Repetitive element expansions contribute to genome size gigantism in Pamphagidae: A comparative study (Orthoptera, Acridoidea).

Pamphagidae is a family of Acridoidea that inhabits the desert steppes of Eurasia and Africa. This study employed flow cytometry to estimate the genome size of eight species in the Pamphagidae. The results indicate that the genome size of the eight species ranged from 13.88 pg to 14.66 pg, with an average of 14.26 pg. This is the largest average genome size recorded for the Orthoptera families, as well as for the entire Insecta. Furthermore, the study explored the role of repetitive sequences in the genome, including their evolutionary dynamics and activity, using low-coverage next-generation sequencing data. The genome is composed of 14 different types of repetitive sequences, which collectively make up between 59.9% and 68.17% of the total genome. The Pamphagidae family displays high levels of transposable element (TE) activity, with the number of TEs increasing and accumulating since the family's emergence. The study found that the types of repetitive sequences contributing to the TE outburst events are similar across species. Additionally, the study identified unique repetitive elements for each species. The differences in repetitive sequences among the eight Pamphagidae species correspond to their phylogenetic relationships. The study sheds new light on genome gigantism in the Pamphagidae and provides insight into the correlation between genome size and repetitive sequences within the family.

Molecular cytogenetic analysis reveals the existence of two independent neo-XY sex chromosome systems in Anatolian Pamphagidae grasshoppers.

BACKGROUND: Neo-XY sex chromosome determination is a rare event in short horned grasshoppers, but it appears with unusual frequency in the Pamphagidae family. The neo-Y chromosomes found in several species appear to have undergone heterochromatinization and degradation, but this subject needs to be analyzed in other Pamphagidae species. We perform here karyotyping and molecular cytogenetic analyses in 12 Pamphagidae species from the center of biodiversity of this group in the previously-unstudied Anatolian plateau. RESULTS: The basal karyotype for the Pamphagidae family, consisting of 18 acrocentric autosomes and an acrocentric X chromosome (2n♂ = 19, X0; 2n♀ = 20, XX), was found only in G. adaliae. The karyotype of all other studied species consisted of 16 acrocentric autosomes and a neo-XY sex chromosome system (2n♂♀ = 18, neo-XX♀/neo-XY♂). Two different types of neo-Y chromosomes were found. One of them was typical for three species of the Glyphotmethis genus, and showed a neo-Y chromosome being similar in size to the XR arm of the neo-X, with the addition of two small subproximal interstitial C-blocks. The second type of the neo-Y chromosome was smaller and more heterochromatinized than the XR arm, and was typical for all Nocarodeini species studied. The chromosome distribution of C-positive regions and clusters of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and telomeric repeats yielded additional information on evolution of these neo-XY systems. CONCLUSION: Most Pamphagidae species in the Anatolian region were found to have neo-XY sex chromosome systems, belonging to two different evolutionary lineages, marked by independent X-autosome fusion events occurred within the Trinchinae and Pamphaginae subfamilies. The high density of species carrying neo-XY systems in the Anatolian region, and the different evolutionary stage for the two lineages found, one being older than the other, indicates that this region has a long history of neo-XY sex chromosome formation.

An annotated checklist of grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Acridoidea) from Mongolia.

