ISSN 2372-2517 (Online), ISSN 2372-2479 (Print) METALEPTEAMETALEPTEA THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ORTHOPTERISTS’ SOCIETY
TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Message (Clicking on an article’s title will take you By DAVID HUNTER to the desired page) President [1] PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE [email protected] [2] SOCIETY NEWS ear Society Members, [2] The 2021 Theodore J. Cohn Research Grants Funded by M. The many reports of LECOQ activities and research [2] The 2021 OSF Grants Funded by in the current issue M.M. CIGLIANO DD demonstrate that we [3] Updates from the Global have generally been able to adapt to Locust Initiative by M.WORD & R. COVID-19 restrictions. I bring to OVERSON your attention under “Latest News” [5] T.J. COHN GRANT REPORTS the new book recently published, [5] An evaluation of the “A Field Guide to the Bushcrickets, Mediterranean species of the band-winged grasshopper genus Wetas and Raspy Crickets of Tanzania Acrotylus (Fieber, 1853) using DNA and Kenya” by Claudia Hemp et al., barcoding by T. WEHRT which provides a most comprehensive [7] How did Orthopterists and coverage of various crickets of Orthoptera respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic? by M.K. TAN Eastern Africa. And the most recent issue of the Journal of Orthoptera [9] Wing polyphenism in Gryllus firmus by A.M. HAYES Research, 30(1), contains 11 articles: many thanks to JOR editor Tony the pandemic will continue before it [10] BOOK REVIEW Robillard and to YOU, our members, declines to a level where we have a [10] Book Review: A Field Guide to more normal situation, even if it is the Bushcrickets, Wetas and Raspy for such a comprehensive and varied Crickets of Tanzania and Kenya by set of articles! some sort of new normal. So, we are Claudia Hemp by D. HUNTER investigating a number of different Our investments continue to [11] EDITORIAL increase, which allows us to cover scenarios, in a balance between a significant part of our expenses. live and Zoom presentations, but, There is now over $100,000 in our regardless, the aim is to have sessions low-risk Bond Reserve Fund that puts on-line, so everyone can listen in and us in good stead to support student participate. travel and various awards for our next It is with a great deal of pleasure Congress scheduled for late 2023 that I draw your attention to the Ted in the Yucatán region of Mexico. Cohn Research Grants provided to Mario Poot Pech and Hojun Song a number of students and young are starting to investigate alternatives scientists. Ten grants, totalling for the Congress, including Zoom $14,687, have been awarded from a presentations for those who cannot wide variety of countries. The list of make it. Exactly how the Congress awardees is on page 2. will be run is uncertain since while Many thanks to Hojun and Derek COVID-19 is decreasing in some for another comprehensive issue of areas it is increasing in others, so it Metaleptea! Enjoy! is difficult to know how much longer Volume 41 (2) / May 2021 1 METALEPTEA The 2021 Theodore J. Cohn Research Grants Funded By MICHEL LECOQ Chair, Theodore J. Cohn Research Fund Committee [email protected]
ear fellow Orthopterists, 3. Nefeli Kotitsa (Greece) - Sky- morphs As usual, this year we islands under threat: an 10. Stephen Bucklin (USA: PA) - have received various evolutionary study of the Colonization of New Habitat: research proposals, endemic bushcrickets of the Impacts of Playback Calls in mostly from PhD genus Parnassiana Meadows on Abundance and DD students, but also 4. Juan Manuel De Luna (Mexico) – Diversity of Orchelimum spp. and from BS and MS students. These Mantodea diversity of “El Cielo” Conocephalus spp. proposals came from Argentina, Biosphere Reserve, Gómez Farías, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Tamaulipas, Mexico The selection committee comprises Greece, Mexico, Germany, Turkey, 5. Howon Rhee (Germany) - Genetic four members: myself (France), and the USA. As usual, the task of bottleneck effects and inbreeding Battal Çiplak (Turkey), David Hunter the Committee was not easy. Based of Psalmatophanes barretoi (Australia), and Lacey Knowles on their merit and our financial 6. Özgül Yahyaoglu (Turkey) (USA). On behalf of all the committee possibilities, we selected 10 research - Fingerprints of altitudinal members, I would like to thank all projects for a total amount of $14,687. adaptation in mitogenome: A our applicants for their participation, Below is the list of successful snapshot from