Grasshoppers of the Andes: new Melanoplinae and Gomphocerinae taxa (Insecta, Orthoptera, Acrididae) from Huascarán National Park and Callejón de Huaylas, Ancash, Peru

Abstract

The grasshopper fauna from Huascarán National Park and the valleys of “Callejón de Conchucos” and “Callejón de Huaylas”, Perú, has been sampled during two surveys of the area in 2004 and 2008. In this paper, two new genera (Tiyantiyana n. gen. and Huaylasacris n. gen.) and six new species collected during the surveys are described: Tiyantiyana sunipenis n. gen, n. sp., Huaylasacris maxicerci n. gen, n. sp., Maeacris chilikuti n. sp., M. saytu n. sp., M. ayasqa n. sp. of the subfamily Melanoplinae and Orphulella chumpi n. sp. of the subfamily Gomphocerinae. Previous records on the highland grasshoppers of the Peruvian Andes were almost nonexistent. The new acridids described here were collected at the high-altitude puna grassland, between 3182 and 4660 m a.s.l. Puna is one of the most heavily modified natural regions of Peru. Since grasshoppers are a useful group for bioindication, it is important to acquire knowledge on their diversity in such environmental conditions.