Background: Grasshoppers (Acridoidea, Orthoptera) are the dominant herbivores in grassland ecosystems worldwide. They can increase rangeland productivity by stimulating plant growth and accelerating nutrient cycling. This article presents a comprehensive checklist of grasshoppers in Mongolia. Until then, the available information was very scattered, based on old studies of Mongolian grasshoppers, recorded in a few international catalogues and databases, individual records and research work on agroecosystem communities. However, the available information on the composition of the Orthopteran fauna in Mongolia was sometimes unclear or non-existent and these dubious data were excluded from the present study. In addition, the grasshopper distribution analysis used the standardised personal collection of D. Altanchimeg. We also present a list of grasshoppers, as well as their distribution and abundance, in countries adjacent to Mongolia, such as Russia, China and South Korea. The surveys covered six types of natural zones: high mountain, taiga, forest-steppe, steppe, desert steppe and desert; desert steppe and steppe zones are the most widely distributed. We hope to have contributed significantly to the study of the distribution of grasshopper species in all these natural zones. New information: In this study, a total of three families of Acridoidea belonging to eight subfamilies, 17 tribes, 52 genera and 128 species are reported for the various natural zones. The recorded species belong to eight subfamilies: Gomphocerinae are the most numerous with 56 species recorded, followed by Oedipodinae (51 species), Thrinchinae (nine species), Melanoplinae (six species), Calliptaminae (three species), Dericorythinae, Acridinae, Egnatiinae (one species each).

Comparative Analysis of Mitogenomes among Five Species of Filchnerella (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Pamphagidae) and Their Phylogenetic and Taxonomic Implications.

Mitogenomes have been widely used for exploring phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic diagnosis. In this study, the complete mitogenomes of five species of Filchnerella were sequenced, annotated and analyzed. Then, combined with other seven mitogenomes of Filchnerella and four of Pamphagidae, the phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed by maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian (BI) methods based on PCGs+rRNAs. The sizes of the five complete mitogenomes are Filchnerella sunanensis 15,656 bp, Filchnerella amplivertica 15,657 bp, Filchnerella nigritibia 15,661 bp, Filchnerella pamphagoides 15,661 bp and Filchnerella dingxiensis 15,666 bp. The nucleotide composition of mitogenomes is biased toward A+T. All tRNAs could be folded into the typical clover-leaf structure, except that tRNA Ser (AGN) lacked a dihydrouridine (DHU) arm. The phylogenetic relationships of Filchnerella species based on mitogenome data revealed a general pattern of wing evolution from long wing to increasingly shortened wing.

A new species of the genus Haplotropis Saussure, 1888 (Orthoptera, Acridoidea, Pamphagidae) from Heilongjiang, China.

The genus Haplotropis Saussure, 1888 belongs to family Pamphagidae, superfamily Acridioidea. It contains five species: Haplotropis brunneriana Saussure, 1888; Haplotropis xiai Ye, Shi Li 2016; Haplotropis zhuoluensis Ye, Shi Li 2016; Haplotropis aqiensis Zhang, Lin et Yin, 2018 and Haplotropis shandongensis Zhang, Yin et Liu, 2019 distributed mainly in Amur River region of Asia and China only (Saussure, 1888; Bey-Bienko et Mishchenko, 1951; Otte, 1994; Yin, Shi et Yin, 1996; Storozhenko Paik, 2011; Yin et al, 2014; Dong et al, 2015; Ye et al, 2016; Zhang et al, 2017; Zhang et al, 2018; Zhang et al, 2019; Cigliano et al, 2019). A new species Haplotropis heiheensis sp. nov. is described in this paper. The new species is similar to Haplotropis aqiensis Zhang, Lin et Yin, 2018, but differs from latter by Krauss' organ of male without ramified keel; tegmine narrower, length 2.4 times width; cercus of male gently tapering at apical half part; minimum width 1.4 times length in mesosternum and epiphallus with 36 spikes. Type specimens are deposited in the College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China.

Karyotypes diversity in some Iranian Pamphagidae grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Acridoidea, Pamphagidae): new insights on the evolution of the neo-XY sex chromosomes.