Parapholidoptera and congratulate those who have been applicants (in alphabetical order) and (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae) selected and wish them good luck in the title of their research project: (FAAM-SP) their work. 7. Charlie Woodrow (UK) - Evolution The next call will be in early 2022 1. Elio Castillo (Argentina) - Are of the ensiferan ear canal – a and we strongly invite BS/MS/PhD Andean species of Jivarus phylogenetic assessment of form students and post-docs from around Giglio-Tos, 1898 the most and function the world to submit their research ancient stock of South American 8. Finn Gamble (USA: CA) - Dueling proposals. I remind all that the only Melanoplinae? Molecular crickets: Differences in male requirement is that the applicant be a phylogeny and chromosome aggressive behavior among member of the Orthopterists’ Society evolution cricket morphs in good standing. As usual, upon 2. Leonardo Meza (Colombia) - 9. Gabrielle Welsh (USA: CO) - completion of their research, selected Climate change impacts on New Comparative assessment of candidates will be asked to provide a Zealand alpine grasshoppers courtship behavior in recently short report, which will be published (Orthoptera: Acrididae) derived Pacific Field cricket in our Metaleptea newsletter. The 2021 OSF Grants Funded By MARIA MARTA CIGLIANO Museo de La Plata, División Entomología, FCNyM-UNLP CEPAVE, CONICET-CCT La Plata, ARGENTINA [email protected] he OSF grants committee and sounds) expected to be added Caelifera) from Panga Ecological received and evaluated 10 to the Orthoptera Species File. Also Reserve, Minas Gerais, Brazil proposals by applicants considered was the candidates’ 2. Oscar Cadena-Castañeda from eight countries: expertise (if the proposal was related (Universidad Distrital Francisco Brazil, Cameroon, to a taxonomic research project) and José de Caldas, Bogota, Colombia) TT Colombia, Croatia, the adequate budget. - Study of Melanoplinae Germany, India, Pakistan, and (Acrididae), Mecopodinae and South Africa. The four proposals 1. Daniela Santos Martin Silva Hexacentrinae (Tettigoniidae) of listed below were funded and were (Universidade Federal de high Andean forests and paramos selected based on the amount of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil) - of the eastern mountain range of data (images, specimen records, The grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Colombia
Volume 41 (2) / May 2021 2 METALEPTEA 3. Claudia Hemp (Senckenberg History Survey, provides funding for identified museum specimens, living Biodiversity and Climate work in support of the Orthoptera individuals in natural habitats), sound Research Centre, Germany) - A Species File. Members of the recordings, and/or geo-referenced photographic safari to western Orthopterists’ Society are invited to specimen records. Any proposal and southern Tanzania and apply. Applications should be sent that solely focuses on fieldwork or northern Kenya to María Marta Cigliano (cigliano@ other systematic research without 4. Vanessa Catherine Kemsley fcnym.unlp.edu.ar). direct benefits to OSF will not be Couldridge (University of Grants are available for a project as considered. Projects may be proposed Western Cape, South Africa) - defined by the applicant. The project for periods of one to three years. Acoustic profiling of South African must involve benefit to the Orthoptera Funding availability for 2022 will orthopterans Species File. The usual benefit is the be announced in October 2021. addition of images (photographs of The Orthopterists’ Society, in the habitus and diagnostic details cooperation with the Illinois Natural of type specimens, other reliably Updates from the Global Locust Initiative By MIRA WORD1 & RICK OVERSON2 1Project Coordinator, GLI, Arizona State University, USA [email protected] 2Co-director, GLI, Arizona State University, USA [email protected] ello, fellow ecophysiology tradeoffs in locusts. Senegal: An Agriculturist’s Guide. Orthopterists! Spurred Additionally, we are excited to be one by locust outbreaks and of several collaborating partners in the New online private professional continued growth to the newly formed Behavioral Plasticity network Global Locust Initiative Research Institute funded through As we continue to grow, we’ve HH (GLI) Network, this the NSF-BII program. If you haven’t embarked on major efforts to enhance past year has been full of ongoing visited our website in a while, we’ve Network member interactions. research projects and enhancements to updated content to