Figure 4 - uploaded by Adam Haberski
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Melanoplus gordonae Vickery, 1969 holotype habitus: A) left lateral and B) dorsal; M. gordonae allotype habitus: C) left lateral and D) dorsal; E) holotype and F) allotype labels -note that the specific name on the labels is incorrect; M. borealis (Fieber, 1853) (UAM100269521) habitus: G) left lateral and H) dorsal.
Source publication
Currently, 18 species of Orthoptera are known from Alaska, representing the families Acrididae, Tetrigidae, and Rhaphidophoridae. There is considerable overlap in fauna between Alaska and the adjacent provinces of British Columbia (BC) and the Yukon Territory. Thirteen of the species known from Alaska also occur in both BC and the Yukon, two others...
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... hereby establish M. gordonae Vickery, 1969 as a junior synonym of M. borealis based on accumulated morphological evidence. Melanopus gordonae was described using only five type specimens: male holotype ( Fig. 4A,B,E), female allotype ( Fig. 4C,D,F), and three nymphs that were collected by a V. Gordon: "U.S.A.: Alaska, nr. Fairbanks, 2 mi. along Gilmore Trail, 13-VIII-1968" (Vickery, 1969). Despite numerous efforts by Vickery and subsequent collectors, including AH and DSS, no more specimens of this species have been found, leading to the ...
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... hereby establish M. gordonae Vickery, 1969 as a junior synonym of M. borealis based on accumulated morphological evidence. Melanopus gordonae was described using only five type specimens: male holotype ( Fig. 4A,B,E), female allotype ( Fig. 4C,D,F), and three nymphs that were collected by a V. Gordon: "U.S.A.: Alaska, nr. Fairbanks, 2 mi. along Gilmore Trail, 13-VIII-1968" (Vickery, 1969). Despite numerous efforts by Vickery and subsequent collectors, including AH and DSS, no more specimens of this species have been found, leading to the presumption that it was a very rare ...
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... possesses one primary unique morphological character: the subgenital plate is distinctly trilobate at its apex (Fig. 5C). Two further characters that helped separate it from other species were the combination of wings that extended beyond the apex of the abdomen in both sexes (although this was not explicitly noted in the original description) (Fig. 4A-D) and a lack of banding on the outer face of the hind femora in males, but with some in females (Vickery 1969) (Fig. 4C). Note that the latter character was seemingly misunderstood by Catling (2008) to not be present at all. His confusion was most likely compounded by the fact that the key in Vickery and Kevan (1985Kevan ( (1986) ...
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... Two further characters that helped separate it from other species were the combination of wings that extended beyond the apex of the abdomen in both sexes (although this was not explicitly noted in the original description) (Fig. 4A-D) and a lack of banding on the outer face of the hind femora in males, but with some in females (Vickery 1969) (Fig. 4C). Note that the latter character was seemingly misunderstood by Catling (2008) to not be present at all. His confusion was most likely compounded by the fact that the key in Vickery and Kevan (1985Kevan ( (1986) mistakenly said that the female lacked the ...
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... compared M. gordonae against even though it is not found in Alaska (Vickery used specimens from British Columbia, Canada). Despite this, a colleague with over 40 years of rangeland grasshopperidentifying experience also closely examined the UAM specimens, ran them through the same keys and still came to M. femurrubrum, but noted that M. borealis (Fig. 4G&H) would be a better fit in terms of overall habitus (Reuter, personal ...
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... 4A-D, G&H; 5A-F, L), combined with their geographic location, suggested greater similarity between M. gordonae and M. borealis than M. gordonae and M. femurrubrum. However, the primary distinctions between M. gordonae and M. borealis were three-fold: 1) subgenital plate shape in males (Fig. 5C&F), 2) slight banding on outer hind femora of females (Fig. 4C) (seemingly absent in M. borealis (Fig. 69)), and 3) wing length in both sexes (Fig. 4A-D, G&H). This latter character is what particularly stymied us and Reuter because, according to the three keys and other reliable sources of information (e.g., Pfadt 2002), the wings of M. borealis rarely extend beyond the apices of hind femora. ...
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... between M. gordonae and M. borealis than M. gordonae and M. femurrubrum. However, the primary distinctions between M. gordonae and M. borealis were three-fold: 1) subgenital plate shape in males (Fig. 5C&F), 2) slight banding on outer hind femora of females (Fig. 4C) (seemingly absent in M. borealis (Fig. 69)), and 3) wing length in both sexes (Fig. 4A-D, G&H). This latter character is what particularly stymied us and Reuter because, according to the three keys and other reliable sources of information (e.g., Pfadt 2002), the wings of M. borealis rarely extend beyond the apices of hind femora. These conflicts are what prompted the decision to borrow the type specimens of M. gordonae and ...
