Copy (2) of dr.riffat muzafferabad

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New record of genus New record of genus Eremopeza Eremopeza Sauss. (Orthoptera: Pamphagidae) Sauss. (Orthoptera: Pamphagidae)

from Sindh, Pakistanfrom Sindh, Pakistan

By: By: RIFFAT SULTANARIFFAT SULTANA

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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

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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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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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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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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.


Collection localities

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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


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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


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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


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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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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


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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.


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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.


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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.


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Copy (2) of dr.riffat muzafferabad

Technology

eremopeza gigas

length of pronotum

length of tibia

hind tibia blue

gigas wings

length of tegmina

length of femur

length of head