Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2017; 5(1): 279-281

E-ISSN: 2320-7078
P-ISSN: 2349-6800
JEZS 2017; 5(1): 279-281
First record of the genus Mermiria Stål with its
© 2017 JEZS
Received: 12-11-2016
species Mermiria bivittata (Serville, 1838) from
Accepted: 13-12-2016 Pakistan (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Gomphocerinae)
Shoaib Ali
Department of Zoology Hazara
University, Mansehra, Pakistan Shoaib Ali, Waheed Ali Panhwar, Riffat Sultana, Sardar Azhar Mehmood
and Muhammad Saeed Wagan
Waheed Ali Panhwar
Department of Zoology Hazara
University, Mansehra, Pakistan Abstract
The Slant faced Mermiria bivittata (Serville, 1838) and its genus Mermiria Stål, 1873 (Orthoptera,
Riffat Sultana Acrididae, Gomphocerinae) are recorded for the first time for the Pakistan fauna. The species was
Department of Zoology collected from Mansehra, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. This record expands the
University of Sindh Jamshoro, known distributional range of Mermiria bivittata. Descriptions of the genus and species is given by using
Pakistan multiple diagnostic characters. The descriptions are supplemented by photographs of the species is
provided.
Sardar Azhar Mehmood
Department of Zoology Hazara Keywords: Pakistan, new record, Gomphocerinae, Mermiria bivittata
University, Mansehra, Pakistan

Muhammad Saeed Wagan Introduction

Department of Zoology The genus Mermiria Stål, 1873 is a member of the subfamily Gomphocerinae. At present it
University of Sindh Jamshoro, includes 4 species, mainly distributed over the Neartic region [7]. Mermiria is arguably one of
Pakistan the rarer but morphologically distinct genera in the Gomphocerinae. However, its species are
not easily distinguished morphologically as many previous descriptions considered probably
the most striking feature of variation in the external morphology of the species of this genus is
in the form of the fastigium, when viewed from the dorsum. Practically the only satisfactory
method of comparison in the variation of this feature is to measure the angle, and the extremes
have been figured and discussed under each species. The folly of using a feature of this sort in
a strictly diagnostic sense is evident when it is known that certain species show variations of
from 33oto 65o (alacris), 52o to 84o (intertexta), and 62o to 87o (maculipennis maculipennis and
mac. macclungi) in the male sex, and 42o to 70o, 80o to 95o, and 65o to 95o respectively in the
female sex [17]. The very slender or the average form of the caudal femora are also features of
value, but there is much individual variation in that considered average, although the very
slender type is more constant. The antennae show certain specific types which, however, are
very difficult to compare satisfactorily. The general form, whether average or very slender, is
also an important feature in this genus.
Sporadic faunistic investigations had been made to record Pakistan insect species in different
regions of the country. Some information about the insect fauna was reported by [1-3, 5, 9-15];
however, they did not record Mermiria bivittata (Serville, 1838).
Mansehra (34°20′N 73°12′E) is situated at elevation of 1,088 m (3,570 ft) surrounded by
groups of mountains, and is considered a distinct phytogeographic region of Pakistan [16].
Moreover, it is considered to be a transitional zone between the Afrotropical and the
Palaearctic biogeographical regions with a special ecogeographical area located in Pakistan.
This contribution is the first record of genus Mermiria from Pakistan. Based on microscopic
observations of external morphological characters and a comparison to earlier literature
dealing with the description of different species of this genus, especially from Neartic region
[8]
, the available Slant faced specimen was identified as Mermiria bivittata (Serville, 1838),
which was described originally from Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A., South Carolina,
Lane [7].
Correspondence
Waheed Ali Panhwar Materials and Methods
Department of Zoology Hazara The specimen was collected from Mansehra Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan during year 2016
University, Mansehra, Pakistan and then it was dried and mounted. The terminology of morphological characters used here is
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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

