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New record of genusNew record of genus EremopezaEremopeza
Sauss. (Orthoptera: Pamphagidae)Sauss. (Orthoptera: Pamphagidae)
from Sindh, Pakistanfrom Sindh, Pakistan
By:By:
RIFFAT SULTANARIFFAT SULTANA
4. 4
Grasshoppers and locusts are ancient enemies to agriculture
they pose constant threat to value crops due to this, a number
of areas have suffered from deprivation; entire regions have
had to be discarded (Appert & Deuse, 1982).Because of this
destructive behavior long ago attracted man’s attention.
Amongst the grasshopper fauna Pamphagidae is worth of
important containing 93 genera and nearly 600 species or
subspecies in the world which mainly distribute in
mountainous or semi-desert area in Africa, Europe and Asia.
NEW RECORD OF GENUS EREMOPEZA
5. 5
According to Uvarov (1943) this subfamily is divided into 9
tribes most of them peculiar to southern Africa, in the
Palearctic region it is represented by only 3 tribes of which
only the Thrinchini which are characteristic principally for
semi-deserts and deserts, including the outskirts of
mountainous regions and the Pamphagini, distributed in
countries along the shores of Mediterranean sea.
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NEW RECORD OF GENUS EREMOPEZA
6. 6
The genus Eremopeza consists of the seven species peculiar to
Iran and adjacent countries; these are divided into a numbers
of species and subspecies. However, the systematic position of
this genus was not studied satisfactory yet. Its division into
species and subspecies may be modified after the extensive
survey and detailed studies.
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NEW RECORD OF GENUS EREMOPEZA
7. 7
Eremopeza gigas was described by Kirby (1914) from
Balochistan. Presently a single specimen which is very closely
related to Eremopeza gigas has been collected from Jamshoro
Sindh province. Further, a detail morphological description of
this specimen has been studied and compared with already
described species. The following differences has been noted.
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NEW RECORD OF GENUS EREMOPEZA
8. 8
Grooves of pronotum well-marked and found distinct and
uniform in depth and metazoan with pronotum tubarclus while
in E.gigas grooves on pronotum strong and median carina of
metazoan without the tubrculate and color darker as compared
to Sindh specimen.
E.gigas is less robust and pronotum and metazoan found
somewhat narrow and longer as compared to Sindh specimen.
Similarly, in E.gigas wings near the base from bluish to light
greenish-blue in color on contrasting to this, color of wings
was light green at base in present studies specimen.
NEW RECORD OF GENUS EREMOPEZA
11. 11
Body very large, slender, stout and rugose, Antennae filiform
about 26 segments, slightly longer than the head and pronotum
together. Eyes rounded prominent. Prosternum either with the
anterior margin raised like a plate or with a process or conical
tubercle, or only slightly convex in the anterior part, transverse
groove of mesosternum in the middle often extends caudad
between the aleral lobes.
DIAGNOSIS
NEW RECORD OF GENUS EREMOPEZA
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Pronotum slight lyraised in front, but hardly ridged, very
slightly carinated in the middle. Tip of abdomen ventrally
reddish or reddish-rusty. All 3 transverse grooves of pronotum
well-marked, distinct, but approximately uniform in depth. The
dark band of wings is sharply right-angled with a well marked
poster-external angle, apex of wing also dark. Pronotum with a
narrow linear carina. Hind tibia blue with organ-red distal end.
DESCRIPTION
NEW RECORD OF GENUS EREMOPEZA
13. 13
Generally light yellowish in color. Antennae dark brownish
with white spots near base. Fastigium of vertex with smaller
black spots . Inner side of hind tibia blue, red apically, while
outer side dirty whitish. 8 spines inner side and 9 outer sides.
Black tipped color varying with the corresponding side. Color
of wings light green at base metazoan with pronotum tubarclus
and also along the side of median carina. Tegmina
semitransparent with two smoky dark bands, apex having light
brown speckles. Wings hyaline and transparent, light greenish
at base.
COLORATION
NEW RECORD OF GENUS EREMOPEZA
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Wings near the base from bluish to light greenish blue in color.
Tegmina and hind wings equal in size reaching to the end of
(4th quarter) of hind tibia . Hind femur internally black except
for a pale pre-apical band. Hind tibia dirty whitish with the
base; a pre-median and pre-apical ring. Hind femora strongly
serrated and granulated; hind tibiae short; arolia very small.
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NEW RECORD OF GENUS EREMOPEZA
15. 15
Measurements in millimeter (mm)
Body parameters Female
Antennal segment 26.0
Antennal length 12.6
Length of head 6.0
Distance between two eyes 2.1
Length of pronotum 15
Length of tegmina 65
Length of femur 26
Length of tibia 22
Length of tarsi 2.5
Total body length 53
NEW RECORD OF GENUS EREMOPEZA
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It is interesting to point out that all the species of
Pamphagidae were collected at higher altitudes ranging from
1500 to 2500 M above sea level but, I have recorded this from
the very low altitude for the first time. It is also evident from
the available literature (Bei-Bienko & Mischenko (1963,
1964), Junjua (1959), Uvarov (1943) and Ahmed et al (1979)
that these species are restricted to higher altitude of the
province and may be considered endemic. These observations
tend to stress the need for additional surveys of endemic
species in all the district of Sindh including other areas of
Pakistan.
NEW RECORD OF GENUS EREMOPEZA
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Material examined:
Sindh: Jamshoro, 15.ix.1992, 1 female ( M.S.Wagan)
Repository:
The material has been deposited in the Museum of Entomology,
Department of Zoology, University of Sindh Jamshoro,
Pakistan.
NEW RECORD OF GENUS EREMOPEZA
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As this speeies is very close to Eremopeza gigas (Kirby) and
has been compare with the specimen from Balochistan and
difference has been noted in the shape of pronotum. Should
this character prove to be distinct for the Sindh population, it
would justify recognition of this phenon as distinct subspecies
(or species), but it is premature to make a decision, based on
single specimen.
NEW RECORD OF GENUS EREMOPEZA
