The Afrotropical grasshopper genus Pteropera Karsch, 1891, is reviewed. Some species present in Cameroon are described, Pteropera augustini Donskoff, 1981, is recorded for the first time in the country, and three new species are described from Cameroon, Pteropera kennei Yetchom & Husemann, sp. nov., Pteropera matzkei Yetchom & Husemann, sp. nov. and Pteropera missoupi Yetchom & Husemann, sp. nov., increasing the number of Pteropera species in Cameroon from eight to 12, and overall to 30 species in Central Africa. An updated key of Pteropera is provided. Photographs with data on the distributions of all known species are given. In addition, a phylogenetic tree was constructed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference on the basis of a concatenated dataset of COI, 16S, and 12S markers of available Cameroonian species. The maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of the concatenated datasets resulted in a well-resolved phylogeny of the group and species of Pteropera were recovered as monophyletic, largely with high support. In all cases, the discrimination of all studied species based on barcode information was congruent with the species limits determined by traditional taxonomy. Our findings show the potential of integrative taxonomy to resolve the relationships among grasshoppers below the family level. Further analyses, including more comprehensive taxon sampling and additional nuclear markers, are needed, and the occurrence of several taxa still needs to be confirmed in African rainforests.

The taxonomic status of the Pyrgomorphid genera Parapetasia Bolívar, 1884, and Loveridgacris Rehn, 1954 is complex and challenging. Here, we use a combination of morphological, distributional, and genetic data to revise the two genera and provide new information on their diversity. We describe a new species, Loveridgacris tectiferussp. nov., from Tanzania and formally resurrect the status of Parapetasia rammei as a valid species within Parapetasia, resulting in two species in Parapetasia (P. femorata and P. rammei) and two in Loveridgacris (L. impotens and L. tectiferussp. nov.). We also sequenced the COI and 16S genes of 10 Pyrgomorphidae species and provided the first phylogeny of the group. Our data show that all species are clearly distinct and represent molecular operational taxonomic units (mOTUs), with the exceptions of L. impotens and L. tectiferussp. nov., which are morphologically clearly distinct but for which the concatenated sequence alignments of the two individual gene datasets (COI and 16S) do not provide sufficient information. In addition, high interspecific distances were found between Parapetasia and Loveridgacris. Moreover, the complete mitogenomes of L. impotens and L. tectiferussp. nov. were sequenced using next-generation sequencing technology. The total lengths of the assembled mitogenomes were 15,592 bp and 15,737 bp, representing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes and one D-loop region, respectively. To aid in identification, we present a key for the two genera, including a key to species. This study provides insights into the morphology, distribution, and phylogeny of Pyrgomorphidae in Africa.

Background/Objectives: Despite their ecological significance, DNA barcoding data for African rainforest Orthoptera remain underrepresented globally, limiting progress in species discovery, biodiversity assessment, and conservation. This study aimed to generate molecular data for morphologically identified Serpusia Karsch, 1891 species to evaluate their taxonomic status. Methods: Specimens were collected from multiple sites in Cameroon and analyzed using DNA barcoding with COI-5P and 16S rDNA markers. Species delimitation was performed with Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery, and phylogenetic relationships were inferred using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference. Additionally, external morphology and the male phallic complex were examined. Results: Molecular analyses delineated 19 MOTUs, five corresponding to Serpusia opacula, seven to Serpusia succursor and the remainder to outgroups. Similarity-based assignments matched these MOTUs to 19 BINs. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed S. opacula and S. succursor as two genetically distinct clades, with the S. opacula group more closely related to Aresceutica Karsch, 1896 than to the S. succursor group. Accordingly, we established a new genus, Paraserpusia gen. nov., to accommodate S. succursor. Within the S. opacula group, five species are recognized: one previously described (S. opacula) and four new species (S. kennei sp. nov., S. missoupi sp. nov., S. seinoi sp. nov., and S. verhaaghi sp. nov.). The former S. succursor, now Paraserpusia succursor, is divided into six well-supported lineages, five of which are formally described here (P. hoeferi sp. nov., P. husemanni sp. nov., P. kekeunoui sp. nov., P. tamessei sp. nov., and P. tindoi sp. nov.). A haplotype network based on COI-5P sequences corroborates three major clades corresponding to the S. opacula group, the S. succursor group, and Aresceutica. Diagnostic morphological differences between Serpusia and Paraserpusia are consistently supported across characters. Conclusions: This integrative approach reveals substantial hidden diversity within Serpusia and highlights the importance of combining molecular and morphological data to uncover and formally describe previously overlooked taxa.

