(Bwindi) Forest,SW Uganda(Ritchie,unpublished)andmaterialintermediatebetweenthetwo
subspecieswasrecordedfromthesamealtitudein Ethiopia(Key 1936).Bothspeciesof
Paracinemaaremacrq>terousalthoughin P.t. montanathetegminaandwingsonlyjust exceedthe
hindkneesin length.
The genusUgandawasdescribedby Bolivar (1909)withoutanyincludedspeciesandwaslater
placedby itsauthorin thegroupParacinemae(Bolivar 1914).He citedtwo includedspeciesof
whichone,thetypespecies,U.kilimandjarica(SjOstedt),occursatbetween2300and4300m on
ML Kilimanjaroin TanzaniawherethesyntypeserieswascollectedatKiboschoat3000m
(SjOstedt1909).The otherspecies,U.acUlipennisBolivar,wasapparentlycollectedatlow altitude
J. MaIk Ritchie•A f1ighdessgrasshowerfromtheAberdareRange,Kenya 34
on theSesseIslands,Lake Victoria.Uganda(Bolivar 1914).It is notmentionedagainin the
literatureafteritsoriginaldescriptionby Bolivar. Sincethisspecieshasnotbeenrecognised
subsequendyin collectionsfromlowlandsouthernUganda,theremustbesomesuspicionthatit is
nota memberof thegenusUgandabutabrachypterousrepresentativeof anotheracridinegenus,
suchasGymnobothrusor Gymnobothroides.The locationof thetypespecimensis unknowntome,
andno materialreferableto thisspecieshasbeenexamineddwing thisswdy.
The newspeciesof Ugandadescribedherewasrustbroughttomyattentionby Dr Johanna
Darlington,andis namedin herhonour.Most of thespecimenswerecollectedfromthevicinityof
Muir's Massif (0017'S36°37'E)at thenorthernendof theAberdaresRange,Kenyaataltiwdes
rangingfrom3250to 36SOmetres.Subsequentlya singlefemalewasfoundtohavebeencollected
in 1934at3700mon ML Kinangopatthesouthernendof theAberdareRange.
RESULTS
Key to montanespeciesof UgandIJ Bolivar
1. Largerspecies(Table 1). Total length:male,11.5- 13.8mm(mean12.99mm);female,
22.8- 27.5mm(mean24.32mm).Dorsumofpronotumwithpale,raised,shinylateralcarinae,
visiblein metazona swell asprozona(Fig. 1). Generalcolourationdarkbrown,withvariable
degreeof greencolourin somespecimens;hindfemlD'lqwerouterandinnerareasandhindtibia
distinctlyoomge-red.(Ki1imanjaro) U./dlimandjarica(SjOstedt)
2. Smallerspecies(Table2). Total length:male,10.1- 11.3mm(mean10.6mm);female,
18.1- 20.9mm(mean19.4mm).Dorsumofpronotumwithpale,raised,shinylateralcarinae
visiblein prozonaonly (Fig. 2). Generalco1owationgreenishor straw;hindfemurinnerareaand
hindtibiasometimesfaintlytingedwithorange-redbutlowerouterareaof femurneveroomge-red.
(Aberdares) U. darlingtonaesp.n.
Table 1. Measurements(mm)of adultmaterialof Ugandakilimandjarica(SjOst.edt)
fromML Kilimanjaro,Tanzania
TotalHeadPron tumTegmenF m rF r
length
width·lengthl t
Male
I
Mean
12.992.63.8439 08.
Rang
I 11 55-13.82.4-2.97- .4 4 28 92. -2. 5
Number
measured
77775
Female
M n
. 24.64.695 94 832 8- 7.43- .3515-5 60 81 3 17.3.05-3 7
Number measuredI
9
• acrossgenae
J. EANHS &NaL Mus. 8%(200)June 1992
3S J. Malt Ritdlie•A flightlessgrasshopperfromtheAberdareRange,Kenya
2mm
Figure1. UgandaIdlimmuljarica(SjOstedt) Figure2. U. darlinglOnaesp••••
headandpronotum,male,dorsalview
J. EANUS &:Nat.Mus.82(200)June1992
J. MaJt Ritchie•A flightlessgrasshopperfromtheAbetdareRange,Kenya
Table2. Measurements(mm)of all knownadultmatezialof Ugandadorlingtonaesp. D.
