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 [2] The 2015 Theodore J. Cohn he Orthopterists’ Society Research Grants Funded by MICHEL is in a very vibrant LECOQ th phase of activity with [3] Announcing the 12 the dissemination of MARCOS LHANO several grants from the [4] The European Red List of Orthop- TT Ted Cohn Research tera by BAUDEWIJN ODÉ, ANA NIETO & Fund to support various student AXEL HOCHKIRCH [5] projects across the world (see the report by Michel Lecoq in this issue). pygmy by JOSIP SKEJO This really does emphasize the value [6] REGIONAL REPORTS spatial shifting according to hot and of being a member of the Society [6] Southern Africa by CORINNA S. sunny conditions or cool and overcast where networking and opportunities BAZELET ones. [7] Western Europe by FERNANDO are available to young orthopterists The range of orthopteran species MONTEALEGRE-Z. wherever they are. Also, with the In- making up a local assemblage in any [8] T.J. COHN GRANT REPORTS ternational Congress of Orthopterol- [8] - ogy in Brazil in 2016, there is further bio-indicators. Highly mobile spe- opportunity to network. cies may rapidly move away from One of the great opportunities that an anthropogenic impact, such as the a whole range of orthopteran species [10] planting of exotic trees. In contrast, offer is that not only are they among highly endemic local species may not the most interesting organisms on the be able to move in this way, and may [11] planet, but they can also serve well as be locally extirpated. This differential - indicators of changing landscapes in response means that we can mea- this current era of the Anthropocene... CHEN sure the changes in the environment [13] using a range of orthopteran species species, the settled and industrialized traits and responses and then manage human, is changing the world in a the landscape accordingly. We can meteoric way. SLATYER then test whether our management species are excellent bio- [14] CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE has been successful by investigat- indicators of a changing environment, [14] ing which species have re-colonized for better or worse. One of the reasons after an environmentally acceptable South Africa by AILEEN THOMPSON for this is that they are sensitive at the landscape management program has [16] Type diversity of local spatial scale, and readily seek by RICARDO MARIÑO-PÉREZ been put in place. In short, Orthoptera out ideal conditions for their survival [22] Re-discovery of a species thought of all sorts give us an opportunity for and that of their offspring. Nymphs - may even be in one habitat and adults able way. WOLLER & JOVONN G. HILL in another. Sometimes, adults even [23] EDITORIAL ideal immediate environment, such as Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 1 METALEPTEA The 2015 Theodore J. Cohn Research Grants Funded By MICHEL LECOQ Chair, Theodore J. Cohn Research Fund Committee [email protected]

e received a num- was reached fairly quickly and it was (Ger- ber of research decided to fund 11 proposals. The fol- - proposals this year lowing grants (in alphabetical order) Ariagona Krauss, for the Theodore were made in amounts from USD J. Cohn Research $500 to $1,500 (for a total of USD WW Grants call that has $14,599): never been achieved in the past. A niche modelling of the total of 28 projects were submitted to Katherine Crocker- genus the Committee, issued from 17 coun- er parents are helping: Is variable tries: Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Josip Skejo- Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic (2), Germany (3), India, Netherlands (2), Lara-Sophie Dey- Psophus Fieber, 1853 (Oedipodinae: Mexico, New Zealand (3), Singapore, South Africa, Spain (2), Uruguay, and winged grasshopper genera - - the U.S.A. (5). If it was still needed, mena Saussure 1884 and this is further evidence of the con- Bolivar 1899. Cyphoderris tinuing interest in our Society and in - monstrosa- our grants in support of students and nal investment threshold for male young scientists. decorated cricket calling based on As you know, this year, thanks to a Our congratulations to all the suc- large donation from the estate of our cessful applicants, and on behalf of late colleague Theodore J. Cohn, it the Committee, our best wishes for was possible to increase the amount the full success of their work. Of of each grant to a maximum of USD course, all our readers will anxiously 1,500 for an annual total of USD mediated knockdown of neuropep- wait for their report in our newsletter. 15,000. . We are sorry not to have enough mon- Among the proposals received, ey to fund all the excellent projects the proposed topics are diverse and we received. For candidates who were concern as well as ecology, not selected, the Committee thanks physiology, behavior, and phylo- them all for their efforts of presenta- geography, and involve very diverse tion and formulation of their research groups of Orthoptera s.l. As usual, it history of the genus projects. All the projects were greatly was a hard, but exciting, task for the Barat 2012. appreciated by the Committee and I jury (David Hunter, Battal Ciplak, Matan Shelomi- invite them to submit further propos- and myself) to analyze and classify - als at the next call in early 2016. the various proposals. A consensus

Platycleis intermedia widespread species in the Mediterranean southern France as human impact has and into Asia. The young stages are toler- increased in intensity and extensiveness. ant of some farming and can develop - Michael Samways mature, they move into bushes in the surrounding area. However, the species - genic change to the landscape and has

Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 2 METALEPTEA The 12th International Congress of Orthopterology Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil, October 30 to November 3, 2016 ORTHOPTERA IN A CHANGING WORLD ear friends, papers and discussion to ensure the By MARCOS LHANO high quality that we are used to seeing President, ICO 2016 [email protected] It is a great pleasure to in our OS Congresses. invite you to contribute Last February, Dr. Maria Marta to and attend the 12th Cigliano (as a member of the OS Con- DD International Congress - of Orthopterology. The Congress will be held in the city of Ilhéus, Bahia, some perspectives for the Congress, Brazil, from October 30 to November including some of the topics men- 3, 2016. tioned below. I would like to thank to Ilhéus was founded in 1534 and is all the OS Committee members for located in the Northern coastal region their suggestions and support. of Brazil, about 220 km south of Sal- The venue for the event will be in The Congress will also include the vador, the capital of the state of Bahia. a hotel located in front of the beach, following activities: Today it is one of the most important close to the suburbs of Ilhéus and Opening Ceremony tourism centers of northeastern Bra- 5 minutes by car (2 km) from the Posters sessions zil, due to its beautiful beaches and airport. It is a small hotel with beau- Workshops cultural heritage. Ilhéus has approxi- tiful gardens, swimming pool and Information Sessions mately 222,000 inhabitants, with an restaurants, which can be used to Oral Presentations area of 1850 km2, and its downtown is accommodate all the attendants. We Special Meetings located on the seaside of the Atlantic are currently discussing the prices for Awards Ocean. Ilhéus is also well known as the rooms (including breakfast, four We will have a new activity during the hometown of Jorge Amado, one lunches and two dinners - without the Congress “Information Sessions” of the most popular Brazilian writers beverages), so once we have reached consisting of short courses through (some of his novels: “Gabriela, Clove which the attendants will have the and Cinnamon” and “Dona Flor and the name of the venue hotel. We have opportunity to discuss and learn about her two husbands”). Also, the city hired an event management company: used to have the major cocoa planta- GT5 Group, which has the expertise and statistical techniques for data tions in Brazil, and nowadays tourists and ample experience in organizing registration and analyses. can enjoy the chocolate produced in congresses and meetings in Brazil. I am glad to announce an “Open the city. During the months of Octo- Please bookmark the deadline for Call” for those interested in proposing ber and November (dry season), the abstract submission in your agenda: and organizing a Plenary Symposium temperature is around 28oC. I invite July 31, 2016. and Information Sessions. This call everyone to visit http://en.wikipedia. presentations of regular submitted pa- will be open until July 31, 2015. org/wiki/Ilhéus and read more about pers will be announced in the website. As social events, we will have a the city. - welcome cocktail, the traditional Gala We’re working on releasing the patch and group the abstracts accord- Dinner and the “Nations’ Party” (a complete information about the ing to the different symposium topics, tradition that began in China), where Congress soon, which will be dis- and will select those abstracts which the attendants will be asked to bring played on the Congress website. It is will be presented as oral presenta- some traditional costume/hat/shirt, a challenge to keep up with the high tions and those as posters. We will etc. for this night and will be invited - invite prominent and distinguished to sing a song from their country. mosphere experienced on the previous orthopterists to present their experi- Daily tours will be offered to some Congresses, but we will try our best ence and the results of their latest nice touristic places in the region for to do it. We hope that the program and research during the Plenary Lectures accompanying members. Besides, - and Symposia. one-day tour to Itacaré (a beautiful tion and that you will contribute your Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 3 METALEPTEA beach close to Ilhéus) for all the at- ing permits in Brazil. The ICO 2016 Government: the Ministry of the En- tendants will be also organized. organization is not able to make any vironment’s (MMA) and the Ministry Finally, the Post Conference Tour arrangement for collecting permits of Science and Technology (MCT). will consist of a trip to the amaz- for the whole group. If someone is Important dates for your agenda: ing Chapada Diamantina region and interested in collecting Orthoptera 12th International Congress of Salvador city. This is a very attractive material, there will be a plenty of Orthopterology: October 30 to tour that will soon be announced on stops and time to do so, however, November 3, 2016 the Congress website. It is important each scientist will be responsible for Deadline for abstract submission: to note that it will be mainly a tour- obtaining proper collecting permits July 31, 2016. istic and photographic tour since it and paperwork/export permits to carry As the President of the ICO 2016, I is not allowed to collect or the material outside Brazil (they are am delighted to cordially invite you to any other organisms without collect- different permits) from the Brazilian join us. The European Red List of Orthoptera GSG is to By BAUDEWIJN ODÉ conserve [email protected] orthopteroid ANA NIETO [email protected] insects and AXEL HOCHKIRCH their habitats [email protected] around the world. An Europe and the European Union), so important that appropriate conservation action component can be taken to improve their status. of conserva- The ERL has already assessed the tion is the status of nearly 10,000 European assessment species and currently the status of all of species Orthoptera species (grasshoppers and for the IUCN crickets) is being assessed, a total of approximately 1,100 species. Red List of - Threatened The European Red List of