President's Message

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

President's Message ISSN 2372-2517 (Online), ISSN 2372-2479 (Print) METALEPTEAMETALEPTEA THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ORTHOPTERISTS’ SOCIETY * Table of Contents is now clickable, which will President’s Message take you to a desired page. By MICHAEL SAMWAYS President [1] PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE [email protected] [2] SOCIETY NEWS t is summertime from where I [2] Orthoptera Species File Grants am sitting here in the southern Funded in 2016 by MARIA MARTA tip of Africa. The night air CIGLIANO [2] The Theodore J. Cohn Research is filled with the lovely trills Fund: Call for applications for 2016 by of a nearby mole cricket, the MICHEL LECOQ II resonance of various field [3] The 12th International Congress crickets, and the fizz of a host of of Orthopterology “Orthoptera in a katydids. Of course, much of this Changing World” by MARCOS LHANO [5] The First European Congress sound, at least from the katydids, on Orthoptera Conservation by AXEL is ultrasonic, and as soon as one HOCHKIRCH switches on a bat detector, there is makes Orthoptera a most intriguing [6] Orthopteroid Symposium Recap a whole new orchestra of glorious group of insects indeed! Orthoptera from ESA, 2015 by DEREK A. WOLLER sounds, each proclaiming that the are such an interesting window into the living world, not just in terms [14] REGIONAL REPORTS singer is mate worthy. Then there [14] East Europe -North and Central is the delightful chorus of chirps of these insects, per se, but also Asia by MICHAEL G. SERGEEV and warblings that come from the for understanding many general [15] Middle East & Caucasus by BATTAL various orthopterans in a flower-filled biological principles. ÇIPLAK Then, almost as if to emphasize meadow on a sunny day. [16] T.J. COHN GRANT REPORTS It would be a very dull world indeed the point that Orthoptera are among [16] Morphological and if it were not for these characterful the most fascinating creatures, they biogeographical analyses of the genera choruses around the not-so-cold come in so many life forms with so Thalpomena and Pseudoceles by LARA- SOPHIE DEY & MARTIN HUSEMANN parts of the world. The evolution many life styles. They embroider the tapestry of life with a whole host of [19] The effect of gut microbiomes on of song has indeed been one of the nutrient regulation in a grazing insect great wonders of biodiversity. Then different morphological splendours by PAUL ALVARADO LENHART there is the intriguing trade-off in and colourful palettes, making it a joy [22] Status of Europe’s Native & many species between retaining to behold and also to study in almost Invasive Phasmatodea Collections by infinite depth. MATAN SHELOMI the sound-producing apparatus on [25] Grigs are great: Characterizing the very part of the body that is Wishing all Orthopterists the world Cyphoderris monstrosa survival of low essential for their aerial movement… over a year filled with new adventures temperatures by JANTINA TOXOPEUS the wings. To be able to sing and fly among this wonderful insect group! [27] CONTRIBUTED ARTICLES Clonia sp. (Tettigoniidae: Saginae), [27] The Meet Your Neighbours Cederberg, South Africa, Feb. 2009. Method: How to illustrate Orthoptera (photo credit: H. Song) biology with amazing photos by PIERRE ESCOUBAS ET AL. [34] TREASURER’S REPORT [35] EDITORIAL Volume 36 (1) / January 2016 1 METALEPTEA Orthoptera Species File Grants Funded in 2016 By MARIA MARTA CIGLIANOA Orthoptera Species File Officer [email protected] he OSF grants 1. Paul Brock (The Natural History Museum, London, England) & Thies Henning committee received Büscher (Christian-Albrechts-University (CAU), Kiel, Germany). “Training twenty eight regarding Phasmida Species File (http://phasmida.speciesfile.org” applications and the 2. Oscar Cadena-Castañeda (Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, Bogotá, following proposals Colombia). “Photographic, sound and distribution data to some Neotropical Orthoptera Groups and Colombian Phasmatodea” T were funded. The T 3. Dragan P. Chobanov (Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Sofia, proposals were selected based Bulgaria), Ionuţ Ş. Iorgu (National Museum of Natural History, Bucharest, on the relation to the amount of Romania), Elena I. Iorgu (National Museum of Natural History, Bucharest, data expected to be added into Romania) & Simeon B. Borisov (Faculty of Biology, Sofia University, Sofia, the Orthoptera