Abstract: Eleven species of the pygmy grasshoppers under four genera, i.e., Ergatettix, Euparatettix, Hedotettix and Paratettix have been collected from different localities of Rawalpindi Division. Out of these, Ergatettix dorsiferus has been recorded for the first time from the Punjab, while E. guentheri is a first record from Pakistan. The measurements of all the species, alongwith their distribution and habitat are also provided.
Introduction
Tetrigids are a kind of grasshoppers which are also called grouse locusts. They inhabit moist, humid, wet and shady places (Berman et al., 1989). The main work on the tetrigid fauna was done in the undivided India by Kirby (1914) and Hancock (1912, 1913, 1915). After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, some work has been done by Moeed (1971), Wagan and Kevan (1992) and Suhail et al. (1994) in different localities of Pakistan.
In the present work, this family is represented by eleven species in four genera. Out of these Ergatettix dorsiferus is a new record from the Punjab whereas E. guentheri has been recorded for the first time from Pakistan.
Materials and Methods
The specimens were killed in a cyanide bottle and pinned. Most of the specimens were with wings folded on their bodies and legs improperly placed. In order to make a study of such specimens, they were kept in a relaxing jar for 1-2 days, 8-10 specimens at a time. After relaxation, they were mounted on spreading boards and the left tegmen and wing of each specimen were fully spread so that the maculation could be studied.
Hind legs were placed in an inverted "V" position. All the mounted material was left on spreading boards for 4-6 days, then transferred to boxes after labelling for preservation. Naphthaline balls mounted on pins and BHC powder were used as fumigant to save the preserved specimens from the attack of insects. These collections were supplemented with specimens from the students' collection of the Department of Agri. Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
A revolving stage and a WILD M3B binocular microscope (10X×1.6X) were used for identifying the specimens up to the specific level. The measurements (maximum length and width) of body, pronotum, tegmen and hind femur were taken with a finely pointed divider and a ruler and their means and standard deviation were worked out. The type specimens have been deposited in the Insect Museum, Department of Agricultural Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
Subfamily Tetriginae Genus Ergatettix Kirby
Type: Ergatettix tarsalis Kirby
| 1912. | Euparatettix nodulosus Hancock, Mem. Dept. Agric. India, pp. 155-156. |
| 1915. | Indatettix nodulosus Hancock, Rec. Ind. Mus., p.129. |
| 1929. | Ergatettix nodulosus Hebrad, Rev. Suisse Zool., p. 587. |
| 1970. | Ergatettix guntheri Steinmann, Acta Zool. Acad. Sci., p. 429. |
| Measurements (mm): (4♂ 4♀) |
Material examined: Rawalpindi 4♂ 2♀, 10.VI.93; 2♀, 4.IX.94.
Habitat: The specimens were collected from the surface of a water pond where mosses and green algae were growing profusely on the surface.
New record: This species has been recorded for the first time from Pakistan.
2. Ergatettix dorsiferus (Walker)
1871: Tettix dorsiferus Walker, Cat. Dermapt. Salt. Brit. Mus., 5, p. 825.
1909: Euparatettix parvus Hancock, Spol. Zeyl., ii, p. 149. 1910. Acrydium dorsiferum Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orthopt. Brit. Mus., 3, p.45.
1914: Euparatettix scabripes Kirby, Faun. Brit. Ind. Orth. Acrid., 1, p.59.
1914: Paratettix dorsifer Kirby, Faun. Brit. Ind. Orth. Acrid., 1, p.63.
1914: Euparatettix tarsalis Kirby, Faun. Brit. Ind. Orth. Acrid., 1, p.63.
1915: Inditettix parvus Hancock, Rec. Ind. Mus., 11(1): 129.
1929: Ergatettix dorsiferus Hebard, Rev. Suisse Zool., p. 588.
| Measurements (mm): (1♂) |
Material examined: Rawalpindi 1♂, 10.VI.93.
Habitat: This specimen was collected from the vicinity of a water pond having heavy growth of algae on the surface.
New record: This species has been recorded for the first time from. Punjab while Wagan and Kevan (1992) recorded it from Jamshoro (Sindh).
3. Ergatettix interruptus (Brunner von Wattenwyl)
1893. Paratettix interruptus, Brunner, Ann. Mus. Genova, xxxiii, p. 109.
1910. Euparatettix interruptus Kirby, Loc. vel. Acrid., Brit. Mus. (N.H.), p.31.
1915. Indatettix interruptus Hancock, Ind. Tet. Rec. Ind. Mus., 11(1): 130.
| Measurements (mm): (1♂ 2♀) |
Material examined: Rawalpindi 1♂ 1♀10.VI.93; Salgran 1♀ 3.IX.94.
Habitat: The specimens were collected from the boundary of a water pool and the stones with thick mosses growing on them.
New record: The above mentioned localities. Earlier, Suhail et al. (1994) reported this species from Lahore, Lorali and Peshawar.
4. Ergatettix interruptus var. A. aff.
1915. Ergatettix interruptus var. aff. Hancock, Rec. Ind. Mus., 11: 130.
| Measurements (mm): (1♂) |
Material examined: Salgran 1♂, 3.IX.94.