Orthop- SpeciesTM. tera is compiled by IUCN’s Global This greatly Species Programme and the experts IUCN SSC Grasshopper helps to of the Grasshoppers Specialist Group. communicate threats to policy mak- The project started in November and The IUCN Species Survival Commis- ers and the general public, and helps great progress has already been made sion Grasshopper Specialist Group to prioritize conservation measures. towards completing the Red List. A (GSG) is composed of 74 experts on The process of red-listing is very workshop was held in Vicenza, Italy grasshoppers, crickets, bush-crickets, useful as it adds to our knowledge of on 15-17 May to assess the status of mantids and stick insects from 30 - grasshopper species with an Italian- countries worldwide. The aim of the edge gaps. Moreover, several funding restricted distribution. The workshop, possibilities exist for research on or hosted by the Museum Naturalistico conservation actions for species that Archeologico of Vicenza, was at- are in the threatened categories of the tended by seven experts; a Red List IUCN Red List. Category was assigned to the species on the basis of information available and by reaching consensus. The European Red List (ERL) is Additional workshops will be held a review of the status of European throughout 2015 and beginning of species according to IUCN Regional 2016 to assess all the Orthoptera spe- cies and it is expected that in October those species that are threatened with 2016 the Red List assessments will be extinction at the European level (pan completed and a publication summa- Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 4 METALEPTEA rising the results will be produced. in participating in conservation of become a member of the GSG. Please Orthopterists that are interested orthopteroid insects are welcomed to contact Axel Hochkirch. SIGTET – Special Interest Group Tetrigidae – the fascinating world of pygmy grasshoppers

ygmy grasshoppers SIGTET website was not being used By JOSIP SKEJO (Tetrigidae) are the least continuously at the time, I decided Biology Students Association – BIUS Croatia studied family within the to make an address book containing [email protected] order Orthoptera. The contact information of every available family counts 9 sub- Tetrigidae researcher, and, with this P information, to make an exhaustive studying Tetrigidae and some con- P tributors that are helpful in our study mailing list for information exchange. and most of them are paraphyletic, After I made the group, Daniela San- and willing to collect material on their thus not evolutionary units, with 268 tos came to me with the idea to found expeditions. Also, we have collabora- genera and subgenera (of which 6 are a Facebook page for SIGTET as well. tions with Holger Braun and Piotr fossil and 262 extant) and 1,912 spe- The Facebook group is aimed at pro- Naskrecki, administrators of the Or- cies and subspecies (of which 9 are viding continuous discussions on Tet- thoptera Species File, so the valuable fossil and 1,903 extant). The members rigidae research, to initiate collabora- information and new literature data of the family are easily distinguished tions among researchers, material, and can be added and some errors can be from all other Orthoptera primarily by literature exchange, spend some good, corrected in the database. their prolonged pronotum that usually free time discussing, collecting and In the name of our little team, I covers the whole abdomen, and also scanning more and more literature on would like to call all the readers who by tarsal formula 2-2-3, lack of aro- pygmies, and also to examine Tetrigi- possess Tetrigidae photos, material lium between the claws, and absence dae photos from all around the globe and literature to contact us and to of tympana. (Facebook group: https://www.face- collaborate with us. More eyes are Since there are only a few research- book.com/groups/807063066036549). always better. We are not able to tell ers that deal with systematics of this The Facebook group was created you everything about Tetrigidae since fascinating group, Hendrik Devriese on April 3, 2015. At the same time, little is known, but we are able to initiated the establishment of the Spe- an exchange of literature and photos instruct you how to look and what to cial Interest Group Tetrigidae – SIG- started, we updated the Tetrigidae look for and we are always looking TET during the meeting of Deutsche researchers address book and it now forward to learning more together. Gesellschaft für Orthopterologie held contains in Bonn (Germany) from 15 to 16 informa- March 2008. The group aimed to put tion on 31 at the disposal of the orthopterists’ research- community all the resources concern- ers from ing the family: checklist of genera 19 coun- and species, distribution information, tries and 4 continents. photographs etc. and it also aimed Currently, to enhance contact and information we lack exchange between Tetrigidae ex- research- perts. (webpage: http://home.scarlet. ers in be/~ping0646/index.html). Africa and Since we are in the era of social Australia. network mass use and a lot of infor- In the mation of a lot of themes is being Facebook exchanged on these networks, such group as Facebook, Flickr, Gmail and its there are accompanying sites. Also, since the 16 of us

Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 5 METALEPTEA Regional Reports - What’s happening around the world? Southern Africa uploaded all data and Piotr’s By CORINNA S. BAZELET Stellenbosch University photographs South Africa into IUCN’s [email protected] Species Infor- n 2014, 129 species of South mation Service African katydids (Tettigoni- (SIS) software idae) had Red List assessments and completed published by the IUCN (www. all draft assess- iucnredlist.org). These spe- ments. Each I cies represent approximately draft assessment I was peer- three-quarters of the katydid species known to occur in South Africa (170 reviewed by species in total), and the full comple- Axel Hochkirch, ment of species which are currently Mark Bushell, capable of being assessed. Of the and/or Baudewi- - unsuitable species, eight are recog- jn Odé, found- nized new species which await formal ing members description and 33 are species whose of the IUCN’s tion is just not enough to estimate Grasshopper Specialist Group (GSG), their future trends. For example, the members of the problematic genera before being submitted to the IUCN enigmatic Cederberg Shieldback Ruspolia and Conocephalus, many of for publication. (Namaquadectes irroratus) has only which can be distinguished only on So how are South Africa’s katydids been encountered twice, in 1916 and the basis of their call, and are in need faring? Slightly over half (58% of as- 92 years later in 2008, despite many of taxonomic revision on the basis of sessed species) are of Least Concern collecting trips and hours spent at- this character. (LC) (Fig. 1). Many of these spe- tempting to track it down. Completion of the Red List as- cies are widely-distributed generalist Unfortunately, one-third of South sessments took approximately two herbivores which show no signs of Africa’s katydids are of conservation years and support from many people. decline. Some of these species, such concern, with 30% of species assessed First, Piotr Naskrecki and I met in as the Plangias (Plangia compressa as VU, EN, or CR. Among the six November, 2012 to write most of the and P. graminea) and the Armoured CR species is the world’s only known - Katydids (Acanthoplus spp.) are Cave Katydid (Cedarbergeniana ments. Then, using 810 geo-refer- even facultative crop pests arguably imperfecta; Fig. 2a). This species enced South African localities from in greater need of control than of persists in a small number of high Piotr’s MANTIS database, I calcu- elevation caves within the Cederberg lated coarse scale distribution ranges Wilderness Area in the Western Cape. for each species in ArcGIS 9.2, gener- (DD) because the available informa- The highly fragmented nature of the ously provided by the IUCN and ESRI. All threatened species (Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN), and Critically Endangered (CR) were assessed on the basis of their geographic range (Red List Criterion B) or as a result of hav- ing a very small and restricted population (Criterion D). I then Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 6 METALEPTEA populations and their current distribu- a small patch of remnant indigenous katydid fauna. Several student proj- tion at peak elevations is of great con- forest slated for cultivation to exotic ects are underway and publications cern. In the event of habitat destruc- plantation forestry in KwaZulu-Natal. are in preparation to analyse katydid tion or change in climatic conditions At present, it’s unknown whether this diversity patterns across South Africa within their caves, this species ap- species survives or not. and katydid utility for a rapid as- pears to have few options for survival. Completing the Red List assess- sessment technique (see e.g. Aileen Similarly, the Imperiled Grass False Thompson’s article in this issue). Shieldback (Paracilacris periclitatus; process to draw attention to South Fig. 2b) was only encountered once in Africa’s fascinating and threatened Western Europe meeting. The IBAC meeting will also Luxembourg and Switzerland, by attract the participation of labs from Sardet E., Roestli C. and Braud Y. By FERNANDO other countries in and out of Europe, This book will be released soon MONTEALEGRE-Z. focusing on a diversity of bioacoustics this year. University of Lincoln research in various groups of arthro- 3. The MNHN in Paris has pub- United Kingdom [email protected] pods and superior . lished an online guide for the his report contains infor- The German Society for from Northwest Africa, edited mation on main events, Orthopterology by Laure Desutter-Grandcolas. like international and The DGFO (German Society for Contributors to this publication local meetings, as well Orthopterology) holds a meeting ev- are Louveaux A., Amédégnato C., as a count of the main ery other year. The last meeting took and Poulain S. This guide con- outputs of research on TT place in Salzburg (Austria) in 2014, tains photos of all the species, in- orthopteroid insects during the current and the next one will be in the spring year. of 2016 in Trier (Germany). The families, genera and species, and DGFO is active and twice a year the distribution maps. It was origi- society publishes a magazine called nally published in French, and the The biennial meeting of the Interna- Articulata. The homepage of this soci- contributors are working on the tional Bioacoustics Council (IBAC) ety can be found in the following link English translation. The material will be held in Murnau, Germany http://www.dgfo-articulata.de/en/ can be accessed in the following th th from 7 -11 September 2015. This home.php link: http://lncn.eu/bhrv5 meeting usually covers a diversity of 4. The Journal of Comparative topics in bioacoustics from humans to Physiology published in January insects. Different topics are organized 2015 a special Issue with the title Orthoptera research Recent outputs on the various areas “ hearing – from physics Dr. Tony Robillard from the Muséum of research on orthopteroid insects to ecology”. This issue contains national d’Histoire naturelle (MNHN) coming from European labs are listed current research and reviews on in Paris is the chair of the sympo- below. Of course, there is a large auditory physiology and sensory sium of ‘Acoustic communication of - ecology. A large proportion of ’. As expected, this sym- thoptera published, and the list below the featured articles come from posium will have a number of talks includes only large reviews or books, European laboratories focusing on on Orthoptera bioacoustics. Other