Sperberacris, a new Neotropical genus of Gomphocerinae (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Acrididae) from State of Alagoas, Brazil with chromosome complement.

Sperberacris, a new Neotropical genus of Amblytropidiini. Sperberacris muriciensis n. sp. (type species) from the municipality of Murici, State of Alagoas, Brazil is described. The new genus differs from other tribe congenera by the epiproct suboval, furculae divided into four long sclerotized lobes, cerci curved inward, apex truncated and sclerotized at the tip and convex bridge of the epiphallus with two large black sclerotized spots. The new species presents a diploid number of 2n = 23, X0♂/24, XX♀, and the karyotype is made up of telo/acrocentric chromosomes, with one dot-like B chromosome occurring in some nuclei. Morphological descriptions are provided along with illustrations emphasizing the most significant diagnostic features of external morphology and male genitalia. Information on type specimens, material examined, and distribution provided.

Singing crickets from Brazil (Orthoptera: Gryllidea), an illustrated checklist with access to the sounds produced.

The knowledge of bioacoustics of the Neotropical crickets (Orthoptera, Gryllidea) is incipient, despite the great species diversity in the region. There are few cricket song-files deposited in the major World Sound Libraries, compared to other groups such as birds and amphibians. In order to contribute to the knowledge of the bioacoustics of Brazilian crickets, we organize, analyze and make available at Fonoteca Neotropical Jacques Vielliard (FNJV) and Orthoptera Species File (OSF) our bank of cricket songs. We deposited 876 cricket's song files in the FNJV, belonging to 31 species and 47 sonotypes. The songs were field/lab recorded, and all individuals were collected to improve species/sonotypes taxonomic determination accuracy. We present photos (in vivo) of most recorded crickets, as well as calling song spectrograms to facilitate the species/sonotype recognition. Samples of the songs can be found online on the FNJV website, using the codes available in this work, as well as on the OSF, linked to the species name. As a result, we advance the knowledge of the songs of crickets and the current perspective of the Brazilian cricket bioacoustics. We encourage researchers to share with the public their collections of their cricket file songs both in the FNJV and the OSF.

Pseudoscopas carbonelli n. sp. (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Melanoplinae) from southern Brazil, including chromosome complement.

New species of Pseudoscopas (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae). Pseudoscopas carbonelli n. sp. from São Francisco de Paula, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil is described, and a key to the species of Pseudoscopas Hebard, 1931 is added. Morphological descriptions are provided together with illustrations emphasizing the most significant diagnostic features of external morphology and male genitalia. Pseudoscopas carbonelli n. sp. differs from the other species known by epiproct with six protuberances in the median region, and extremities of the apical region of the epiproct sclerotized, as well as the lophi with sclerotization. Chromosome analyses were performed using standard staining procedures, showing diploid number of 2n = 23, X0♂/24, XX♀, and the karyotype made up of exclusively acrocentric chromosomes, including a medium-size megameric chromosome. Information is given about type specimens, material examined and geographic distribution.

New species of tree cricket Oecanthus Serville, 1831 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Oecanthinae) from Reserva Natural Vale, Espírito Santo, Brazil, with chromosome complement.

A new species of the genus Oecanthus Serville, 1831 from Reserva Natural Vale, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil is described. The new species differs from other of this genus in characteristics of the pseudepiphallus main lobe, endophallic sclerites, posterior median lobe of the metanotal gland and black spots on the femora and tibiae. The chromosome number is 2n=16+XY♂=18 and 2n=16+XX♀=18, and this complement present one pair of autosomes less than the other five cytological studied species.

Revision of the South American genus Xiphiola Bolívar, 1896 (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Ommatolampidinae: Abracrini).

The Neotropical genus Xiphiola Bolívar, 1896 is revised. It includes two valid species: Xiphiola borellii Giglio-Tos, 1900 and Xiphiola cyanoptera (Gerstaecker, 1889). The genus and the species are redescribed and diagnostic characters are provided along with illustrations of each species. A lectotype and paralectoype for X. cyanoptera are here designated. We also include new morphological characters from male and female genitalia, and external characters that have not been employed until now. We present the distribution map based on material examined, as well as a key to species.

Flutuação populacional de gafanhotos na Floresta Nacional de Chapecó, Santa Catarina / Grasshopper Population fluctuation in the National Forest of Chapeco, Santa Catarina

Com o objetivo de verificar a flutuação populacional de gafanhotos na Floresta Nacional de Chapecó (FLONA), em Santa Catarina, foram realizadas coletas semanais durante o período de dezembro de 2003 a dezembro de 2004 com armadilhas do tipo pit-fall, rede de varredura, guarda-chuva entomológico e malaise. Os picos populacionais para a maioria das espécies ocorreram durante os meses de dezembro, janeiro e fevereiro. A análise de regressão (5 por cento) apontou relação significativa entre os fatores climáticos e os níveis populacionais de Allotruxalis gracilis (Giglio-Tos, 1897), Parorphula graminea Bruner, 1900, Rhammatocerus brunneri (Giglio – Tos, 1895) e Xyleus discoideus discoideus (Serville, 1831).

