Pyrgomorpha conica kurii Hsiung & Kevan, 1975

Pyrgomorpha conica kurii Hsiung & Kevan, 1975

Fig. 123 View Figure 123

References for Socotra.

Burr 1903: 412, 424 [as Pyrgomorpha cognata ]; Hsiung and Kevan 1975: 64, 66–67, figs 1 F, L, R, X, 5 F; Popov 1997: 152, figs 87–88, 91; Wranik 2003: 320; Massa 2009: 56; Rowell, C. Hemp and Harvey 2015: 125.

Diagnostic notes.

Pyrgomorphid grasshoppers generally have a spindle-like shape, with tapered ends of the body and a maximum width in the middle. The head is conical, often with an elongated vertex, downward-facing frons, concave below the eyes, a characteristic groove along the frontal part of the vertex and slightly flattened first antenna segments. In this respect, Pyrgomorpha resembles members of Truxalis and Oxytruxalis .

Pyrgomorpha conica kurii and the following species are typical members of the P. conica - bispinosa- cognata complex ( Kevan 1974; Hsiung and Kevan 1975). Species of this complex are difficult to identify. All have a relatively small size, a very variable colour, fully developed tegmina and hind wings with a pinkish hue. The kurii subspecies is characterised by a distinctly robust appearance, with a dorsally more convex head and more concave frons than the nominate ( Hsiung and Kevan 1975). The sides of the female pronotum are diverging posteriorly over the entire length of the pronotum.

Taxonomic notes.

Hsiung and Kevan (1975) described the endemic ssp. of P. conica (Olivier, 1791) , based on specimens collected by Guichard in 1967 and, on one specimen, collected by Forbes and Ogilvie-Grant in 1898 on Abd el Kuri.

Distribution and occurrence.

Endemic to Abd el Kuri Is. and known from two sites, one on the northern shore of the island and one on the north-western slope of Jebel Saleh (Fig. 123 View Figure 123 ). It is probably more widespread and not uncommon on the island, although Wranik did not collect this taxon during his visits.

Habitat and biology.

The habitat on the presumed collecting site on Jebel Saleh is described in the species account of Sphingonotus albipennis . Records are from May and December.