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... body size, similar shape of male terminalia structures, wing length) support the synonymizing of M. gordonae with the earlier-named M. borealis. Two odd details do remain: 1) the trilobate apex of M. gordonae's subgenital plate in the holotype (Fig. 5C) and 2) the slight banding on the outer face of M. gordonae's hind femur in the allotype (Fig. 4C). But both of these can be explained as unusual population variation details, especially since the past use of the subspecies concept for M. borealis was based on high levels of population variation across regions. Some of the previously unidentified UAM male specimens do exhibit vague similarities and a range of variation (same for the ...
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... Wings exceeding tip of hind femur (Fig. 33). (Fig. 34). Subgenital plate notched (Fig. 35). 13 12B (10B) Cercus large with rounded apex bent dorsally (Fig. 36). Subgenital plate rounded or truncate (Fig. 37). (Fig. 38); furculae less than 1/3 as long as supra-anal plate (Fig. 39). Melanoplus sanguinipes 13B (12A) Subgenital plate as wide as long (Fig. 40); furculae more than 1/3 as long as supra-anal plate (Fig. 41). Melanoplus bruneri Photographic key to the Orthoptera of Alaska UAM100000006 ...
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... (6B) Lateral profile of head more or less vertical (Fig. 42). 15 14B (6B) Lateral profile of head oblique (Fig. 43). 17 15A (14A) Pronotum with median carina low (Fig. 44). Tegmina with large "leopard" spots (Fig. 45). 16 15B (14A) Pronotum with median carina prominent (Fig. 46). Tegmina with small spots (Fig. 47). Arphia conspersa Photographic key to the Orthoptera of Alaska UAM100011161 ANSP 16A (15A) Pronotum roughened in front, posterior half with tubercles (Fig. ...
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... (6B) Lateral profile of head more or less vertical (Fig. 42). 15 14B (6B) Lateral profile of head oblique (Fig. 43). 17 15A (14A) Pronotum with median carina low (Fig. 44). Tegmina with large "leopard" spots (Fig. 45). 16 15B (14A) Pronotum with median carina prominent (Fig. 46). Tegmina with small spots (Fig. 47). Arphia conspersa Photographic key to the Orthoptera of Alaska UAM100011161 ANSP 16A (15A) Pronotum roughened in front, posterior half with tubercles (Fig. ...
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... (6B) Lateral profile of head more or less vertical (Fig. 42). 15 14B (6B) Lateral profile of head oblique (Fig. 43). 17 15A (14A) Pronotum with median carina low (Fig. 44). Tegmina with large "leopard" spots (Fig. 45). 16 15B (14A) Pronotum with median carina prominent (Fig. 46). Tegmina with small spots (Fig. 47). Arphia conspersa Photographic key to the Orthoptera of Alaska UAM100011161 ANSP 16A (15A) Pronotum roughened in front, posterior half with tubercles (Fig. ...
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... (6B) Lateral profile of head more or less vertical (Fig. 42). 15 14B (6B) Lateral profile of head oblique (Fig. 43). 17 15A (14A) Pronotum with median carina low (Fig. 44). Tegmina with large "leopard" spots (Fig. 45). 16 15B (14A) Pronotum with median carina prominent (Fig. 46). Tegmina with small spots (Fig. 47). Arphia conspersa Photographic key to the Orthoptera of Alaska UAM100011161 ANSP 16A (15A) Pronotum roughened in front, posterior half with tubercles (Fig. ...
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... 17 15A (14A) Pronotum with median carina low (Fig. 44). Tegmina with large "leopard" spots (Fig. 45). 16 15B (14A) Pronotum with median carina prominent (Fig. 46). Tegmina with small spots (Fig. 47). Arphia conspersa Photographic key to the Orthoptera of Alaska UAM100011161 ANSP 16A (15A) Pronotum roughened in front, posterior half with tubercles (Fig. ...
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... pale yellow. Xanthippus brooksi 16B (15A) Pronotum smooth or slightly wrinkled in front, posterior half without tubercles (Fig. 49). Hindwing ...