include summaries Earlier this year, we launched a new the Network. We’re excited to embark of GLI Lab projects, information online professional community (Fig. on two new five-year projects at GLI on outbreaking locusts, and other 1) supported by the Foundation Lab. One project, supported by an many other resources like the Pest for Food and Agriculture Research NSF CAREER award, will explore Grasshoppers and Locusts in Central (FFAR) to increase the connectivity among Network members and make it easier to share information across disciplines, sectors, and continents. There are now over 100 members with profiles representing 30 countries and over 75 areas of expertise (and growing!). These include research scientists, field technicians, non- profit professionals, students, professors, farmers, and officials from intergovernmental organizations, like the FAO of the UN and USAID. This is a fantastic tool for staying abreast of research activities and stakeholder concerns at a global level and a great medium for posting information, like project updates, events, and job opportunities. The hosting software, Mobilize, works seamlessly with Figure 1. Members of Global Locust Network online community. Please join us: https://bit.ly/ your email, so you can respond to JoinGlobalLocustNetwork messages and posts either from email
Volume 41 (2) / May 2021 3 METALEPTEA
Figure 2. Participants at locust governance workshop in Tucumán, Argentina in February 2020. or on the platform itself. You’re South American locust (Schistocerca Industries and other government also in control of the frequency and cancellata). They also explored topics entities. Preliminary results show type of notifications you receive. If around the current outbreaks of S. contrasting outcomes based on the you’d like quick assistance on using cancellata, identified the main actors maps emerging from the social Mobilize, please reach out to Mira involved in the governance system, network exercises between South Word. We encourage anyone with characterized the interactions between America vs. Australia. an interest in grasshopper and locust actors, and discussed the main These workshops are part of the biology, integrated pest management, strengths, weaknesses, and threats to GLI’s continued efforts to compare monitoring and forecasting, landscape sustainable governance. and contrast locust governance and ecology, food security, social The second workshop was held complex feedbacks within social sciences, and beyond to join! Also, for Australian stakeholders and ecological, technological systems. If feel free to extend the invite on this focused on the Australian plague you are interested in learning more page to others as you see fit. See you locust (Chortoicetes terminifera) about this topic a new publication there soon! with a similar format to the first authored by workshop leaders is workshop (albeit online) on February available here. For more on our FFAR Stakeholder locust governance 16–17, 2021 (Fig. 3). Over 30 people funded efforts click here. workshops participated with representatives To better engage with stakeholders from The Australian Plague Locust We hope you engage by joining the to understand the feedbacks among Commission, The Commonwealth new online community, also check locust populations, land use, and Scientific and Industrial Research our website (locust.asu.edu), and governance, GLI Lab hosted two Organisation, The University of follow Twitter (@GlobalLocust) for comparative workshops supported by New South Wales, The University of more information about the initiative, FFAR and ASU’s Swette Center for Melbourne, Department of Primary events, and news. Sustainable Food Systems. The first workshop took place in Tucumán, Argentina in February 2020 (Fig. 2). Participants ranged from researchers to farmers and representatives from national and provincial locust control agencies coming from Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay. Lead facilitators, Dr. Clara Therville (Postdoctoral Scholar) and Dr. Marty Anderies (Professor, ASU) used participative methodology like collaborative social mapping to encourage participants to share their points of view regarding governance issues surrounding the Figure 3. Virtual locust governance workshop with Australian stakeholders, February 2021. Volume 41 (2) / May 2021 4 METALEPTEA Theodore J. Cohn Research Grant Reports An evaluation of the Mediterranean species of the band- winged grasshopper genus Acrotylus (Fieber, 1853) using DNA barcoding By TIMO WEHRT University of Hamburg, Centrum für Naturkunde (CeNak), Entomology, GERMANY [email protected]