crickets and katydid hearing. Ar- research outputs will be presented in ticles can be accessed here: http:// four different poster sections at the 1. A new edition of the book edited lncn.eu/bdiz end of each conference day. by Delvare, G. & Aberlenc, H.P., 5. Axel Hochkirch is coordinating “Les Insectes du Monde, Bio- the elaboration of a red list of Eu- Orthoptera bioacoustics (physiology, ropean Orthoptera for the UICN. neurobiology, biomechanics, system- de détermination des familles”, This work receives contribution atics, taxonomy, etc.) has, for de- includes a chapter on Ensifera by from several orthopterist groups cades, considerably advanced thanks Sylvain Hugel and Laure Desut- from different European countries to many important contributions by ter-Grandcolas. The book will be including Germany, Spain and our German colleagues. Therefore, released soon this year. Greece. A meeting IUCN was - 2. held in Agrinion/Greece on May man Orthopterists is expected in this Orthoptera from France, Belgium, 20th, 2015. Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 7 METALEPTEA Theodore J. Cohn Research Grant Reports courtship residency on male contest outcomes in the Cook Strait giant weta (Deinacrida rugosa)

he genus Deinacrida to court a receptive female before en- By MORGAN D. DEPERNO (giant weta) is a clade of countering an intruding male competi- Augustana College, South Dakota, USA [email protected] nocturnal, herbivorous, tor, thus holding an investment in the JOSE A. ALVAREZ, CHANDLER B. NIELSEN, apterous Orthopterans pairing, would compete more robustly LAUREN K. YARES, CARRIE L. HALL, belonging to the family and hold a contest outcome advantage & DANIEL R. HOWARD TT Anosostomatidae. They over similar- are of Gondwanan lineage with eleven sized intruder endemic species found in New Zea- males. We also land, most exhibiting female-biased hypothesized size dimorphism (Fig. 1). Deinacrida that residency rugosa males are known to move may offset the great distances each night while size advantage, foraging and searching for mates; size with smaller and mobility in males is thought to be resident males under indirect sexual selection related winning a larger to the scramble competition mating proportion of system (Kelly et al. 2008). The pur- contests than pose of our study was to identify fac- predicted by a simple size ad- between males competing for mating vantage model. privileges. Previous work in our lab with Deinacrida rugosa demonstrated Methods that, given equal access to a female, Site: D. rugosa with neither male beginning courtship were oppor- earlier than the other, that male size tunistically reliably predicts contest outcome. In hand-collected treatments used were Same Size male this study, we asked how male resi- combinations (< 1.0 SD size differ- o o Reserve (41.257 S, 174.865 E) on ence) and Different Size male com- We hypothesized that males allowed the North Island of New Zealand dur- binations (larger-smaller, ±2 SD size ing the period 20-26 January 2015. difference) in a 2x3 design. All trials Measurements: To calculate a size parameter for each male, we mea- (Fig. 2), and digital recordings of sured right femur length and pronotal male vibrational duets were collected width using image analysis techniques during contest trials. in ImageJ software (http://imagej. Analysis: During each trial we re- nih.gov/ij/), and mass using a Pesola corded the contest latency, duration, Micro-Line Spring Scale, 60g x 0.5g and outcome. Vibrational signals were (Fig. 3). We included mass measures recorded from the arena substrate with Mass also measured to create a with a Polytec PDV-100 portable morphometric index for each of the laser Doppler vibrometer and Marantz males. This size index value was then PMD-661 portable digital audio re- used to determine contest pairings. corder (24 bit/48 KHz). At trial outset Treatments: In the presence of a receptive female, we conducted male- captured with a Logitech HD web- male contests in resident-intruder cam and Sony HD video recorder for Female Deinacrida rugosa combinations. The two experimental Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 8 METALEPTEA can extend to outweigh the advantage of size in some cases, with smaller resident males outcompeting larger intruder males, in effect exhibiting a form of the ‘Napoleon Complex’ (Just and Morris 2003). This investment in courtship may switch smaller males to exhibit higher levels of aggression as they display mate-guarding behavior. Mosaic plot of male status and con- Mosaic plot of status and outcomes Acknowledgements small residents and larger intruders. A trend We would like to thank the New Zea- for smaller male residents winning (75% of - land Department of Conservation and - rangers Jo Greenman, Emma Dun- ning all contests. ning, Daryl Stephens, and the local Upoko o Te Ika and the the Harbour purposes of coding contest outcomes. tage in contest where no male held Islands Kaitiaki Board for approval of Trials were concluded when one of a size advantage, but that this size and support in conducting this re- the males abandoned the courtship advantage was eroded when smaller search. I thank the Augustana College triad after a male-male vibrational males had invested in courtship, and AURAFA program for funding to sup- duetting bout. the larger male was a novel intruder port travel to New Zealand, and the into the pairing. This suggests that the Orthopterists’ Society’s Theodore J. Results male investment in courtship shifts A total of 20 females and 35 males the competitive balance in inter-male support to conduct the research. were collected from the study site. contests away from a simple size The average morphological index advantage model to something more References value for females was 8476.17 and complex and potentially related to a Kelly C.D., Bussiere L.F., and Gwynne D.T. 3310.04 for males. We conducted mate-guarding strategy. - ten