Rhachicreagra (Acrididae, Ommatolampinae): forest grasshoppers from Central america with unique aedeagal asymmetry

Abstract. Rhachicreagra species are confined to Central American wet tropical forests, both lowland and montane. The asymmetric aedeagus with the left penis valve suppressed is unique in the Acridoidea. Keys are provided to both sexes of the seventeen recognized species: achrosta sp.n., anchidiphalara sp.n., astytophallus sp.n., brachysphagiocerca sp.n., drymocnemensis sp.n., gracilis Bruner, Haematodes sp.n., Khayachorsa sp.n., himantocerca sp.n. maya sp.n., melanota sp.n., sp.n., mexicana Hebard, nothra Rehn (= pallipes Bruner, = aeruginosa Bruner syn.n), obsidian sp.n., olmeca sp.n., pomatiaphallus sp.n., sphagicerca sp.n.; the small geographical ranges of these species argue for great care in the choice of representative forest blocks for purposes of faunal conservation in Central America.