TotalHeadPronotwnTegmenF murFemur
length
width-len thl tlen h
Male
,..
Mean 10.572.19.338 71 84
Range
10 -11.25. -22.52-3.8 8.75 95
Number
measuredI
44
Female
M n
19.43 73.5 512.1 -20.95 3 83 6 -3.4 4- .655 12 5. -
' measuredI
5
- acrossgenae
DescriptioD01DeW spedes
Ugandadorlingtonaesp.n.
36
Male. Smallspecies(totallength10.1- 11.3mm)(Table2.). Antennawith 18segments,distinctly
shorterthanlengthof headandpronotumcombined(longerinParacin.emospecies).Interocular
distancelittlemorethanonethin1aslongaslongaxisof eye. Fronsoblique,curved;frontalridge
constrictedatapexto half itsbasalwidth,slightlysulcateatmedianocellus,smoothlyconvex
above,meetingvertexin acutelyroundedcurve;fastigiumof vertexlanceolate,angularin front,
roundedbehind.forminga shallowdepressionwith roundedmargins;fastigialfoveolaeabsenL
Pronotumweaklytectiformwithobtusemediancarina.crossedby posteriortransversesulcus;
latezalcarinaestraightin prozona,divergingforwards,convergingandobsolescentbeforeposterior
sulcus;metazonawithobtuseexcurvedouterlatezalcarinaeborderedinternallyby darkfascia
(Fig. 2); metazonaslightlyslKxterthanprozona.withroundedposteriormargin.Mesosternal
interspacerectangular,distinctlywiderthanlong(longerthanwidein ParQcin.emospecies).Elytra
andwingsreduced;elytralateral,1anceolate,touchingor slightlyoverlappingdorsally,with
reducedvenationandreticulation(Fig. 3), shiny,reachingtomiddleof thirdabdominalt.ergite;
tympanumwell developed,coveredby elytron. Hind femurabout4.5 timesaslongasmaximum
depth;lowerlobesof hindkneerounded;hindtibiaexpandedin apicalthird,with9 outerand10
innerspines;tibial spurslUlspecialised,aroliumof normalsize. Supra-analplatespade-like,
apicallyrounded,barelylongerthanwide;subgenitalplatesubconicalwithsubacuteapex. Cercus
elongate,fmger-like.Epiphallusvariable(Figs.4 & 5),of typicalacridineform,subrectangularto
rhomboidal,withwidely-spacedancoraeandbilobatetophi;aedeaguslenderandunspecialised,
withventtalsub-apicallobe(absentin P. tricolorbutpresentin U. /dlimandjaricaand
P.lucwenta).
J. EANHS &NaL Mus. 82(200)June 1992
37 1.Malt Ritchie•A OighdessgrasshopperfromtheAberdareRange,Kenya
2mm
Figure3. U. darlillglonae&p.II.thoraxandleft tegmen,latera1view
Figure4. FigureS.
1mm
Figures4 andS: U. darlinglonae&p.B. epiphallus,dorsalview.showingtherangeof variability
1.EANHS & NaL Mus. 81(200)1une1992
J. Mark Ritchie•A tlighdessgrasshopperfromtheAben:IareRange,Kenya 38
Colouration
Generalcoloura1ionpalegreenfadingto straw-colouredafterpreservation;antennaereddish-
brown;headbehindeyesandpronotumwithlongitudinalda1tchocolatebrownlateralfasciae
(Fig. 2) continuingonelytraandabdominalta'gites;lateralsurfacesof ponotum,meso-and
metanotumwith indistinctda1tmarkings;hindfemurwithdarklongitudinalfasciaalongupperhalf
of externalmedialarea.fadingtogroundcolourin lowerhalf; internalventralsurfacestraw-
coloured,sometimesfaindytingedwithpalered;hindkneelunulesda1tbrown;tibiaeandtarsi
straw-colouredwithor withoutfaintpaleorangeredtinge.spinesblacktipped.
Female
Similartomalebutmuchlargerandstockier(totallength18.1•2O.9mm).Hind femurinternal
ventralsurfaceandhindtibiadistincdyflushedwithpaleorange-red.Ovipositorshortwith robust
valvescurvingatapices.