trials with same sized males, In D. rugosa, given equal access to ity in a giant insect with female-biased four of which resulted in an outcome a receptive female, larger males hold and clear contest winner. In these 172:417-423. cases the two males competed for the contests, mediating these through vi- female, participated in a vibrational brational duetting bouts. When males duet, and one male abandoned the are allowed to invest in solitary court- duet and courtship activities. If the ship, resident males tend to defend 522. males did not interact with the female the female or compete with each other the trial vigorously, was excluded from analysis. In each initiate the of these successful trials, the resident vibrational male won the mating contest against duetting the intruder male in all cases (Fig. 3; bout, and Fisher’s Exact Test, N = 4, P = 0.029). most often Eleven trials were conducted involv- outcompete ing males of different sizes. In these intruder trials, three of the four trials in which males given males actively contested were won equal con- by the smaller resident male (Fig. 4; testant size. Fisher’s Exact Test, N = 4, P = 0.48). support our Main Findings & Discussion hypothesis Our research found that males with that invest- established residency (20 mins. of ac- ment in tive courtship) held a contest advan- courtship Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 9 METALEPTEA Sexual communication and the species boundary in closely related Teleogryllus crickets By PETER MORAN University of St Andrews, U.K. [email protected] ield crickets have long level of genetic divergence been renowned for their or evolutionary history of conspicuous advertise- these species. The aim of this ment calls, which play project is twofold: an important role in mate 1) Determine if the species FF choice and are often spe- hybridize in the wild and how discrete the species divergence in communication systems boundary is. and the consequences in regards to 2) Identify the strength and speciation and species coexistence are form of the key reproduc- not well understood. Growing evi- tive barriers and the potential dence, based on advances in genetics, evolutionary forces which is highlighting that species’ boundar- underlie them. Laboratory photo of male and female T. commo- ies may be more dynamic and porous At the outset of the project, dus in close contact. than previously believed (Harrison & Larson, 2014). conducted from March to April 2013 allowed me to test if the species are As part of my Ph.D., I am exam- across an extensive area of eastern reproductively isolated in the wild. As ining the patterns of geographic Australia (~2,500km), encompass- we know from previously published variation in sexual signals and the ing the species’ contact zone (Fig. research (Hoy, 1974) and personal ob- nature of the species boundary in two 2.). Sampling involved identifying servations, hybrid song is intermedi- suitable sites during the day, which ate for many parameters between the Teleogryllus commodus (Fig. 1) and generally were grassy human dis- two species. Therefore, if the species T.oceanicus. These species provide turbed areas, and then returning at are hybridizing in the wild we would an ideal study system to determine night to collect and record crickets. expect intermediate song types in the the role of sexual communication in In total, sixteen laboratory popula- area of overlap. However, the pattern species coexistence as there is a rich tions were initiated from eggs laid by body of knowledge on their acoustic wild caught females (Fig. 2.). Exten- and laboratory recordings, revealed behaviour (e.g. Bailey & Macleod, sive recordings of calling song, from - 2013; Doherty & Hoy, 1985; Hoy, crete species groups, with no evidence 1974). Both species overlap across of common garden reared laboratory of hybridization. a large area on the eastern coast of populations, were made. The two call- Overall, the species distribution and ing song datasets allow for a compari- apparent absence of hybridization is (Hill et al., 1972)) and are known to son between patterns of natural song hybridize in the lab, but very little both Hill et al. (1972) and Otte & Al- is known about the extent of species population differences, revealed by exander (1983) suggesting this pattern admixture in the wild. Calling song is controlling for environmental sources is stable, both temporally and spa- the most distinguishable feature dif- of variation in the lab populations. tially. On our last night of sampling in ferentiating the species and has long In the area of overlap we frequently a small localized area of north eastern been believed to play a critical role encountered males of both species Australia, while wading around in a in maintaining the species boundary. singing in very close proximity to swampy, potentially crocodile-infest- However, despite the wealth of previ- each other, with no obvious envi- - ous studies on these species’ acous- ronmental segregation. T.oceanicus tive closely-related species, T.marini, tic behaviour, the focus has almost appeared to predominate and calling singing amongst T.oceanicus males. solely been on allopatric populations, song recordings of the F1 labora- This presumed species, which has ignoring the potential contribution of tory generations suggested all of the only been described once, decades interactions between the species (ex- offspring from sympatric popula- ago (Otte & Alexander, 1983), is ception: Hill et al., 1972). In addition, tions were of the T.oceanicus species. easily recognized based on its dis- almost nothing is known about the Analysis of calling song, from both Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 10 METALEPTEA and genotypic traits to test if the patterns are concordant will provide powerful and comprehensive insight into the role of sexual communication traits in delimiting the species bound- ary.