he grasshopper family Acrididae is one of the most diverse lineages within the Orthoptera, including more than TT 6,700 valid species (Cigliano et al., 2021). Interestingly, the family has a complex taxonomic history which leads to occasional difficulties in determining species status. One of those genera affected by such difficulties is the genus Acrotylus Fieber, 1873, which is accompanied by a history of a lost type specimen and the random designation of neotypes (Fries et al., 2007). Additionally, two of the species, A. patruelis Herrich-Schäffer, 1838 and A. insubricus Scopoli, Figure 1. Seven species of the band-winged grasshopper genus Acrotylus with different wing 1786, are widespread in large parts of morphologies Europe, Africa, and Asia. Although A. patruelis is designated as the “slender The aim of this study 1. The currently recognized A. burrowing-grasshopper” and A. The entomological collection patruelis, A. insubricus, A. insubricus is known to have a stouter of the Centrum für Naturkunde longipes (Charpentier, 1845), body in general, both species share (CeNak) in Hamburg, Germany A. errabundus Finot, 1893, similar morphological characters contained numerous amounts of A. innotatus Uvarov, 1933, and A. as well as compared with some dried Acrotylus specimens. I got incarnatus Krauss, 1907 are valid Mediterranean species (Krauss, 1890). interested in determining the species and represent independent genetic While most of the species are endemic status of the Mediterranean species clusters. to Africa and the Middle East, five of this genus because recent research 2. The species A. patruelis and A. species out of the total 45 are endemic focused on other subjects while the insubricus have distinct, non- to the Mediterranean Basin. The phylogenetic relationships remained overlapping distributions. Mediterranean region represents a unclear and poorly understood. Since 3. The widespread species include hotspot of biodiversity with a high morphological characters are limited yet-unrecognized additional number of endemic species, whereas and variable within species, and cryptic diversity. the center of biodiversity of the genus are generally subjected to different Acrotylus is located in South Africa ways of interpretation, molecular Genetic analyses (Myers et al., 2000). The species A. methods offer a more objective way While Orthoptera are known to kirbyi Froggatt, 1903 is considered to distinguish between taxonomic serve as a prime candidate group for as an exception since it is endemic to units. In this study, I used newly the application of DNA barcoding, western Australia. generated genetic and morphological many researchers have faced data as well as additional data from difficulties, such as incomplete online databases to test the following lineage sorting, hybridization, and so- hypotheses: called numts (nuclear mitochondrial
Volume 41 (2) / May 2021 5 METALEPTEA with the phylogenetic tree analyses. Therefore, I found that the current species status of A. patruelis, A. insubricus, A. longipes, and A. innotatus were valid. In contrast, the two species A. errabundus and A. incarnatus did not represent independent genetic clusters and perhaps need to be synonymized. Moreover, two new clades were recovered that may represent species new to science: one is found in the Middle East (Iran, Afghanistan), the other in the Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria, Turkey). Figure 2. Distribution map of the collected samples of the genus Acrotylus. Yellow marked coun- tries indicate the Mediterranean Basin. Biometric analysis I also performed a biometric psdeudogenes), which can all lead to analyses (Maximum Likelihood and analysis of the two common species obstacles in obtaining phylogenetic Bayesian Interference). The built of the genus Acrotylus, A. patruelis resolution (Butlin and Hewitt, 1985; alignment of the cytochrome oxidase and A. insubricus. The body length Bella et al., 1992; Song et al., 2008 subunit I (COI) gene resulted in a and width, plus ratio, of these two Hawlitschek et al., 2017) Surprisingly, length of 602 bp. Additionally, the parameters of both species were I experienced no such difficulties automatic barcode gap analysis measured and compared in order to as a total number of 80 (60 newly (ABGD, (Puillandre et al., 2011)) find a new morphological character to sequenced) specimens nested into 6 detected 6 molecular operational more easily distinguish these species. taxonomic groups using two different taxonomic units, which is in line Statistically significant differences of