In order to verify the grasshopper population dynamics in the National Forest of Chapecó, SC., weekly collections were made between December 2003 and December 2004, using pit-fall traps, sweep nets, entomological umbrellas and malaises traps. The population peaks for most of the species was reached in December, January and February. The regression analysis (5 percent) showed significant relation between the climatic factors and the population levels of Allotruxalis gracilis (Giglio-Tos, 1897), Parorphula graminea Bruner, 1900, Rhammatocerus brunneri (Giglio – Tos, 1895) and Xyleus discoideus discoideus (Serville, 1831).

Revisão dos gêneros Sitalces, Eusitalces e Parasitalces (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Abracrini) e descrição de três novos gêneros / Revision of the genera Sitalces, Eusitalces and Parasitalces (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Abracrini) and description of three new genera

Revisão dos gêneros Sitalces, Eusitalces e Parasitalces (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Abracrini) e descrição de três novos gêneros. Os gêneros sulamericanos de Abracrini Sitalces Stål, 1878, Eusitalces Bruner, 1911, Parasitalces Bruner, 1911, Liebermannacris gen. nov., Robustusacris gen. nov., e Arimacris gen. nov. são revisados, descritos, redescritos e redefinidos. Quatro espécies são novas combinações: Liebermannacris dorsualis (Giglio-Tos, 1898) comb. nov., Liebermannacris punctifrons (Stål,1878) comb. nov., Robustusacris balzapambae (Rehn, 1913) comb. nov., e Arimacris trinitatis (Bruner, 1906) comb. nov., todas removidas de Sitalces Stål, 1878. Nove espécies são novos sinônimos: Sitalces robustus Bruner, 1908 (de S. volxemi Stål, 1878); S. infuscatus Bruner, 1908, S. nudus Bruner, 1908, S. ovatipennis Bruner, 1908, S. madeirensis Rehn, 1916 (de Liebermannacris dorsualis (Giglio-Tos, 1898); S. rubripes Hebard, 1924 (de Robustusacris balzapambae (Rehn, 1913); E. amazonicus Günther, 1940 e S. apolinari Hebard, 1923 (de Eusitalces vittatus Bruner, 1911); E. rubripes Günther, 1940 (de P. vulneratus (Bruner,1919)). Lectótipos e paralectótipos são designados. São fornecidas chaves para identificação, medidas, mapa de distribuição geográfica e ilustrações dos gêneros e espécies.

Revision of the genera Sitalces, Eusitalces and Parasitalces (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Abracrini) and description of three new genera. The South American Abracrini genera Sitalces Stål, 1878, Eusitalces Bruner, 1911, Parasitalces Bruner, 1911, Liebermannacris gen. nov., Robustusacris gen. nov., and Arimacris gen. nov. are reviewed, described, redescribed and redefined. Four species are new combinations: Liebermannacris dorsualis (Giglio-Tos, 1898) comb. nov., Liebermannacris punctifrons (Stål,1878) comb. nov., Arimacris trinitatis (Bruner, 1906) comb. nov., and Robustusacris balzapambae (Rehn, 1913) comb. nov., all removed of Sitalces Stål, 1878. Nine species are new synonymous: Sitalces robustus Bruner, 1908 (of S. volxemi Stål, 1878); S. infuscatus Bruner, 1908; S. nudus Bruner, 1908; S. ovatipennis Bruner, 1908; S. madeirensis Rehn, 1916 (of Liebermannacris dorsualis (Giglio-Tos, 1898); S. rubripes Hebard, 1924 (of Robustusacris balzapambae (Rehn, 1913); E. amazonicus Günther, 1940 and S. apolinari Hebard, 1923 (of Eusitalces vittatus Bruner, 1911); E. rubripes Günther, 1940 (of P. vulneratus (Bruner, 1919)). Lectotypes and paralectotypes are designated. Keys to identification of the genera and species, measurements, map of the geographical distribution and illustrations are added.

Salvadoracris e Caruaruacris, novos gêneros de gafanhotos sul-americanos (Orthoptera, Acrididae) / Salvadoracris and Caruaruacris, new South American genera of grasshopper (Orthoptera, Acrididae)

Salvadoracris gen. nov. com S. nigritus sp. nov. (espécie-tipo), do Peru (Cuzco) e Caruaruacris gen. nov. com C. bivittatus sp. nov. (espécie-tipo), do Brasil, Pernambuco, são descritos e ilustrados.