References - - 170–180. - tory behavior of crickets: some views of study species within Australia and oscillograms of each species calling song. T.oceanicus is dis- T.commodus mainly restricted to the south. Both species overlap in an area ~500km long on the mid-eastern T.oceanicus, green sympatric popula- T.commodus. The overlapping yellow and orange circles in the north represent the site where we encountered and sampled both T.oceanicusT.marini. commodus and T. oceanicus (Orthoptera: tinct calling song, which has a lower species divergence. carrier frequency and a drawn-out trill Following on from this, I’m cur- - section compared to the other Austra- rently examining chemical signals - lian Teleogryllus (Fig. 2.). Excitingly, (cuticular hydrocarbons) and genomic this provides another contact zone data, sampled from individuals along in which we can examine the role of the same population transect. Integrat- Australian crickets (Orthoptera: Gryl- sexual communication in maintaining ing the results from these phenotypic (Gryllus sp.) as a function for parasitoid avoidance By TOM CHEN California State University, Northridge [email protected] exual dimorphism of sec- function as mating signals to attract ers, predators/parasitoids also hone in ondary sexual traits (e.g., on these conspicuous signals (Wagner, coloration, vocalization) most conspicuous displays are pre- 1996; Zuk and Kolluru, 1998). At- is commonly observed tractive males, therefore, experience a in many species across obtaining more mating opportunities SS varying taxa: the males of than less conspicuous males (Thorn- risk of mortality. many species of birds have ornamen- hill and Alcock, 1983; Andersson, tal feathers and/or colorful plumage 1994). These preferred traits may cricket (Gryllus) found at Kofa while females do not (Owens and undergo a directional selection and National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Hartley, 1998; Cuervo and Møller, can become even more exaggerated Arizona, faces these opposing selec- 2001); males of most species of frogs in the subsequent generations. How- tion pressures (personal observation). have vocal sacs while females do not; ever, predation or parasitism exerts Males chirp to attract mates; however, and usually, only male crickets have an opposing selection pressure on their signals are often intercepted by the stridulatory features to produce conspicuous males. Similar to female Ormia ochra- chirps. These secondary sexual traits preference for more attractive signal- cea (Diptera: Tachinidae). These Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 11 METALEPTEA parasitoids deposit larvae on call- study can provide insight into the bal- Subsequently, the tubes were turned ing crickets, which then burrow into ance of sexual and ecological selec- on their sides and the timers were and consume the hosts from within. tion on conspicuous signals. started. The collected data from both Approximately 7–10 days later, the components still need to be analyzed larvae erupt from their hosts result- is to determine if calling behavior of at a later date. ing in the death of the crickets. This G13 varies seasonally as a result of parasitoid pressure, however, is not differential parasitoid presence. I con- References constant throughout the year. G13 is ducted monthly surveys at Kofa NWR bivoltine, with adult emergence peak- (Yuma, Arizona; 33.36°N, 114.11°W, ing in spring and autumn, while O. elevation of 648 m) starting in Febru- Ormia ochracea, on the behaviour and ochracea is abundant in autumn, but ary, 2014, until November, 2014, cricket hosts ( not in spring (David A. Gray, per- to document the presence of (1) O. sonal communication; Paur and Gray, ochracea using sound traps (Walker, 2011). Previous research on Gryllus 1989) and (2) calling G13s by per- rubens (similar life history as G13) forming transect surveys. I was only - documented that males in autumn able to capture a limited number (n < ornamental and non-ornamental feath- than males in spring populations due seasons to be used for song recording. to the presence of O. ochracea in au- tumn (Vélez and Brockmann, 2006). separately in individual plastic tubs dimorphism in birds: why are there so stored in a temperature-controlled number of calling males in autumn dark room (27°C; 12:12 light dark London. Series B: Biological Sciences, could stem from one of two causes: cycle) and given ad libitum water and (1) males adaptively decrease their cat food and a section of egg carton - calling effort due to parasitoid pres- for refuge. As some crickets had the namics and overwintering strategy of the - potential to be parasitized, I started Ormia tially target and eliminate the bolder ochracea male crickets that exhibit great calling they were brought back to the lab. effort. Wilson et al. (2010) found a Each individual was housed in sound- 145–156. positive correlation between calling - - effort (in terms of time spent calling phones and recorded using an audio per night) and exploratory behavior (correlated to boldness) for indi- of total nightly calling time will be viduals of the European house cricket compared between the two seasonal (Acheta domesticus) that were com- populations using ANOVA. rubens. behaviour, 72: 439–448. mercially bred. The bolder males in The second objective of this study the study were found to emerge much is to determine whether behavioral quicker from their refuge to explore syndrome correlates