Figure 3. Phylogenetic tree of the Bayesian Interference analysis of the genus Acrotylus; black dots on nodes indicate posterior probability values >0.9; the variability of different pronoti of the genus Acrotylus is shown (dorsal view); numbers indicate different lineages within the genus Acro- tylus: I: A. patruelis II: a clade likely representing a new unknown species consisted of individuals found in Bulgaria and Turkey; morphologically identified as A. patruelis III: A. longipes IV: A. innotatus V: a clade likely representing a new unknown species (called here Unknown group) VI: A. insubricus Volume 41 (2) / May 2021 6 METALEPTEA the width between both sexes have important role, especially because Cigliano, M.M., H. Braun, D.C. Eades & D. Otte. been recorded, which means that, on of its controversial and confusing Orthoptera Species File. Version 5.0/5.0. average, A. insubricus is wider and taxonomic history. Although the [2021].
he COVID-19 pandemic plans have to be reconfigured. “When Singapore to study the population has disrupted the lives of life throws you lemon, you make differences in the calling and everyone all around the lemonade,” so I have decided to make exploratory behaviours of eneopterine world. Many countries the best out of the unprecedented crickets. Understanding population went into national global crisis by studying how the differences was a critical part of a TT lockdowns when the lockdowns for humans can, in turn, larger project looking at individuality number of cases and deaths soared influence the behaviours of crickets. of singing and behavioural traits during the spring of 2020. For As a postdoctoral fellow under the in crickets. But nearly mid-way researchers, fieldwork and laboratory supervision of Dr. Tony Robillard, through the study, Singapore went work have to be halted and research I was back in my home town in into a national lockdown, termed as
Volume 41 (2) / May 2021 7 METALEPTEA the video and sound files, the time spent exploring and call parameters were quantified respectively. In total, 39 crickets were observed over the course of the study. We found that the crickets produced significantly shorter trills in the Hindhede population (Fig. 2). More interestingly, the crickets from Hindhede also produced significantly shorter trills after the Circuit Breaker, which is not observed in other populations (Fig. 2). Being surrounded by dense housing estates in the heart of Singapore and traditionally a popular nature park for hikers, crickets found in Hindhede produce shorter trills than Figure 1. A male adult of Lebinthus luae, the subject of the study. other populations as a response to these elevated human pressures. the Circuit Breaker. The initial data simultaneously is rarely done. I During the Circuit Breaker, nearby collected appeared to be going to attempted to address this by studying residents are still able to visit parks waste until we started questioning these behaviours in three isolated and, in fact, more frequently due to how the drastic change in human populations of L. luae in Singapore. teleworking and school closures (Tan, activities due to the lockdown would Specifically, I collected the male 2020; Wong, 2020), in comparison to impact wildlife. After about seven adult crickets from three sites: the more deserted and out-of reach weeks of lockdown, I continued Hindhede Nature my data collection, but now with a Park, Labrador Nature new question in mind. In addition to Reserve, and Pulau understanding how different isolated [= Island] Ubin (Fig. populations of crickets may behave 2). Hindhede Nature differently, I set out to explore how Park is a nature the Circuit Breaker can also change area surrounded the behaviours in each population. by housing estates. Eneopterine crickets are a Labrador Nature fascinating group of crickets that are Reserve is another highly diversified in Southeast Asia forest plot located (Vicente et al., 2017). In the small near the Central city state of Singapore, where nature Business District of is segmented by the highly urbanised Singapore. Lastly, landscape, there are as many as Pulau Ubin is a four species of these eneopterine rural island. After crickets (Robillard & Tan, 2013; Tan bringing the crickets & Robillard, 2014), one of which is back to a lab, they Lebinthus luae Robillard & Tan, 2013 were each placed that I studied during the pandemic in an arena where (Fig. 1). Unlike typical crickets, the