Cataloipus brunneri ( Kirby, 1910 )

Cataloipus brunneri ( Kirby, 1910) View in CoL

Figs 34 View Figure 34 , 35 View Figure 35

References for Socotra.

Burr 1903: 412, 420, plate XXV: figs 2, 2 a [partim; as Cataloipus oberthuri ]; Kirby 1910: 557; Uvarov 1921: 140–141 [as Cataloipus somalicus ]; Popov (in Uvarov and Popov (1957)): 375; Kevan 1967: 88; Wranik 2003: 321, plate 155.

Diagnostic notes.

Cataloipus Bolívar, 1890 is a genus of medium-sized to large grasshoppers (Fig. 34 View Figure 34 ). The pronotum is dark brown with two broad green longitudinal stripes along the inner side of the obtuse lateral carinae. The lateral lobes of the pronotum are margined whitish and have yellowish spots in the centre. The tegmina are light brown, with small dark spots and a light streak along the anterior margin. The hind femora are large and slender. The male subgenital plate is elongated, shallow and has a notched aрех. The prosternal process directs backwards and is slightly flattened with an acute apex.

Cataloipus brunneri is the Archipelago’s only member of the genus. It is a relatively small member of the genus. Its hind femora are long and slender and marked with an interrupted black stripe on the dorsal edge of the medio lateral area.

Taxonomic notes.

Burr (1903) mentioned six specimens collected by Forbes & Ogilvie-Grant, two from Hadiboh Plain (Fig. 34 View Figure 34 ; present in WML) and four from Homhil ( NHMUK). One of Burr’s female specimens collected at Homhil later appeared to be Heteracris coerulescens (Stål, 1876) (Popov in Uvarov and Popov (1957)).

Kirby (1910) named Burr’s specimens from Socotra Cataloipus brunneri ( Kirby, 1910) without a proper description. According to Popov (in Uvarov and Popov (1957)), the reference to Burr’s figures makes the name valid and he regarded Kirby as the author. Thus, all five specimens of C. brunneri collected by Forbes & Ogilvie-Grant present in the Liverpool and London collections are syntypes. Uvarov (1921) found no differences between the descriptions of Eyprepocnemis somalicus Rehn, 1901 and the types of C. brunneri . He examined three specimens of C. brunneri in the collection of the NHMUK and synonymised brunneri with somalicus , the latter tentatively synonymised with C. oberthuri Bolívar, 1890 by Kevan (1967), who studied brunneri , but could not decide whether it differs from oberthuri . Popov (in Uvarov and Popov (1957)) restored the status of C. brunneri , emphasising the need for a crucial revision of the genus.

Distribution and occurrence.

Cataloipus brunneri is endemic to Socotra. There are few records from the Hagher, the surrounding limestone plateaus and the surroundings of Qalansiyah (Fig. 35 View Figure 35 ). There are no records of the species since 2008.

Habitat and biology.

The primary habitat is marsh vegetation along streams at elevations from 10–1000 m a. s. l. According to Popov (in Uvarov and Popov (1957)), it is confined to Juncus and sedge marshes along and at the mouths of streams and numerous in its strict habitat, but absent elsewhere. Records are from January to April and August. Popov (in Uvarov and Popov (1957)) encountered “ late-instar nymphs and adults in various stages of maturation ” in February and March. We visited several suitable Juncus vegetations in February 2009 and October – November 2010 (Qalansiyah, Hadiboh Plain, Wadi Zerig, Dineghen / Adho Dimello), but did not encounter this species.