Biology:Sigaus villosus

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Short description: Species of grasshopper

Sigaus villosus
Sigaus villosus 114601564.jpg
Male
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Caelifera
Family: Acrididae
Genus: Sigaus
Species:
S. villosus
Binomial name
Sigaus villosus
(Salmon, 1950)[1]
NZAcrididae7.png
The distribution of S. villosus in New Zealand
Synonyms[1]
  • Brachaspis villosa Salmon, 1950

Sigaus villosus is New Zealand's largest grasshopper. It is only found in the central mountains of the South Island. The genus Sigaus is endemic to the New Zealand. Like all of New Zealand sub-alpine and alpine grasshoppers S. villosus has a 2 or 3 years life cycle. The eggs must ‘overwinter’ before they will hatch. Hoppers are found throughout the year and adult grasshoppers can be found throughout the New Zealand summer between December and April. Adult S. villosus do not overwinter.

Distribution and habitat

Sigaus villosus is known from the central mountains of the South Island, with the largest population on the Craigieburn Range. It can be found as far south as the Fox Peak ( [ ⚑ ] 43°50′20″S 170°47′02″E / 43.838913°S 170.78388°E / -43.838913; 170.78388) and as far north as the Mount Wilson ( [ ⚑ ] 42°57′32″S 171°40′32″E / 42.958791°S 171.675611°E / -42.958791; 171.675611). The black eye grasshopper is a truly high alpine species, as it prefer open bare rocky screes between 1,900–2,100 metres (6,200–6,900 ft) in altitude,[2][3] however, it can be found down as low as 1,320 metres (4,330 ft) at the Porters Ski Area at the bottom of long open screes ( [ ⚑ ] 43°16′23″S 171°38′32″E / 43.27295483°S 171.64224886°E / -43.27295483; 171.64224886). Adult grasshoppers are found during the New Zealand summer between October and March.

Species description

This species was first described by J. T. Salmon in 1950 and originally named Brachaspis villosa.[4] The wings on S. villosus are micropterous (small wings) between 2–4 millimetres (0.079–0.157 in) making this species flightless like most of New Zealand grasshoppers.

Polymorphism

Only one colour morph are known for adults S. villosus, 'Grey'. All specimens are light grey with black coloured eyes.

Type information

Holotype of Sigaus villosus

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Sigaus villosus (Salmon, 1950)" (in en). https://www.gbif.org/species/1711750. 
  2. Trewick, Steven A. (April 2008). "DNA Barcoding is not enough: mismatch of taxonomy and genealogy in New Zealand grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae)." (in en). Cladistics 24 (2): 240–254. doi:10.1111/j.1096-0031.2007.00174.x. ISSN 0748-3007. 
  3. Morris, Simon J. (December 2003). "Two new species of Sigaus from Fiordland, New Zealand (Orthoptera: Acrididae)." (in en). New Zealand Entomologist 26 (1): 65–74. doi:10.1080/00779962.2003.9722110. ISSN 0077-9962. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00779962.2003.9722110. 
  4. Salmon, J. T. (1950). "A New Species of Acridiidae (Insecta: Orthoptera) from New Zealand". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 50: 69. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/TPRSNZ1950-78.2.6.7. 

Wikidata ☰ Q7511968 entry