their exploratory males of L. luae call and explore behaviours were around low-lying vegetation to look video-recorded. for potential mates (ter Hofstede Likewise, each cricket et al., 2015). These behaviours are was also placed in highly risky, so they have to strategise an insect cage in a Figure 2. The map of Singapore showing the locations of the to ensure survival and reproduction. sound-attenuated three populations and how the trill durations differed between Studying animal calling room where their calls the populations and before and after the lockdown (CB = “Circuit and exploratory behaviours were recorded. From Breaker”). Volume 41 (2) / May 2021 8 METALEPTEA Labrador Nature Reserve and offshore threatened, region of Southeast Asia. drones to monitor crowds at Bukit Timah Pulau Ubin. The further elevation in While we humans are still Nature Reserve. The Straits Times. https:// human pressures may have led to the struggling to cope with the dramatic www.straitstimes.com/singapore/coro- crickets producing even shorter trills change brought about by the navirus-nparksenlists-drones-to-monitor- after the Circuit Breaker. COVID-19 pandemic, this study has crowds-at-bukit-timah-nature-reserve Tan, M. K., and T. Robillard. 2014. A new This study has been published in also reminded us that, for a long time, species of Cardiodactylus (Orthoptera: Ecology (The Scientific Naturalist) we have also impacted wildlife and Grylloidea: Eneopterinae) from Singapore. (Tan & Robillard, 2021), which the natural world, which are fighting Zootaxa 3764:364–376. also represents the first published to cope. While the virus has wreaked Ter Hofstede, H. M., S. Schöneich, T. Robillard, report on the effect of the COVID-19 havoc on human society, it appears and B. Hedwig. 2015. Evolution of a com- munication system by sensory exploita- pandemic on natural populations that the lockdowns have been a tion of startle behaviour. Current Biology of invertebrates (Rutz et al., 2020). breather for the natural world. 25:3245–3252. It demonstrates that even a short Vicente et al. 2020. In and out of the Neo- Circuit Breaker has had an impact References tropics: historical biogeography of Eneop- on the behaviours of the small and Robillard, T., and M. K. Tan. 2013. A taxo- terinae crickets. Journal of Biogeography overlooked crickets, which, in turn, nomic review of common but little known 44:2199–2210. crickets from Singapore and the Philippines Wong, P. T. 2020. Hiking boom in Singapore as can drive the microevolution of (Insecta: Orthoptera: Eneopterinae). The more turn to their backyard to cope with different populations. This study has Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 61:705–725. COVID-19 travel restrictions. Today Online. also inspired me to expand on this Rutz, C. et al. 2020. COVID-19 lockdown al- https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ study, hoping to further decipher the lows researchers to quantify the effects of hiking-boom-singapore-more-turn-their- impact of human pressures on animal human activity on wildlife. Nature Ecology backyard-cope-covid-19-travel-restrictions behaviours and acoustics, especially and Evolution 4:1156–1159. Tan, A. 2020. Coronavirus: NParks enlists in the hyper-biodiverse, yet highly Wing polyphenism in Gryllus firmus By ABIGAIL M. HAYES Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA [email protected]
ing polyphenisms understand the developmental and mechanistic underpinnings of the represent a classic mechanistic underpinnings of the development of wing polyphenic life history trade-off complex life history and morphology insects (Hayes et al., 2019). Through between investment seen across wing polyphenic insect this review I formulated a hypothesis in reproduction or taxa by assessing these features in about which signaling pathway WW migration. While G. firmus and was enabled by the underlies wing development in wing the analysis of trade-offs known as generous Theodore J. Cohn Research polyphenic taxa. life history theory explains why this Fund. In chapter two, I assessed the phenomenon occurs, how it occurs In chapter one of my dissertation, development, morphology, and fitness at an evolutionary, developmental, or I reviewed what is known about the of G. firmus. This chapter used two mechanistic level remains unknown. The wing polyphenic sand cricket, Gryllus firmus Scudder, 1902, exhibits markedly different developmental trajectories based on environmental signals it receives during development. Upon completing nymphal development, this