Species File or Bulgaria). “Orthoptera of the Eastern Balkans and the Carpathian Basin to any other Species File within (Bulgaria, Macedonia, NE Greece and Romania): a database of collections, Polyneoptera, and it was also literature and digital data in the Orthoptera Species File” considered if the proposal was related 4. Dhaneesh Bhaskar (Kerala Forest Research Institute, Kerala, India) & Axel somehow to a taxonomic research Hochkirch (Trier University, Trier Germany). “Photographic documentation of the project, and/or if the candidate Orthoptera of the Southern Western Ghats (Kerala, India)” 5. Josip Skejo (Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia) & Josef Tumbrinck demonstrated knowledge of the taxa (Germany). “Digitalization of Tetrigoidea type secimens and rare species’ involved. specimens in European museums” 6. Ricardo Mariño-Pérez (Texas A&M University USA). “Supplement to the grant: Funding Enhancing digital content for Pyrgomorphidae (Orthoptera: Caelifera) in the availability for Orthoptera Species File” 2017 will be 7. Gellért Puskás (Hungarian Natural History Museum, Hungary). “Contribution to announced in the knowledge of the West Balkan Orthoptera fauna” October 2016. 8. Klaus Riede (Germany, Uruguay). “Grasshopper songs from Southern South All requested America (SSA): Digital recordings for Orthoptera Species File (OSF)” information must 9. Rob Felix (University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands). “Study and photography of be submitted type specimens in the Collection of NHM London” by November 30, 2016 to receive full 10. Daniela Santos Martins Silva (Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil). “The consideration. The committee will Neotropical Tetrigidae (Caelifera: Tetrigoidea) deposited in the Academy of complete its assessment and announce Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, USA” the results by January 10, 2017. Please 11. Slobodan Ivković (University of Belgrade, Serbia). “Photo documentation of visit http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/ types from Mladen Karaman’s collection and acoustic and photographic HomePage/Orthoptera/Grants.aspx for documentation of the Orthoptera of Serbia” detail. 12. Marcio Bolfarini (Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Brazil). “Brazilian cave Crickets, the digital records and conservation” The Theodore J. Cohn Research Fund: Call for applications for 2016 (Deadline : March 31, 2016) By MICHEL LECOQ Chair, Theodore J. Cohn Research Fund Committee ear Orthopterists, that this research grant is primarily to sometimes be funded. A total amount fund research projects in Orthoptera of $15K per year is available and it is I have the pleasure to (s. l.) by young researchers often as possible to fund research grants for up announce a new call part of a master’s or Ph.D. project, to $ 1,500 per grantee. DD for 2016. I remind you though postdoctorates may also Volume 36 (1) / January 2016 2 METALEPTEA The proposals should be in the CURRICULUM VITAE (half Proposals from graduate following format and restricted to the page) including name, full address, students must include a simple indicated number of pages: present position or years in graduate recommendation from their major school, education, number of papers professor or advisor. Those not DESCRIPTION (one page) published or completed, citation of affiliated with an educational or selected publications pertinent to the research institution should indicate 1. TITLE proposal to aid the judges. where the work is to be done. 2. SIGNIFICANCE, stressing BUDGET (half page) including A short report will be required from the new ideas and aspects of the justification of items where the successful applicants. It will be proposal, expected contribution to appropriate (i.e. why special written for our newsletter Metaleptea, theory, relation to previous work, equipment is necessary unless clearly and be suitable for both orthopterist etc. (applicants should emphasize obvious), other funding for the and non-specialist readers. the nature and significance of their project, etc. Overheads cannot be Proposals should be submitted to proposal to provide the judges with provided for on Society grants. the Chair at the following address: the basis for weighing different Michel Lecoq (mlecoq34@gmail. projects, especially in fields outside The Committee prefers proposals com) their expertise) applicable to broad biological problems, even though the actual Last year, 28 projects were 