For the first time, cytogenetic features of grasshoppers from Iran have been studied. In this paper we conducted a comparative cytogenetic analysis of six species from the family Pamphagidae. The species studied belong to subfamilies Thrinchinae Stål, 1876 (Eremopeza bicoloripes (Moritz, 1928), E. saussurei (Uvarov, 1918)) and Pamphaginae (Saxetania paramonovi (Dirsh, 1927), Tropidauchen escalerai Bolívar, 1912, Tropidauchen sp., and Paranothrotes citimus Mistshenko, 1951). We report information about the chromosome number and morphology, C-banding patterns, and localization of ribosomal DNA clusters and telomeric (TTAGG)n repeats. Among these species, only S. paramonovi had an ancestral Pamphagidae karyotype (2n=18+X0♂; FN=19♂). The karyotypes of the remaining species differed from the ancestral karyotypes. The karyotypes of E. bicoloripes and E. saussurei, despite having the same chromosome number (2n=18+X0♂) had certain biarmed chromosomes (FN=20♂ and FN=34♂ respectively). The karyotypes of T. escalerai and Tropidauchen sp. consisted of eight pairs of acrocentric autosomes, one submetacentric neo-X chromosome and one acrocentric neo-Y chromosome in males (2n=16+neo-X neo-Y♂). The karyotype of P. citimus consisted of seven pairs of acrocentric autosomes, submetacentric the neo-X1 and neo-Y and acrocentric the neo-X2 chromosomes (2n=14+neo-X1 neo-X2 neo-Y♂). Comparative analysis of the localization and size of C-positive regions, the position of ribosomal clusters and the telomeric DNA motif in the chromosomes of the species studied, revealed early unknown features of their karyotype evolution. The data obtained has allowed us to hypothesize that the origin and early phase of evolution of the neo-Xneo-Y♂ sex chromosome in the subfamily Pamphaginae, are linked to the Iranian highlands.

A new species of the genus Haplotropis Saussure, 1888 (Orthoptera, Acridoidea, Pamphagidae) from Inner Mongolia, China.

The genus Haplotropis Saussure, 1888 belongs to family Pamphagidae, superfamily Acridioidea. It contains three species: Haplotropis brunneriana Saussure, 1888; Haplotropis xiai Ye, Shi Li 2016 and Haplotropis zhuoluensis Ye, Shi Li 2016 distributed mainly in Amur River region of Asia and China only (Saussure, 1888; Bey-Bienko et Mishchenko, 1951; Otte, 1994; Yin, Shi et Yin, 1996; Storozhenko Paik, 2011; Yin et al, 2014, Dong et al, 2015; Ye et al, 2016; Zhang et al, 2017; Cigliano et al, 2018). A new species Haplotropis aqiensis sp. nov. is described in this paper. The new species is similar to H. xiai Ye et al., 2016, but differs from latter by tegmina of male extending over the hind margin of first abdominal tergite slightly, length of tegmina 1.7 times width, cover 2/3 tympanum; frontal ridge of male not widened at median ocellus; length interspace of mesosternum in male equal narrowest width; apical half part of cercus suddenly tapering in male and lower margin of epiphallus without projection in the middle. Type specimen is deposited in the College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China.

Comparative analysis of C-heterochromatin, ribosomal and telomeric DNA markers in chromosomes of Pamphagidae grasshoppers from Morocco.

The karyotypes and the localization of C-bands, clusters of ribosomal DNA and telomeric repeats of 10 species of the family Pamphagidae from Morocco are described for the first time. The species studied belong to the subfamilies Pamphaginae and Thrinchinae. All species have karyotypes consisting of 19 and 20 acrocentric chromosomes and X0/XX sex chromosome system in males and females, respectively (2n♂=19, NF=19; 2n♀=20, NF=20). Despite the karyotype conservatism, we revealed differences in the location and size of C-heterochromatin blocks and ribosomal DNA clusters. A comparative analysis of these differences shows that karyotype divergences in this group is connected not to structural chromosome rearrangements, but to the evolution of repetitive DNA.

A new species of the genus Humphaplotropis from China (Orthoptera: Pamphagidae, Pamphaginae).