species of cricket ecloses with long functional wings, or small non-functional wings. This phenotypically plastic response allows the insect to stay and reproduce when conditions are Figure 1. Developmental Timeline of Gryllus firmus: 8-11 nymphal instars (8 pictured), which good or migrate and fly away before ends with a predictable series of terminal instars, occurring prior to adult eclosion. Upon commencing reproduction in poor adult eclosion, the adult cricket either possesses long, flight-capable wings and relatively conditions. My dissertation aimed to small ovaries or short, flight-incapable wings and relatively large ovaries. Volume 41 (2) / May 2021 9 METALEPTEA selected lines, one selected for long was instrumental to being able to supporting the mechanistic hypothesis wing morphs and one for short wing obtain this unselected field line from in chapter one. This suggests morphs. A longitudinal ontogenetic Florida. The field line was much more conservation of a mechanism to framework was utilized to compare variable in morph outcome, whereas integrate environmental information developmental morphology of G. the selected lines favored the morph into developmental trajectory and firmus, and a predictable terminal outcome that had been selected for. should be further explored across series of instars exhibited across Limited food quantities resulted in wing polyphenisms and other sexes and morphs was identified, significantly smaller adult size and environmentally sensitive phenotypes. despite exhibiting a variable number favored production of long winged This work provides insight of nymphal instars. No significant individuals. This is the first work to on the environmental cues and differences were found between date to assess the cue of food quantity mechanistic underpinnings of wing the presumptive morphs until adult in a wing polyphenic orthopteran and polyphenic insect development. eclosion, lending support to the the results align with the predictions Overall, my dissertation expands hypothesis that the sensitive period in dictated by life history theory. our understanding of how wing polyphenic insects occurs during In chapter four, I assessed environmentally sensitive phenotypes the terminal instars. the transduction mechanisms function at an evolutionary, To extend my lab observations underpinning this environmentally developmental, and morphological to natural populations, I used a sensitive phenotype using level. I would not have been able to field-collected line from Florida pharmacological inhibition and complete several of the goals of this along with the lab-selected lines to RNA interference in both the field- project without the grant and, for that, compare responses to environmental collected and lab-selected lines. I am truly grateful. cues across lines in controlled lab Results implicate both the insulin experiments. The grant funding and ecdysteroid signaling pathways, Book Review: A Field Guide to the Bushcrickets, Wetas and Raspy Crickets of Tanzania and Kenya By Claudia Hemp, with contributions from: Andreas Hemp and Klaus-Gerhard Heller By DAVID HUNTER President [email protected] his book provides a most- comprehensive coverage of the bushcrickets (and more) of eastern Africa. An introduction TT presenting important characters used in the comprehensive identification keys is followed by over 1,000 photographs, where each species is amply illustrated. The photographs are extremely comprehensive, demonstrating the enormous diversity of bushcrickets et al. in the region. These include photographs of what each species looks like as well as special characters for identification, along with information on songs and pressures in the region. A beautiful, bookshelf of anyone with an interest distribution maps. Information on well-presented work, which, at the in Orthoptera. habitats (often localized for many low price being offered to members To order, contact mail@ species) and conservation status are of the Orthopterists’ Society because schweizerbart.de. The price is particularly important in the face of of our financial support for the 54.90 Euro, but only 27.45 Euro for climate change and human population book, deserves pride-of-place on the Orthopterists’ Society members. Volume 41 (2) / May 2021 10 METALEPTEA be vaccinated or even wear masks Associate Editor, Derek A. Woller, Editorial because they do not trust science. In for his continued assistance in the By HOJUN SONG the past few months, there was a sharp editorial process, despite his busy Editor, Metaleptea