Measurements
SeeTable2.
Materialexamined
KENYA: Holotypemale,3 male,4 femalepamtypes,1femalenymph.AberdaresNationalPark,
0°14'S 36°3S'30"E,AlchemillalEleusinelAndropogonlAgrostismoorland,SE footof Chebuswa,
alL 3250m, 19.iii.1987,(,TM.Ritchie)(1 maleparatypein BritishMuseum(NaturalHistory)
(BMNH), London,remainderin NationalMuseumsKenya(NMK), Nairobi); 1femalepamtype,
AberdaresNaL Pk, northend,Muir's Massif,0017'S36°37'E,alpinemoorland,alL 36S0m,
7.ix.198S(J.P .E.C. Darlington)(NMK); 1femalepamtype,AberdareRange,Mt. Kinangop,12000
fl, 3O.ix.1934,(F.W.Edwards)(BMNH).
DISCUSSION
Thepronotalmorphologyof thenewspeciesalliesit withP. tricolor,especiallyin thepresenceof
anteriordorso-latera1carinaewhichreachonlyasfarastherusttransversesulcus(Fig. 2). In
P.lucidenta thereareno suchcarinaeandin Ugandakilimtwljarica thecarinaecontinue
posteriorlybeyondtherust sulcus(Fig. 1). The distinctivepairof darklongitudinaldorsalbands
onthepronotumalsoalliesU. dmUngtonaetoP. tricolor.However,thegenitaliaandgeneral
aweanmceof U. dmUngtonaeindicatea verycloserelationshipwith U. kilimlwljarica. The
epiphallusandaedeagusof thetwotaxaarenotreadilydistinguishable,suggestingarecentcom-
monancestry,perhapsduringa periodof climaticameliorationduringthePleistocene«I million
yearsbefexepresent)whichcouldhaveenlargedtheavailableareaof moorlandhabitatsufflciendy
topermitexchangeof popu1ationsbetweenML KilimanjaroandtheAberdareRangenearly
300kIDapart.
Themontanemoorlandhabitat
The AbenJaresRange.togetherwith Mt. Kenya,SOkmto theeast,foon theeasternhighlandsof
KenyaseparatedfromtheWesternhighlandsby theGregoryRift Valley. The Aberdaresarethe
highestmountainnmgein KenyaafterML KenyaandMt. Elgon. The climateatabove3000mis
extreme.with frequentnightfrosts. For muchof thedaythesunis concealedby cloudandrain
fallsalmostdaily. The temperatureregimeduringMarchandApril in a similarhabitaton thewest
sideof ML Kenyawasexaminedby BecketaI.(1981)who foundthatin anaverageperiodof
J. EANHS &NaL Mus. 82(200)June 1992
39 J. Mark Ritchie•A flighdessgrasshopperfromtheAberdareRange,Kenya
24hours,theair temperatureatgroundlevelwasbelowOOCfor morethan6 hoursandbetween00
and5°for a further6 hours. OveralltemperalUl'eSvariedbetween-5°C and25OC.At a depthof 20
mmbelowthesoil swfacethelow temperatureswerelesssevere,seldomfallingbelowOOCbut
averagingmorethan12hoursbetween00andSOC.
The vegetationon Muir's Massif is shownin Plate 1. This is typicalof thehabitatwhere
U. darlbagtollllewascollected(3650m)butwithlessbaregroWldandthickervegetationthanthe
slighdylowercollectinglocalityatthefootof Chebuswa(3250m). Theafromontanemoorlandof
thenorthernAb«dare Rangeis anopenhabitatwithdwarfshrubs,herbsandgrasses.
In themoreopenareasof truemoorlandatthefootof Chebuswahill theflora is dominatedby
grasses,of which 10- 20%coveris accountedfor by tussocksof Eleusinejaegeri Pilg., 20 - 30%
byAndropogonametlaystinusSteud.and10%byEragrostisschweinfurtlaiiChiov. Festuca
abysswca A. Rich. OCCUIS occasionallyandthedwarfshrubAlchemjllaargyrophyllaOlivois also
presenLUp to20%of theareais baresoil asa resultof theactivitiesof molerats(l'achyoryctes
splendens(RUppell).ForbsincludeAnagalliscf. serpensD.C., TrifoliumcryptopodiumA. Rich.