A new species of the genus Humphaplotropis Xiao et al, 2013, i.e. Humphaplotropis tongbaishanensis sp. nov. is described from Henan province, China in this paper. The new species is allied Humphaplotropis xiai Zhi, Shi Dai, 2015, but differs from latter by tegmina of male short, not reaching the hind margin of 1st abdominal tergite; base of cercus not narrow in male; epiphallus with disperse spikes, ancorae broad, both posterior projections shorter than median projection; length of subgenital plate larger than width in female and Krauss` organ of female with 20 keels. The genus Humphaplotropis Xiao et al, 2013 is a valid genus and not a synonym of Haplotropis Saussure, 1888. Type specimens are deposited in Shanghai Entomological Museum, C.A.S., Shanghai China.

A new species and key to all known species of the genus Filchnerella Karny, 1908 from China (Orthoptera: Acridoidea, Pamphagidae).

The new species i.e. Filchnerella wuhaiensis sp. nov is described from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. The new species is similar to Filchnerella helanshanensis Zheng, 1992, but differs from the latter by 21-segmented antennae, prozona of pronotum higher than metazona, length of tegmina 2.0 times maximum width, width of interspace of mesosternum 1.2 times length and lower margin of hind femur not red in male. A key to all species of the genus Filchnerella Karny, 1908 is given in this paper. Two genera Pseudotmethis Bey-Bienko, 1948 and Paratmethis Zheng He, 1996 are valid genus and not a synonym of Filchnerella Karny, 1908. Type specimens are deposited in the College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China.

Origin and Evolution of the Neo-Sex Chromosomes in Pamphagidae Grasshoppers through Chromosome Fusion and Following Heteromorphization.

In most phylogenetic lineages, the evolution of sex chromosomes is accompanied by their heteromorphization and degradation of one of them. The neo-sex chromosomes are useful model for studying early stages of these processes. Recently two lineages of the neo-sex chromosomes on different stages of heteromorphization was discovered in Pamphagidae family. The neo-sex chromosome heteromorphization was analyzed by generation of DNA probes derived from the neo-Xs and neo-Ys followed with chromosome painting in nineteen species of Pamphagidae family. The homologous regions of the neo-sex chromosomes were determined in closely related species with the painting procedure and image analysis with application of the Visualization of the Specific Signal in Silico software package. Results of these analyses and distribution of C-positive regions in the neo-sex chromosomes revealed details of the heteromorphization of the neo-sex chromosomes in species from both phylogenetic lineages of Pamphagidae grasshoppers. The hypothetical mechanism of the neo-Y degradation was suggested. It includes expansion of different repeats from the proximal neo-Y chromosome region by inversions, spreading them towards distal region. Amplification of these repeats leads to formation of C-positive regions and elimination of the C-negative regions located between them.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Humphaplotropis culaishanensis sp. nov. (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Pamphagidae: Pamphaginae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Humphaplotropis culaishanensis sp. nov., which was collected from the Shandong Province of China, is reported here. It was 15,659 bp in length and contained 72.3% AT. All Humphaplotropis culaishanensis protein-coding sequences started with a typical ATN codon, excluding cox1 and nad6. The usual termination codon (TAN) and incomplete stop codons (T, TA) were found from 13 protein-coding genes. All tRNA genes could be folded into the typical cloverleaf secondary structure, excluding trnS(AGN) which forms another structure. The sizes of the large and small ribosomal RNA genes were 1322 and 852 bp, respectively. The AT content of the A+T-rich region was 81.3%.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Sinotmethis brachypterus Zheng & Xi, 1985 (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Pamphagidae: Prionotropisinae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Sinotmethis brachypterus Zheng & Xi, 1985, which was collected from the Gansu Province of China, is reported here. It is 15,662 bp in length and contains 72.6% AT. All Sinotmethis brachypterus protein-coding sequences start with a typical ATN codon, excluding cox1 and nad6. The usual termination codon (TAN) and incomplete stop codons (T, TA) were found from 13 protein-coding genes. All tRNA genes could be folded into the typical cloverleaf secondary structure, excluding trnS(AGN) which forms another structure. The sizes of the large and small ribosomal RNA genes are 1320 and 852 bp, respectively. The AT content of the A + T-rich region is 84.2%.