3. RESEARCH PLAN, including the research may be narrower in scope. submitted to the Committee and particular orthopterans to be studied, Proposals also should include clearly 11 proposals funded demonstrating methods, logistics, etc. stated hypotheses and aims, and the the continuing interest in our grants nature of the evidence to be gathered in support of students and young 4. TIMETABLE, even if approximate, to test the hypothesi(e)s and possible scientists. I’m sure we will receive to give the judges some idea of outcomes. again this year, as usual, a lot of feasibility. exciting and innovative projects of high quality. So, start writing! The 12th International Congress of Orthopterology “Orthoptera in a Changing World” By MARCOS LHANO President, ICO 2016 [email protected]
Recommended publications
  • Zoologische Mededeelingen
    ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDEELINGEN UITGEGEVEN VANWEGE 's RIJKS MUSEUM VAN NATUURLIJKE HISTORIE te Deel V. Aflevering 4. LEIDEN XIV. - ZUR DEUTUNG DER DE HAAN'SCHEN LAUBHEU- SCHRECKEN. VON DR. H. KARNY- Im Begriffe, nach Niederlandisch-Ostindien auszureisen, benutzte ich einen mebrwocbentlichen Aufenthalt in Holland zum Studium der De Haan'schen Orthopterentypen, die im Leidener Museum aufbewahrt sind. Es schien mir dies umso wichtiger, als so manche der yon De Haan aufgestellten Arten den neueren Monograpben nicbt vorlagen und ihre Deutung daher in der modernen Literatur vielfach zweifelhaft und strittig geblieben ist. Besonderen Dank scbulde ich hier den Herren Director Dr. van Oort und Konservator van Eecke, die mir in der liebenswur- digsten und entgegenkommendsten Weise das wertvolle Material zur Un- tersuchung uberliessen. Behindert wurde meine Arbeit einigermaassen durch den Umstand, dass ich meine eigene orthopterologische Bibliotbuk hier nicht zur Ver- fugung hatte, die Bibliothek des Leidener Museums aber nur wenige orthopterologische Arbeiten besitzt. In dieser Situation half mir aber Herr Professor Dr. W. Roepke von der Landbouw-Hoogeschool in Wa- geningen aus, indem er mir die in seinem Besitz befindlichen Mono- graphien von Brunner und Redtenbacher fur die Dauer meiner Unter- suchungen zur Verfugung stellte. Auch ihm sei an dieser Stelle fiir seine bereitwillige Aushilfe der warmste Dank ausgesprochen. STEKOPELMATINAE. Locusta (Rhaphidophorus) cubaensis. De Haan, 1842, Bijdragen, p. 218. Diese Spezies wurde von Brunner meiner Ansicht nach wohl richtig gedeutet (Monogr., p. 282), aber ich muss zu seiner Beschreibung doch einiges hinzufiigen. (lO-Xi-1920) 140 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDEELINGEN — DEEL V. In der De Haan'schen Sammlung liegt ein einziges Exemplar (cT) vor, mit dem man nach den Brunner'schen Tabellen (p.
    [Show full text]
  • Orthoptera): a Comparative Analysis Using
    Morphological determinants of carrier frequency signal in katydids 1 1 Morphological determinants of carrier frequency signal 2 in katydids (Orthoptera): a comparative analysis using 3 biophysical evidence 4 5 Fernando Montealegre-Z1*, Jessica Ogden1, Thorin Jonsson1, & Carl D. Soulsbury1 6 7 1University of Lincoln, School of Life Sciences, Joseph Banks Laboratories 8 Green Lane, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, United Kingdom 9 10 * Corresponding author: [email protected] 11 12 13 14 15 Page 1 of 29 Morphological determinants of carrier frequency signal in katydids 2 16 Abstract 17 Male katydids produce mating calls by stridulation using specialized structures on the 18 forewings. The right wing (RW) bears a scraper connected to a drum-like cell known as the 19 mirror and a left wing (LW) that overlaps the RW and bears a serrated vein on the ventral 20 side, the stridulatory file. Sound is generated with the scraper sweeping across the file, 21 producing vibrations that are amplified by the mirror. Using this sound generator, katydids 22 exploit a range of song carrier frequencies (CF) unsurpassed by any other insect group, with 23 species singing as low as 600 Hz and others as high as 150 kHz. Sound generator size has 24 been shown to scale negatively with CF, but such observations derive from studies based on 25 few species, without phylogenetic control, and/or using only the RW mirror length. We 26 carried out a phylogenetic comparative analysis involving 94 species of katydids to study the 27 relationship between LW and RW components of the sound generator and the CF of the 28 male’s mating call, while taking into account body size and phylogenetic relationships.