(common),AnthemistigrensisA. Rich., GeraniumarabicumForssk.(frequent),Gnaplaaliumluteo-
albumL. andTrifoliumrueppellionumFresen. In thishabitatU. darlingtonaewasfoundbutwas
lesscommonthananotherflighdessgrasshopper,Coryphosimasp.,which is perhapsthemost
noticeableinvertebrateatthisaltitude.
Within theopenmoorlandhabitat,somedenserpatchesof vegetationoccur,withupto 75%
coverof A. argyroplaylla nd20%coverof a smallaussockgrass,Agrostiscf. gracilij"olia
C.E. Hubbard. Herbsandbaregroundmakeuptheremaining5%,withEuphorbiabrevicornuPax.
(common),Saturejakilimandsclaari(GoerkeHedb.)(frequent),andPolygonumafroltWntanum
Greenway.T. ruepellianumandyoungHypericumrevolutumVahl ssp.lceniense(Schweinf.)
N. Robsonasoccasionals.HerealsoU. darlingtollllewaspresent,butonly emergedfromthe
denseAgrostistussocksandAlchemillaandbecameactivewhentheSWlhadbeenshiningfor half
anhourandtheair temperaturehadbegunto feelpleasandywarm{c.15°C). Theonsetof rain
towardsmiddaycausedtheinsectstodisappearonceagain.
NearChebuswaHill themoorlandgradesintoaHageniawoodland/Stoebebushlandmosaic
withscatteredtreesof Hageniaabysswca (Bruce)J.P. Gmel. HerethecommonshrubsareStoebe
kilimmulscharicaO. Hoffm. vardensiflDraO. Hoffm.,H.lcenienseandA. argyroplaylla,
P. afroltWntanum,ErlangeafuscaS. Moore,HebenstretiadentalaL. andClutia Idlimandscharica
Bogl.· The herbsincludeatleastninespeciesandtherearefourscramblersandclimbers.
U. darlingtonaewasnotfoundwithinthisformationthoughit maywell occur. In suchanextreme
habitatit is likely thata graminivorousgrasshopper like Ugandawould tendtospendmostof its
periodsof activityin moreopenareaswith grassesofferinggreateropportWlitiestobaskandfeed
duringtheinfrequentperiodsof brightsWlshine.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I amindebtedtoDr Hent Beentjefor hiscompanyon a collectingtripto thenorthernAberdares
andfor identifyingtheprincipalplantspeciesoccurringin themoorlandhabitatof P. darlinglOIllle.
ThanksarealsoduetoDr JohannaDarlingtonwhoprovideda photographof themoorlandbelow
Muir's Massif. I amgratefulto theDirector,Wildlife ConservationandManagementDepartment,
Ministry of TourismandWildlife, Kenya,for permissiontowork:in theAberdaresNationalPark:.
Mr. QuentinLuke kindlyprovidedtheplantauthorities•
•
The typespecimenhasbeendestroyed.This is probablyClutia robuslDPax, butwouldbe
calledC. lcilimandsclaaricaEngl. if it couldbeprovedthattheyaresynonomous.
J. EANHS &NaL Mus. 82 (200)JWle 1992
J. Mark Ritchie •A flightlessgrasshopperfromtheAberdareRange,Kenya
J. EANHS &:NaL Mus. 81 (200)June 1992
40
41 J. Mart Ritchie•A f1ighdessgrasshopperfromtheAbezdareRange,Kenya
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NaIIII'ales. Mildrid. (SerleZoologica) no20. 110pp.
KEY K.HL. (1936)A revisionof thegenusParacinemaFisch. (0rIh0ptera).Transactio1lSof the
Royal ElllomologicalSocietyofLoNlo" 85:(16)379- 399.
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UVAROVB.P. (1977)Grasshoppersandlocusts.Vol. U. London,Cenarefor OverseasPest
Research.613pp.
Manuscriptreceived:2January1992
Editor:C.F. DewhUlSt
J. EANHS &; NIL Mus. 82(200)rune 1992


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A Flightless Grasshopper of the genus Uganda Bolivar, from the Aberdares National Park, Kenya (Orthoptera, Acrididae)

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