Sex chromosome diversity in Armenian toad grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Acridoidea, Pamphagidae).

Although previous cytogenetic analysis of Pamphagidae grasshoppers pointed to considerable karyotype uniformity among most of the species in the family, our study of species from Armenia has discovered other, previously unknown karyotypes, differing from the standard for Pamphagidae mainly in having unusual sets of sex chromosomes. Asiotmethis turritus (Fischer von Waldheim, 1833), Paranocaracris rubripes (Fischer von Waldheim, 1846), and Nocaracris cyanipes (Fischer von Waldheim, 1846) were found to have the karyotype 2n♂=16+neo-XY and 2n♀=16+neo-XX, the neo-X chromosome being the result of centromeric fusion of an ancient acrocentric X chromosome and a large acrocentric autosome. The karyotype of Paranothrotes opacus (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1882) was found to be 2n♂=14+X1X2Y and 2n♀=14+X1X1X2X2., the result of an additional chromosome rearrangement involving translocation of the neo-Y and another large autosome. Furthermore, evolution of the sex chromosomes in these species has involved different variants of heterochromatinization and miniaturization of the neo-Y. The karyotype of Eremopeza festiva (Saussure, 1884), in turn, appeared to have the standard sex determination system described earlier for Pamphagidae grasshoppers, 2n♂=18+X0 and 2n♀=18+XX, but all the chromosomes of this species were found to have small second C-positive arms. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with 18S rDNA and telomeric (TTAGG)n DNA repeats to yield new data on the structural organization of chromosomes in the species studied, we found that for most of them, clusters of repeats homologous to 18S rDNA localize on two, three or four pairs of autosomes and on the X. In Eremopeza festiva, however, FISH with labelled 18S rDNA painted C-positive regions of all autosomes and the X chromosome; clusters of telomeric repeats localized primarily on the ends of the chromosome arms. Overall, we conclude that the different stages of neo-Y degradation revealed in the Pamphagidae species studied make the family a very promising and useful model for studying sex chromosome evolution.

Pamphagidae (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) from the Palaearctic Region: taxonomy, classification, keys to genera and a review of the tribe Nocarodeini I.Bolívar.