    [Show full text]
  • Biology of the Saw-Legged Bush Crickets (Saga Spp .) Focusing On
    Biology of the saw-legged bush crickets (Saga spp.) focusing on Saga pedo (PALLAS, 1771) Outline of the PhD thesis Kolics, Balázs Supervisors: Kondorosy, Előd, CSc Müller, Tamás, PhD & Pannon University Szent István University Pannon University, Georgikon Faculty Keszthely, 2009 1. Introduction, aim of study Conservation biology is a significant field of biological research, because of the accelerating distinction of species mainly because of human impacts. Saginae species are amongst the largest insects of Eurasia. Their populations are attracted to xerotherm habitats that they found on rocky steppes of middle mountains. They live in isolated sparse populations being of low density especially in imago stage. Being flightless, Saga species are less able to move from one habitat to another. As particular orthopterans, these katydids are obligatory insectivores being on the top of the arthropod food pyramid in their habitat. Despite being rare, Saga species are not protected, except one representative of the genus. The matriarchal katydid, Saga pedo Pallas 1771 is the only species of its genus living in Hungary as well, in addition being one of our the largest insect in our fauna. Saga pedo is the only tetraploid species of its genus - comprising 13 species - reproducing in a parthenogenic way. 2 Its distribution area covers a territory several fold larger than that of its congeners. Conservational value in Hungary is 50.000Ft. The aim of my study was to comply an up-to date habitat list of the matriarchal katydid, and possibly to discover new populations. In phenological measurements I wanted to determine the number of larval stadia of S.
    [Show full text]
  • Molecular Phylogeny of European Saga: Comparison with Chromosomal Data
    Bulletin of Insectology 64 (2): 263-267, 2011 ISSN 1721-8861 Molecular phylogeny of European Saga: comparison with chromosomal data 1 2 3 Themistoklis GIANNOULIS , Anne Marie DUTRILLAUX , Michèle LEMONNIER-DARCEMONT , Christian 3 1 1 2 1 DARCEMONT , Effie MYRTHIANOU , Costas STAMATIS , Bernard DUTRILLAUX , Zissis MAMURIS 1Laboratory of Genetics, Comparative and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece 2Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UMR 7205-OSEB, CNRS/MNHN, Paris, France 3Groupement d’Etudes Entomologiques Méditerranée (GEEM), Hameau de Saint Donat, Callian, France Abstract The six European Saga species (Orthoptera Tettigoniidae) were mitochondrially analyzed for the COI gene. Results were com- pared with available karyological data, the two analyses producing complementary and congruent conclusions. European Saga species appear to be monophyletic, and probably derived from Asiatic species by a Robertsonian translocation. Saga natoliae Ser- ville separated first from their common trunk, followed by Saga hellenica Kaltenbach and Saga rhodiensis Salfi. The three other species share several gene mutations and two chromosomal changes. The parthenogenetic Saga pedo (Pallas) from France and Balkans on the one hand and Saga campbelli Uvarov and Saga rammei Kaltenbach on the other hand represent two sister clades. Their proximity is in agreement with the possible origin of the pentaploid karyotype of S. pedo, by addition of haploid genomes from species close to S. campbelli and S. rammei, as proposed earlier. Molecular level of divergence indicates that the separation of French and Balkans lineages of S. pedo occurred between 420,000 and 650,000 years ago. Key words: Tettigoniidae, European Saga, genetics, cytogenetics, phylogeny.