rise in hate crimes against Asians in summer field season schedule. [email protected] the U.S., likely fueled by xenophobia I would like to challenge you related to COVID-19. While the to contribute to the next issue of ust a year ago, in May U.S. and European countries have Metaleptea. We welcome any content, 2020, we were going an abundance of vaccines, people in such as personal essays, travelogues, through the worst period in India and developing countries around stories, photos, or anything you want our global fight against the the world are still dying. Needless to share with fellow orthopterists. COVID-19 pandemic. All to say, the past year has been To publish in Metaleptea, please JJ of us were mostly stuck emotionally draining. send your contribution to hsong@ at home, paranoid about catching The current issue of Metaleptea tamu.edu with a subject line starting the virus, and completely in the dark is relatively short compared to with [Metaleptea]. As for the format, about when this crisis would be over. other issues. We did not receive as a MS Word document is preferred Now, a year later, the situation is many contributions as usual. As the and images should be in JPEG or much different. Half of all adults in pandemic drags on, research activities TIFF format with a resolution of the U.S. are fully vaccinated, and have been seriously compromised, at least 144 DPI. The next issue the Centers for Disease Control and and maybe that’s the reason why. of Metaleptea will be published in Prevention (CDC) has recommended Let’s hope that things will get better September of 2021, so please send me that fully vaccinated people can by the end of this year. content promptly. I look forward to resume activities without wearing I would also like to thank our hearing from you soon! a mask or physically distancing. At least in the U.S., people are starting to behave as if this crisis is already behind us. Restaurants and bars are Officers of the Orthopterists’ Society full of people, and now people are beginning to travel more. However, President: David Hunter, Locust and Grasshopper Control, this is no time to celebrate. It is not 125 William Webb Drive, McKellar ACT 2617 Australia. over yet. We don’t yet know how long [email protected] the vaccines will be effective for and President-Elect: Axel Hochkirch, Department of Biogeography, Trier we don’t know where new virulent University, Trier, Germany. [email protected] strains will pop up. It will take time Executive Director: Mohamed Abdellahi Ould Babah EBBE, l’Institut du to get back to normalcy, but I am Sahel (INSAH/CLISS), Bamako, Mali. [email protected], cautiously optimistic that we will get Treasurer: Pamm Mihm, 2417 Fields South Drive, Champaign, IL 61822 there eventually. U.S.A. [email protected]. What the pandemic has revealed Managing Editor, JOR: Tony Robillard, Institut Systématique Evolution is the best and the worst in all of us. Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, It has shown the amazing ingenuity Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Paris, France. [email protected] of scientists around the world in Editorial Assistant, JOR: Nancy Morris, North Buxton, Ontario, Canada. terms of developing highly effective [email protected] vaccines in a very short period of Editor, Metaleptea: Hojun Song, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M time. Doctors and nurses have poured University, College Station, TX, U.S.A. [email protected] out their hearts to take care of their Associate Editor, Metaleptea: Derek A. Woller, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T patients and save lives. We have Phoenix Lab, Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A. [email protected] seen many examples of kindness and Officer, Orthoptera Species File: María Marta Cigliano, División caring. But, it has also revealed a Entomología, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de la Plata, lack of leadership, the lack of public La Plata, Argentina. [email protected] trust in science, the lack of human Manager, The Ted Cohn Research Fund: Michel Lecoq, Montpellier, decency, and the inequity among us. France. [email protected] As of today, 168 million people have Webmaster, Orthopterists’ Society Website: Derek A. Woller, USDA- been infected and 3.49 million people APHIS-PPQ-S&T Phoenix Lab, Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A. have died from COVID-19. These are [email protected] unfathomable numbers. Nevertheless, we still have people refusing to
Volume 41 (2) / May 2021 11