adopted from [4, 6]. Morphological features were measured rather broadly and bluntly rounded. The strength of the very
with an ocular micrometer and a camera lucida attached to a short median carina on the cephalic section of the male
Hund Wetzlar SM33 stereomicroscope. Photographs of the fastigium varies greatly; it is never really strongly marked and
species were taken by a Canon IXY430F digital camera. The is occasionally absent. The exact width of the marginal rim of
measurements are in millimeters and the whole length of the the fastigium, due to the position of the intermarginal
specimen was measured along the midline from fastigium of depression, varies as much in this as in the other species of
the vertex to the distal end of the external genitalia that of the genus. The median fastigial carina is frequent.
hind femur was measured from the basal to the most apical The lateral aspect the fastigio-facial angle is always well
point and the tegminal length was measured laterally along its rounded in the male. This is, in fact, one of the chief
greatest length. distinguishing features of the species. There is quite a little
variation in the basal form of the eye, this ranging from
Results ovoid-elliptical to narrowly. The pronotum with some little
Family Acrididae MacLeay, 1821 variation in the relative proportions of the dorsum of the
Subfamily Gomphocerinae Fieber, 1853 prozona and metazona. The caudal margin of the disk of the
Tribe Mermiriini Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893 pronotum is always angulate, broadly obtuse, varying slightly
Genus Mermiria Stål, 1873 in its degree. The relative breadth to length of the pronotum
Type species: Mermiria belfragii Stål (= picta) shows a negligible amount of -variation. We have made a
Description. Form typically Truxaloid, elongate, alate. Head count of the caudal tibial spines of ten males
with facial line decidedly retreating: fastigio-facial angle
evident: fastigium produced, angulate to rounded, weakly or Comparative note: This species resemble in general
not at all carinate, weakly or moderately impressed: lateral appearance to maculipennis. The most conspicuous feature of
foveole obsoletely to appreciably indicated, sub-ventral in the species is found only in the male sex and is purely a color
position, not visible from the dorsum: frontal costa sharply character, i. e., the absence of a pale subcostal stripe on the
indicated, continuous, in part at least sulcate: lateral facial tegmina. In all the other species of the genus this is constantly
carina-, prominent, diverging ventrally: eyes ovoid to ovoid- indicated, although rarely sub obsolete in males of intertexta,
elliptical, axis dorso cephalad to ventro-caudad, moderately however, are quite distinct in other features. The other
prominent from dorsum: antennme ensiform, deplanate. features of difference in this species from maculipennis is the
Pronotum longitudinal, median carina indicated, with or usual presence of a short, weak, cephalic median carina on the
without lateral carina: lateral lobes normal, with or without fastigium; the proportionately shorter dorsum of the
supplementary longitudinal carinae at middle, ventral margin fastigium. The fastigio-facial angle also more broadly
of lateral lobes distinctly or scarcely thic ened: caudal margin rounded. The caudal margin of the pronotal disk distinctly
of disk arcuate or angulate; prozona of dorsum always longer angulate.
than metazona. Tegmina and wings fully developed.
Prosternum with low median protuberance or slight transverse Coloration
ridge: mesosternal lobes separated by a distinct interspace or The pale base coloration of the male ranges from citron
subattingent: metasternal lobes separated by a narrow yellow (on the abdomen mustard yellow), through yellowish
interspace to attingent. Subgenital plate of very bluntly, citrine to oil green.
moderately or strongly conoid produced, hardly compressed.
Cephalic and median limbs short, slender. Caudal femora Discussion
moderately robust to slender, genicular lobes and angles not Although, Mansehra is situated at elevation of 1,088 m
produced; caudal tibiae with spines of external margin more (3,570 ft) surrounded by groups of mountains, and is
numerous than those of internal margin. considered a distinct phytogeographic region of Pakistan [16].
Moreover, it is considered to be a transitional zone between
Mermiria bivittata (Serville) the Afrotropical and the Palaearctic biogeographical regions
Material examined. Pakistan: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a special ecogeographical area located in Pakistan. As a
Mannsehra, 6♂’s, Shoaib & Waheed (22°11'16"N, result of present study Mermiria bivittata (Serville, 1838) and
36°22'14"E), 09.09.2016 & 18.10.2016 (Dadar, Dhodial, its genus Mermiria Stål, 1873 (Orthoptera, Acrididae,
Khakhi, Oghi). Gomphocerinae) are recorded for the first time for the
Pakistan fauna. The species was collected from Mansehra, in
Measurement (mm): Length of Pronotum, 0.5; Length of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. This record
Head, 0.2; Length of Tegmina, 3,;Length of femur, 1.8; expands the known distributional range of Mermiria bivittata.
Length of tibia, 1.9 Recent studies directing orthoptera biodiversity confirmed the
need of exploring unknown regions for obtaining complete
Description picture of the species of topographical ranges [16]. Earlier,
Head having facial line decidedly retreating with dorsal and Slant faced specimen was identified as
lateral lines. This species have a relatively small degree of Mermiria bivittata (Serville, 1838), which was described
variation in the dorsal fastigial form, viewed from the originally from Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A.,
standpoint of the genus, although there is quite an appreciable South Carolina, Lane [7]. The present finding is a
difference between the extremes found in male. In the male comprehensive field work in previously poor studied zone
the extremes measure from about 52o to 84oin their could produce surprising results, providing a better
angulation, or from a moderately acute angle to nearly a right understanding of the presently sporadic distribution of this
angle, with its horizontal apex from narrowly rounded to species.

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
Table 1: showing the data of species of genus Mermiria [7]
Kind of Specimen Location of
Species Synonym Type locality
type category type
Northern America,
Mermiria bivittata macclungi Rehn, 1919 Southeastern U.S.A., ANSP
Neotype Male
(Serville, 1838) maculipennis Bruner, 1889 South Carolina, Lane Philadelphia
Pakistan
Northern America,
Mermiria intertexta ANSP
--- Southeastern U.S.A., Lectotype Male
Scudder, 1899 Philadelphia
Georgia, Morrison
alacris Scudder, 1877
belfragii Stål, 1873 Northern America, BMNH
Mermiria picta
neomexicana (Thomas, 1870) USA: unknown Holotype Male London NH
(Walker, 1870)
rostrata McNeill, 1897 locality Museum
vigilans Scudder, 1899
Northern America,
Mermiria texana ANSP
arizonensis (Bruner, 1904) South-Central U.S.A., Lectotype Male
Bruner, 1889 Philadelphia
Texas, El Paso

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