    [Show full text]
  • Character Evolution and Microbial Community Structure in a Host-Associated Grasshopper
    CHARACTER EVOLUTION AND MICROBIAL COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN A HOST-ASSOCIATED GRASSHOPPER by TYLER JAY RASZICK B.S. University of Florida, 2010 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the Department of Biology in the College of Sciences at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Spring Term 2014 © 2014 Tyler J. Raszick ii ABSTRACT The spotted bird grasshopper, Schistocerca lineata Scudder (Orthoptera: Acrididae), is a widely distributed species found throughout most of the continental United States and southern Canada. This species is known to be highly variable in morphology, with many distinct ecotypes across its native range. These ecotypes display high levels of association with type-specific host plants. Understanding the evolutionary relationships among different ecotypes is crucial groundwork for studying the process of ecological differentiation. I examine four ecotypes from morphological and phylogeographic perspectives, and look for evidence of distinct evolutionary lineages within the species. I also begin to explore the potential role of the microbial community of these grasshoppers in ecological divergence by using 454 pyrosequencing to see if the microbial community structure reflects the ecology of the grasshoppers. I find support for a distinct aposematic lineage when approaching the data from a phylogeographic perspective and also find that this ecotype tends to harbor a unique bacterial community, different from that of a single other ecotype. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to acknowledge my advisor H. Song of the University of Central Florida for mentorship throughout my degree, as well as my thesis committee, K. Fedorka and E.
    [Show full text]
  • (Orthoptera, Caelifera, Acrididae) on the Subfamily Level Using Molecular Markers
    e-ISSN 1734-9168 Folia Biologica (Kraków), vol. 67 (2019), No 3 http://www.isez.pan.krakow.pl/en/folia-biologica.html https://doi.org/10.3409/fb_67-3.12 The Evaluation of Genetic Relationships within Acridid Grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Caelifera, Acrididae) on the Subfamily Level Using Molecular Markers Igor SUKHIKH , Kirill USTYANTSEV , Alexander BUGROV, Michael SERGEEV, Victor FET, and Alexander BLINOV Accepted August 20, 2019 Published online September 11, 2019 Issue online September 30, 2019 Original article SUKHIKH I., USTYANTSEV K., BUGROV A., SERGEEV M., FET V., BLINOV A. 2019. The evaluation of genetic relationships within Acridid grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Caelifera, Acrididae) on the subfamily level using molecular markers. Folia Biologica (Kraków) 67: 119-126. Over the last few decades, molecular markers have been extensively used to study phylogeny, population dynamics, and genome mapping in insects and other taxa. Phylogenetic methods using DNA markers are inexpensive, fast and simple to use, and may help greatly to resolve phylogenetic relationships in groups with problematic taxonomy. However, different markers have various levels of phylogenetic resolution, and it’s important to choose the right set of molecular markers for a studied taxonomy level. Acrididae is the most diverse family of grasshoppers. Many attempts to resolve the phylogenetic relationships within it did not result in a clear picture, partially because of the limited number of molecular markers used. We have tested a phylogenetic resolution of three sets of the most commonly utilized mitochondrial molecular markers available for Acrididae sequences in the database: (i) complete protein-coding mitochondrial sequences, (ii) concatenated mitochondrial genes COI, COII, and Cytb, and (iii) concatenated mitochondrial genes COI and COII.
    [Show full text]
  • Grasshoppers and Locusts (Orthoptera: Caelifera) from the Palestinian Territories at the Palestine Museum of Natural History
    Zoology and Ecology ISSN: 2165-8005 (Print) 2165-8013 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tzec20 Grasshoppers and locusts (Orthoptera: Caelifera) from the Palestinian territories at the Palestine Museum of Natural History Mohammad Abusarhan, Zuhair S. Amr, Manal Ghattas, Elias N. Handal & Mazin B. Qumsiyeh To cite this article: Mohammad Abusarhan, Zuhair S. Amr, Manal Ghattas, Elias N. Handal & Mazin B. Qumsiyeh (2017): Grasshoppers and locusts (Orthoptera: Caelifera) from the Palestinian territories at the Palestine Museum of Natural History, Zoology and Ecology, DOI: 10.1080/21658005.2017.1313807 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21658005.2017.1313807 Published online: 26 Apr 2017. Submit your article to this journal View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=tzec20 Download by: [Bethlehem University] Date: 26 April 2017, At: 04:32 ZOOLOGY AND ECOLOGY, 2017 https://doi.org/10.1080/21658005.2017.1313807 Grasshoppers and locusts (Orthoptera: Caelifera) from the Palestinian territories at the Palestine Museum of Natural History Mohammad Abusarhana, Zuhair S. Amrb, Manal Ghattasa, Elias N. Handala and Mazin B. Qumsiyeha aPalestine Museum of Natural History, Bethlehem University, Bethlehem, Palestine; bDepartment of Biology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY We report on the collection of grasshoppers and locusts from the Occupied Palestinian Received 25 November 2016 Territories (OPT) studied at the nascent Palestine Museum of Natural History. Three hundred Accepted 28 March 2017 and forty specimens were collected during the 2013–2016 period.