Citations
... It is also not surprising that Werner (1983) did not document Orthoptera. Grasshoppers, although sometimes common in Alaska in open, grassy or tundra habitats (Haberski et al., 2021b), are rare to absent in Alaska's boreal forests-our sampling captured only five specimens and 3 years of pitfall trapping in Denali National Park forests found none (Haberski et al., 2023). ...
Multi‐decadal monitoring has revealed dramatic evidence of global decline in arthropod biomass and biodiversity, yet little baseline information exists for Alaska, a region 1/5th the size of the contiguous US states.
We documented patterns of aerial arthropod biomass and diversity in a multi‐year investigation of three regions in boreal Alaska—two in central Alaska (Fairbanks and Tetlin) and one in southcentral Alaska (Anchorage). Sampling employed canopy Malaise and near‐ground pollinator traps as part of a parallel study of a steeply declining songbird. Traps yielded 115,078 specimens of 15 orders and 692 unique taxa with body sizes ≥3 mm.
During peak summer (15 June–15 July), mean aerial arthropod biomass was more than three times higher in traps in Fairbanks (50.6 mg·d ⁻¹ , confidence interval [CI]: 34.5–63.7) than Anchorage (15.8 mg·d ⁻¹ , CI: 9.3–26.4). Tetlin exhibited an intermediate value (35.4 mg·d ⁻¹ , CI: 18.4–67.4). Temperature correlated positively with captured biomass, whereas wind (above 1.5 m·s ⁻¹ ) correlated negatively.
To obtain species‐level diversity data, we focused on beetles, representing a wide range of feeding guilds and taxa. Beetles accounted for 6229 adult specimens, 364 unique (mostly species‐level) taxa and 47 families. Trophic categorizations of beetles were similar for the central Alaskan sites; both had a greater proportion of wood‐feeding beetles than Anchorage. Ten species are potentially new to science and 49 are new state records for Alaska.
Our work provides the first insight into regional differences and seasonal trends in aerial arthropod biomass and diversity in boreal Alaska, creating important baselines for the future.
... It is interesting that, in our analysis, this new species appears more closely related to the European species Sciara mirabilis than the two North American Sciara species (Fig 1). This pattern of distribution, with Old World and Alaskan species being closely related, or conspecific, has been documented in other taxa such as grasshoppers (haBerski et al. 2021) and staphylinid beetles (sikes et al. 2016;Brunke et al. 2020) and is likely to have resulted from dispersal across the Bering Land Bridge, which connected Alaska to Eurasia during much of the Pleistocene (Brunke et al. 2020). (Fig. 4) There are various hypotheses to explain the mass movement behavior of snakeworm gnats, but none have been adequately tested. ...
A new species of Sciara Meigen, 1803, Sciara serpens Pereira, Heller & Sutou, sp. n., is described based on morphological, molecular, and citizen science data. The new species forms larval masses moving in columns, referred to as “snakeworms” or “armyworms” in the literature, and is closely related to Sciara mirabilis (Bechstein, 1794). Sciara minor Strobl, 1898, restit. et stat. n. is revalidated based on morphological and molecular data. Sciara mirabilis is used for a European species previously referred to under its junior synonym Sciara militaris Nowicki, 1868. An estimate of the mitochondrial phylogeny of representative Sciara species, a summary of snakeworm sightings in North America, and a brief review of hypotheses for why such larval mass-movement behavior occurs are provided.
An annotated list of 42 species in 26 genera and four families of Orthoptera recorded from Beringia (Northeast Yakutia, Chukotka, Magadan region, and Kamchatka in Russia, Alaska in USA, Yukon and the Northwestern Territories in Canada) is given. The distribution of species is clarified. The exchange of orthopteran faunas between Asia and America by the Bering Land Bridge in Pleistocene was strongly limited. The only three species, Tetrix subulata (Linnaeus, 1761), Melanoplus frigidus (Boheman, 1846), and Stethophyma grossum (Linnaeus, 1758), are recorded from both Asian and American parts. The orthopteran fauna of Beringia is not original. Majority of Beringian species are widespread throughout either Asia or North America. There are only four endemic grasshoppers, namely two Asian subspesies, Melanoplus frigidus kamtchatkae (Sjosted, 1935) and Aeropedellus variegatus gelidus Mistshenko, 1951, and two American species, A. arcticus Hebard, 1935 and Bruneria yukonensis Vickery, 1969. Composition of the regional faunas is briefly discussed. The monotypic genus Bohemanella Ramme, 1951 is again considered as a synonym of Melanoplus Stål, 1873, where a type species of the former genus, Melanoplus frigidus (Boheman, 1846) comb. resurr., forming its own species group.