The very rich material of Palaearctic Pamphagidae preserved in the collections including the type specimens of all taxa, the historical unidentified specimens and newly collected material have been studied. 58 genera and 295 species and subspecies are listed. The higher classification of the family is reviewed mainly based on the male phallic complex as well as the traditional and some new external characters. The tribe Haplotropiidini is transferred to the subfamily Thrinchinae. Previously synonymized subfamily Tropidaucheninae is validated as an independent tribe of Pamphaginae. The tribe Nocarodeini is taxonomically reviewed except the genus Bufonocarodes Mistshenko. The male phallic complex is also used as one of the main characters in decisions of the genus group taxa. The following 10 genera are synonymized: Pseudotmethis Bey-Bienko, 1948 and Paratmethis Zheng & He, 1996 (with Filchnerella Karny, 1908), Sinotmethis Bey-Bienko, 1959 and Kanotmethis Yin, 1994 (with Beybienkia Tsyplenkov, 1956), Paktia Pfadt, 1970 (with Mistshenkoella Cejchan, 1969), Pseudosavalania Demirsoy, 1973 (with Paranocarodes I. Bolívar, 1912), Nocaropsis Ramme, 1951 (with Paranothrotes Mistshenko, 1951), Paranocaracris Mistshenko, 1951 and Oronothrotes Mistshenko, 1951 (with Nocaracris Uvarov, 1928) and Savalania Mistshenko, 1951 (with Nocarodes Fischer von Waldheim, 1846). The genera Mistshenkoella Cejchan and Cryptonothrotes La Greca are proposed as subgenera of Saxetania Mistshenko. The following genera are divided: Eremocharis Saussure into 4 species groups, Paranocarodes I. Bolívar into 2 species groups, Paranothrotes Mistshenko into 4 species groups, Nocaracris Uvarov into 7 species groups and Nocarodes Fischer von Waldheim into 4 species groups. The following 24 species and subspecies are synonymized: Tmethis cinerascus cyanipes Werner, 1939 [with Eremopeza angusta (Uvarov, 1934)], Iranotmethis cyanipennis cyanipes Bey-Bienko, 1951 [with Iranotmethis cyanipennis iranicus (Werner, 1939)], Eremocharis granulosa roseipes Uvarov, 1943 [with Eremocharis granulosa granulosa (Walker, 1871)], Eremocharis subsulcata minor Cejchan, 1969 (with Eremocharis maior Ramme, 1952), Asiotmethis limbatus motasi Ramme, 1951 [with Asiotmethis limbatus (Charpentier, 1845)], Tropidauchen marginatum Bolívar, 1912 (with Tropidauchen escalerai Bolívar, 1912), Paranocarodes straubei serratus Uvarov, 1949, Paranocarodes straubei insularis Ramme, 1951 and Paranocarodes fieberi mytilenensis Ramme, 1951 [with Paranocarodes fieberi (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1882)], Paranocarodes atympanicus Ramme, 1951 (with Paranocarodes tolunayi tolunayi Ramme, 1949), Paranocarodes cilicicus Ramme, 1951 (with Paranocarodes lubricus Mistshenko, 1951), Paranothrotes opacus hakkariana Demirsoy, 1973 [with Paranothrotes opacus opacus (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1882)], Paranothrotes tenuicornis sordidus Mistshenko, 1951 and Paranothrotes iranicus (Ramme, 1951) (with Paranothrotes tenuicornis Mistshenko, 1951), Paranothrotes elbursianus (Ramme, 1951) [with Paranothrotes demawendi (Ramme, 1951)], Paranocarodes aserbeidshanicus Ramme, 1951 [with Paranothrotes margaritae (Miram, 1938)], Nocaracris burri obscurata Ramme, 1951 [with Nocaracris furvus furvus (Mistshenko, 1951)], Paranocaracris rimansonae ventosus Mistshenko, 1951 [with Nocaracris rimansonae (Uvarov, 1918)], Paranocaracris rigidus Mistshenko, 1951 (with Nocaracris tauricolus Ramme, 1951), Nocaracris cyanipes tristis Ramme, 1951 [with Nocaracris cyanipes (Motschulsky, 1846)], Nocarodes armenus Ramme, 1951 (with Nocarodes serricollis Fischer von Waldheim, 1846), Nocarodes specialis Mistshenko, 1951 [with Nocarodes iranicus (Werner, 1939)], Nocarodes gibbosus Mistshenko, 1951 (with Nocarodes humerosus Mistshenko, 1951), Nocarodes urmianus carinatus Mistshenko, 1951 (with Nocarodes urmianus Ramme, 1939). One new genus in the tribe Nocarodeini, Turkanocaracris Ünal gen. nov., and the following 29 new species and subspecies in four tribes are described: Eremopeza soltanii Ünal, sp. nov., Eremopeza kashmirensis Ünal, sp. nov., Eremocharis subsulcata beccalonii Ünal, ssp. nov., Orchamus massai Ünal, sp. nov., Paracinipe suezensis Ünal & Massa, sp. nov., Saxetania (Mistshenkoella) gorochovi Ünal, sp. nov., Paranocarodes anatoliensis anamas Ünal, ssp. nov., Paranothrotes buzuldagi Ünal, sp. nov., Paranothrotes dentatus Ünal, sp. nov., Paranothrotes eximius bitlis