    [Show full text]
  • Biodiversita' Ed Evoluzione
    Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna DOTTORATO DI RICERCA IN BIODIVERSITA' ED EVOLUZIONE Ciclo XXVIII Settore Concorsuale di afferenza: 05/B1 – Zoologia ed Antropologia Settore Scientifico disciplinare: BIO/05 – Zoologia TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS IN ARTHROPODS GENOMES WITH NON-CANONICAL REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES. Presentata da: Dot.ssa Claudia Scavariello Coordinatore Dottorato Relatore Prof.ssa Barbara Mantovani Prof.ssa Barbara Mantovani Correlatore Dott. Andrea Luchetti Esame finale anno 2016 INDEX 1. INTRODUCTION-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 1.1. History of transposable elements--------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 1.1.1 TEs Classification---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 1.2. R2 non-LTR retrotransposon----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 1.2.1. R2 history and structure--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 1.2.2. R2 retrotranscription mechanism and ribozyme structure--------------10 1.3. TEs survival and the host genome--------------------------------------------------------------------------------12 1.3.1. The impact of TEs on eukaryotic genomes---------------------------------------------12 1.3.2. TEs transposition rate dynamics and host reproductive strategies------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14
    [Show full text]
  • Appendage Loss and Regeneration in Arthropods: a Comparative View
    Appendage loss and regeneration in arthropods: A comparative view DIEGO MARUZZO, LUCIO BONATO, CARLO BRENA, GIUSEPPE FUSCO & ALESSANDRO MINELLI Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy ABSTRACT Evidence for loss and regeneration of arthropod appendages is reviewed and discussed in terms of comparative developmental biology and arthropod phylogeny. The presence of a preferential breakage point is well documented for some, but not all, lineages within each of the four major groups - chelicerates, myriapods, crustaceans and hexapods. Undisputed evidence of true autotomy, however, is limited to isopods, decapods and some basal ptery- gotes, and claimed for other groups. Regeneration of lost appendages is widespread within arthropods, even if not present or documented in some groups. During regeneration, growth and differentiation of epidermis, nerves, muscles and tracheae are to some extent mutually independent, thus sometimes failing to reproduce their usual developmental interactions, with obvious consequences on the reconstruction of the lost part of the appendage. In the regeneration of appendages composed of ‘true segments’, all the segments the animal is able to regenerate are already present (with extremely rare exceptions) following the first post-operative molt, whereas the regeneration of flagellar structures is often accomplished in steps, e.g., the first regenerate may show a reduced number of flagellomeres. Lack of autotomy is likely to be the plesiomorphic condition in arthropods, a condition maintained in the Myriochelata (myriapods plus chelicerates). Autotomy evolved within the Pancrusta- cea, perhaps close to the origin of a Malacostraca-Hexapoda clade, and was subsequently lost by some lineages, e.g., the Hemipteroidea and the endopterygote insects.