The specimens studied were collected with sweep net and pitfall in the forests, agro-forests, herbaceous fallows, and crop fields of 14 localities in the southern part of Cameroon, from August 2015 to February 2018. The results show that Heteracris hannai sp. nov. and Heteracris lecoqi sp. nov. differ from previously known species of the same genus by the pattern of coloration and the details or shape of the phallic complex. H. lecoqi sp. nov. is characterized by light brownish body; male cercus with flattened, downcurved and obtuse apex; lophus strongly curved; interlophal space with V shape; apodeme of cingulum bow, convergent, with V-shape; valve of cingulum in lateral view longer than apical valve of penis; ramus in ventral view joined. H. hannai sp. nov. is distinct to other species by brown to grey body; male cercus with apex rounded, curved inside; lophus curved; interlophal space with U-shape; apodeme of cingulum thick, slightly parallel, with U shape; valve of cingulum in lateral view hardly longer than apical valve of penis; ramus in ventral view opened. The characteristics of H. guineensis are closer to H. hannai sp. nov. than to H. lecoqi sp. nov. H. lecoqi sp. nov. was collected only in the fallows while H. hannai sp. nov. was collected in the forests, agro-forests, fallows, and crop fields. Compared to H. guineensis, both new species are scarce in the natural vegetation and their distribution area is limited to two and four localities respectively for H. lecoqi sp. nov. and H. hannai sp. nov. All these three grasshopper’s species were recorded as accidental species in all types of vegetation.

The grasshopper Subfamily Gomphomastacinae (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Eumastacidae) is widely distributed in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Central Asia. This paper describes three new species: Ptygomastax nihilsulcus Ge, sp. nov. Phytomastax pentaspinula Ge, sp. nov. and Pentaspinula unispinula Ge, sp. nov. of the subfamily from the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, along with an updated identification key of species of the related genera. Detail figures of the body and genitalia of the new species are also provided.

Aims: Mealybugs are protected on plants by ants for honeydew. They were identified and assemblages were characterized in Douala suburbs (Littoral-Cameroon). Study Design: Basic information is needed on pest’s occurrence for the pest control strategies. We determined host plants and characterized the community structure of mealybugs and foraging ants. Place and Duration of Study: Field investigations were conducted from March to August 2020 in Douala suburbs in 16 transects (10x1,260 m each) and 126 quadrats (10x10m each). Methodology: Stems, the underside of leaves, flower buds and fruits were inspected on weeds, plant bases and canopy of trees. Mealybugs and ants were captured. When the plant was highly infested, the average number of insects was determined on 10 randomly chosen plant organs. Abundances were noted and captured specimens were stored in vials containing 70° alcohol, identified to the species level and the community structure was characterized. Results: A total of 24,640 specimens belonged to 23 families, 54 genera and 85 species were collected in this research. A low species richness, low diversity and low dominance were detected. Assemblage of foraging ants in Yassa functioned according to the brokend-stick model. Scale insects in Ngoma functioned according to Motomura’s model. Assemblages of host plants in Lendi, Yassa, global host plants, global scale insects, foraging ants in Lendi and the global settlement, functioned according to the lognormal model. Host plants in Ngoma, scale insects in Yassa, and foraging ants in Ngoma functioned according to Zipf’s model while Zipf-Mandelbrot was adapted to scale insects in Lendi suggesting that these communities had sufficient time to develop a complex network of information close to natural environments and presented a fairly regeneration force. Conclusion: Due to the abundance pest insects, resources are available and once they will be well developed; they will cause plant pathologies and yield loss.