Ünal, ssp. nov., Paranothrotes siirt Ünal, sp. nov., Nocaracris furvus kazdagi Ünal, ssp. nov., Nocaracris istanbul Ünal, sp. nov., Nocaracris tunceli Ünal, sp. nov., Nocaracris tardus Ünal, Bugrov & Jetybayev, sp. nov., Nocaracris emirdagi Ünal, sp. nov., Nocaracris cejchani Ünal, sp. nov., Nocaracris judithae Ünal, sp. nov., Nocaracris minutus Ünal, sp. nov., Nocaracris karadagi Ünal, sp. nov., Nocaracris palandoken Ünal, sp. nov., Nocaracris monticolus Ünal, sp. nov., Nocaracris van Ünal, sp. nov., Nocaracris dilekensis Ünal, sp. nov., Nocaracris karshitoros Ünal, sp. nov., Nocaracris goektepe Ünal, sp. nov., Nocaracris crassipes Ünal, sp. nov., Turkanocaracris levigatus Ünal, sp. nov., Turkanocaracris davisi Ünal, sp. nov. Lectotypes are designated for the following 12 species: Strumiger desertorum desertorum Zubovski, 1896, Ocnerosthenus brunnerianus (Saussure, 1887), Orchamus gracilis (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1882), Saxetania iranicum (Werner, 1939) [syn. of Saxetania (s.str.) cultricolle (Saussure, 1887)], Paranocarodes straubei (Fieber, 1853), Paranocarodes fieberi (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1882), Paranothrotes shelkovnikovi (Uvarov, 1918), Paranothrotes nigripes (Stshelkanovtzev, 1916), Eunothrotes derjugini Adelung, 1907, Nocaracris rimansonae (Uvarov, 1918), Nocaracris tridentatus (Stshelkanovtzev, 1916) and Araxiana woronowi (Uvarov, 1918). Many species are given in new combinations and new statuses. Some taxa are proposed as reverted combinations, reverted statuses, reverted genera, species and subspecies. Nomenclatural problems are discussed under the relevant taxa. The authorship of 4 species are discussed and changed as follow: Eremopeza festiva (I. Bolívar, 1884), Paranocarodes tolunayi tolunayi Ramme, 1949, Nocaracris rubripes (Motschulsky, 1846), Nocaracris cyanipes (Motschulsky, 1846). Identification keys for subfamilies, tribes and genera (except the N. African and European genera of Pamphagini) and for each level of the tribe Nocarodeini are prepared. This study is also a review of the Pamphagidae species of Turkey. Therefore all Turkish species are studied in detail except the two genera recently revised by the author, Glyphotmethis Bey-Bienko and Asiotmethis Uvarov. Geographically this paper includes all Pamphagidae species of the following countries and regions: Bulgaria, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Armenia, Georgia, Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Greece (except one species), Lebanon (except two species), Arabian Peninsula (except one species), Afghanistan (except some Saxetania) and Iran (except some Saxetania and Tropidauchen). In addition, 848 original figures including 10 distributional maps are provided.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Asiotmethis jubatus (Uvarov, 1926) (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Pamphagidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Asiotmethis jubatus (Uvarov, 1926), which was collected from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, is reported here. It is 15,669 bp in length and contains 72.3% AT. All Asiotmethis jubatus protein-coding sequences start with a typical ATN codon, excluding cox1 and nad6. The usual termination codon (TAN) and incomplete stop codons (T) were found from 13 protein-coding genes. All tRNA genes could be folded into the typical cloverleaf secondary structure, excluding trnS(AGN) which forms another structure. The sizes of the large and small ribosomal RNA genes are 1315 and 852 bp, respectively. The AT content of the A + T-rich region is 81.9%.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Filchnerella beicki Ramme, 1931 (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Pamphagidae).

Abstract The complete mitochondrial genome of Filchnerella beicki Ramme, 1931, which was collected from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China, is reported here. It is 15,658 bp in length and contains 72.3% AT. All Filchnerella beicki protein-coding sequences start with a typical ATN codon, excluding cox1. The usual termination codon (TAN) and incomplete stop codons (T) were found from 13 protein-coding genes. All tRNA genes could be folded into the typical cloverleaf secondary structure, excluding trnS(AGN) which forms another structure. The sizes of the large and small ribosomal RNA genes are 1315 and 853 bp, respectively. The AT content of the A+T-rich region is 83.1%.