    [Show full text]
  • Grasshoppers of the Choctaw Nation in Southeast Oklahoma
    Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service EPP-7341 Grasshoppers of the Choctaw Nation in Southeast OklahomaJune 2021 Alex J. Harman Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Fact Sheets Graduate Student are also available on our website at: extension.okstate.edu W. Wyatt Hoback Associate Professor Tom A. Royer Extension Specialist for Small Grains and Row Crop Entomology, Integrated Pest Management Coordinator Grasshoppers and Relatives Orthoptera is the order of insects that includes grasshop- pers, katydids and crickets. These insects are recognizable by their shape and the presence of jumping hind legs. The differ- ences among grasshoppers, crickets and katydids place them into different families. The Choctaw recognize these differences and call grasshoppers – shakinli, crickets – shalontaki and katydids– shakinli chito. Grasshoppers and the Choctaw As the men emerged from the hill and spread throughout the lands, they would trample many more grasshoppers, killing Because of their abundance, large size and importance and harming the orphaned children. Fearing that they would to agriculture, grasshoppers regularly make their way into all be killed as the men multiplied while continuing to emerge folklore, legends and cultural traditions all around the world. from Nanih Waiya, the grasshoppers pleaded to Aba, the The following legend was described in Tom Mould’s Choctaw Great Spirit, for aid. Soon after, Aba closed the passageway, Tales, published in 2004. trapping many men within the cavern who had yet to reach The Origin of Grasshoppers and Ants the surface. In an act of mercy, Aba transformed these men into ants, During the emergence from Nanih Waiya, grasshoppers allowing them to rule the caverns in the ground for the rest of traveled with man to reach the surface and disperse in all history.
    [Show full text]
  • Karyotype of Karoophasma Biedouwense (Austrophasmatidae)
    Eur. J. Entomol. 112(4): 599–605, 2015 doi: 10.14411/eje.2015.093 ISSN 1210-5759 (print), 1802-8829 (online) First chromosomal study of Mantophasmatodea: Karyotype of Karoophasma biedouwense (Austrophasmatidae) DOROTA LACHOWSKA-CIERLIK1, ANNA MARyAńSKA-Nadachowska2, VALENTINA KuZNETSOvA3 and MIKE PICKER4 1 Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian university, Cracow, Poland; e-mail: [email protected] 2 Institute of Systematic and Evolution of Animals, PAS, Cracow, Poland; e-mail: [email protected] 3 Zoological Institute Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia; e-mail: [email protected] 4 Department of Biological Sciences, university of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa; e-mail: [email protected] Key words. Mantophasmatodea, Karoophasma biedouwense, FISH, heterochromatin, heelwalkers, meiosis, ribosomal genes, sex determination system, telomeres Abstract. We have investigated for the first time the chromosomes of Karoophasma biedouwense, a species belonging to the Manto- phasmatodea, a recently discovered order of carnivorous insects. Our study has revealed that males of this species display testes with numerous seminal tubes (follicles), as in other Polyneoptera, and short tubular seminal vesicles embedded in a utricular gland. The karyotype consists of 2n = 12A + X monocentric and biarmed, meta/submetacentric chromosomes (fundamental number of arms: FN = 26) with blocks of heterochromatin around centromeres. The autosomes are classified into two size groups, one represented by a single, very large pair of autosomes, the other by five smaller pairs which constitute a continuous series gradually decreasing in size. Among “monocentric” orders of Polyneoptera, K. biedouwense shares its low chromosome number, 2n = 13, as also found with some Orthoptera (Acridoidea, Grylloidea, Gryllacridoidea).
    [Show full text]
  • Acoustic Monitoring and Response of Katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) to the Landscape Mosaic in a Biosphere Reserve
    Acoustic monitoring and response of katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) to the landscape mosaic in a Biosphere Reserve Aileen Celeste Thompson Thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Prof. Michael J. Samways Co-supervisor: Dr. Corinna S. Bazelet March 2017 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. March 2017 Copyright © 2017 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved i Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Abstract A charismatic group within the Orthoptera, katydids can be found in a variety of habitat types world-wide due to their excellent bark and leaf mimicry skills. Most male katydids produce species-specific calls to attract female mates. If katydids, like their close relatives the grasshoppers, can function as effective biological indicators, then acoustic monitoring of katydid songs may result in a novel and non-invasive method to rapidly assess local biodiversity. Furthermore, information regarding threat statuses, distributions and life history traits can be inferred for all South African katydid species, leading to the development of a Katydid Biotic Index (KBI) based on the highly effective Dragonfly Biotic Index. If proven effective, the KBI would allow for biodiversity assessments to account for detailed aspects of katydid species composition in addition to the diversity measures normally utilized for biodiversity assessment (e.g.
    [Show full text]