Habitat: The specimen was collected from mosses growing on a vertical moist wall where water was seeping.
5. Ergatettix crassipes (Hancock)
1912. Euparatettix crassipes Hancock, Mem. Dept. Agric. Ind., pp. 153,157.
1915. Indatettix crassipes Hancock, Rec. Ind. Mus., 11(1): 130.
1970. Euparatettix crassipes Steinmann, Acta. Zool. Acad. Sci., no. 359.
1987. Ergatettix crassipes Ingrisch, Deutsches entom. Zeit., 34: 130.
| Measurements (mm): (2♂ 3♀) |
Material examined: Rawalpindi 2♂ 1♀, 10.VI.93; Jhelum 1♀, 1.IX.94.
Habitat: The specimens have been collected from the wild plantation of various kinds, growing near the water pond, resulting from seepage of water from a canal.
Genus Hedotettix Bolivar.
Type: Acridium (Tettix) gracile de Haan.
1. Hedotettix gracilis (de Haan)
1843. Acridium (Tettix) gracile De Haan, Verh. Natu. Gesch. Nederl., p. 169.
1871. Tettix umbrifera Walker, Cat. Derm. Salt. Brit. Mus. (N.H.), p. 824.
1871. Tettix lineifera Walker, ibid.
1871. Tettix vittifera Walker, ibid.
1871. Tettix obliquifera Walker, ibid., p. 825.
1871. Tettix nigricollis Walker, ibid., p. 826.
1871. Tettix discalis Walker, ibid.
1871. Tettix exsultans Walker, ibid.
1887. Hedotettix gracilis Bolivar, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg.,
31: 188, 283, 284.
| Measurements (mm): (2♂ 1♀) |
Material examined: Salgran 2♂ 1♀, 11.VI.93.
Habitat: The specimens of this species have been found in wild grasses.
2. Hedotettix attenuatus Hancock
1904. Hedotettix attenuatus Hancock, Spol. Zeyl., 2: 151.
| Measurements (mm): (3♂ 2♀) |
Material examined: Rawalpindi 1 ♂, 10.VI.93; Salgran 2♂ 2♀, 3.IX.94.
Habitat: The specimens were found on the margins of a water pond and moist grasses.
New record: The above localities. Earlier, this species has been reported by Moeed (1971) from Hyderabad and Jamshoro (Sindh) and by Suhail et al. (1994) form Mingora (Swat), Khuzdar, Lorali, Sukkur and Karachi.
Genus Paratettix Bolivar
Type: Paratettix (Tettix) meridionalis (Rambur).
1. Paratettix nigrescens Sjostedt
1921. Paratettix nigrescens Sjostedt, Kunf. Sevenk. Vet. Handl., 62(3): 15,17.
1931. Paratettix histricus Sjostedt, Ark. Zool., 23A(11): 1.
| Measurements (mm): (2♂ 7♀) |
Material examined: Rawalpindi 1 ♂ 4 ♀, 10.VI.93; Attock 1 ♂ 3 ♀, 4.IX.94.
Habitat: The specimens were collected from the edge of a water pond and from the moist grasses in a garden.
New record: Both the above mentioned localities. Earlier, this species was reported by Moeed (1971) from Hyderabad and Jamshoro (Sindh) and by Suhail et al. (1994) from Badin and Sialkot.
2. Paratettix similis Bolivar
1887. Paratettix femoralis Bolivar, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., 31: 271, 277.
1906. Paratettix fluctuans Hancock, Gen. Ins. Orth. Acrid., Tetrig., P. 56.
1906. Paratettix similis Hancock, Ibid.
| Measurements (mm): (1♂) |
Material examined: Attock 1 ♂, 4.IX.94.
Habitat: The specimen of this species was collected from grasses growing on the boundary of stagnant water.
Genus Euparatettix Hancock
Type: Euparatettix (Paratettix) personatus (Bolivar).
1. Euparatettix variabilis (Bolivar)
1887. Paratettix variabilis Bolivar, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., 31: 188, 276.
1915. Euparatettix variabilis Hancock, Rec. Ind. Mus., 11(1): 126.
| Measurements (mm): (2♂ 3♀) |
Material examined: Rawalpindi 3 ♀ 10.VI.93; Salgran 1 ♂, 11.VI.93; Attock 1 ♂, 4.IX.94.
Habitat: The specimens were collected from the banks of the sewage water pond and from the wet grass in a garden.
2. Euparatettix indicus (Bolivar)
1887. Paratettix indicus Bolivar, Ann. Soc. ent. Belgique, 31: 281.
1902. Paratettix indicum Bolivar, Ann. Soc. ent. France, 70: 585.
1907. Euparatettix indicus Hancock, Trans. Ent. Soc. London, p. 238.
| Measurements (mm): (1♂ 1♀) |
Material examined: Rawalpindi 1 ♂, 10.VI.93; 1 ♀, 2.IX.94.
Habitat: The specimens were collected from a water pond where dark green algae was growing.