with the seasonal variation of calling behavior. Previ- study suggest that bolder crickets are ous research found crickets with a - more likely to be out of their refuge “shy” disposition to be risk-averse toring Euphasiopteryx and tests with E. ochr and calling, which makes these males more vulnerable to the predators and to “bolder” crickets (Wilson et al., parasitoids. However, as the Wilson 2010). I conducted laboratory experi- et al. study (2010) only used commer- ments to assess shy/bold personalities cially-bred crickets, I am interested of G13 males by measuring the dura- in applying the similar protocols to tion of time that a male took to begin - exploration of a novel area. Each male pean house cricket, . autumn population of crickets will was placed inside PVC tubes (capped have a higher ratio of “shy” males to on one end) that were 12 cm in length 703–715. bold males. The results of this study and approximately 3.5 cm in internal - can provide direct evidence that diameter. The males were allowed to behavioral syndrome has a major role acclimate inside the PVC tubes with 73: 415–438. the capped end down for 2 minutes. Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 12 METALEPTEA Testing the effects of snow cover on hatching success in an Australian alpine grasshopper: By RACHEL SLATYER University of Melbourne, Australia [email protected] lpine environments Grasshoppers cover 3% of the Earth’s are dominant land area and contain a herbivores in disproportionately high Australia’s number of endemic mountain AA species, each adapted to regions and the the long periods of seasonal snow that alpine-endemic characterise these regions (Körner “chameleon 2003). Snow forms a critical compo- grasshopper”, nent of the ecology of high mountain Kosciuscola regions, providing a thermally stable tristis, is the environment where temperatures typi- most abundant and widespread by less than 2°C over the course of grasshopper the winter (Körner 2003). This space above the winter - is an important winter refuge for snowline. This turbed. mountain fauna – both those that are species lays eggs either experimental or control plots. active underneath the snow layer and that overwinter in diapause, under the Experimental plots were kept free of those that overwinter in a dormant or snow. The goal of this study was to snow throughout the winter, while inactive state. examine the effects of reduced winter control plots were left to accumulate At a global scale, substantial snow on the hatching success of these snow naturally (Fig. 1). Temperature changes in mountain snow cover have eggs. The project was carried out loggers were also installed in each site occurred over the last 50 years, with over two years, at two locations – Mt to monitor conditions throughout the the depth and extent of the snowpack Stirling, Victoria (1,700 m.a.s.l) in winter. declining in most mountain regions 2013 and the Snowy Mountains, New (Brown & Mote 2009; Stewart 2009). South Wales (1800 m.a.s.l) in 2014. experiment that worked really well! Loss of this insulating snow layer will Removing the insulating snow layer mean that underlying communities are during the peak laying season in late dramatically increased temperature exposed to colder soil temperatures, March. The pods were then placed an increase in freeze-thaw cycles into individual mesh cages and sub- exposure to cold extremes (absolute merged 1 cm below the soil surface in minimum: 0.1°C vs -4.8°C) and (Körner 2003). Despite this, only two studies (both from the Rocky Moun- tains in Colorado) have directly tested the effects of reduced snow cover on overwintering insects. In Australia, snow seasonally covers only 12,500 km2. Spring snow depth has declined by 40% over the last 40 years (Nicholls 2005) and the extent of snow cover is predicted to de- cline by 20-85% by 2050 (relative to 1990; Hennessey et al. 2007). In this context, understanding how over- wintering species might respond to a changing snowpack is urgent. Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 13 METALEPTEA the frequency of freeze-thaw cycles aforementioned wildlife issues) but (0% days vs 46%). These effects are are yet to hatch. The next step for the shown for one pair of sites in Fig. 2. project is to try and induce hatch- - Unfortunately, the most excit- ing. Very little is known about the ing part of the experiment – how an diapause of K. tristis eggs, however, so any ideas or suggestions are most Berlin. development and survival of K. tristis welcome. climate change and the Australian snow season. Australian Meteorological Maga- results as of yet. In 2013, a ‘wildlife References incident’ meant that most egg pods were lost prior to data on hatching success being recorded. The egg pods cover to a changing climate. Journal of from 2014 were removed from the Climate, 22, 2124-2145. 94. Investigating the distribution of the IUCN Red Listed katydid species in South Africa By AILEEN THOMPSON Stellenbosch University South Africa lobal biodiversity is tant at a global centred in 34 biodiver- scale, but it can sity hotspots. Charac- be argued that teristically, these are it is essential in areas of high endemism a megadiverse GG that are facing consid- country, such as South Africa. loss. Although they only cover 2% One way in of the earth’s surface, biodiversity which the dis- hotspots contain up to 50% of all tribution of bio- plant species and 42% of terrestrial diversity can be vertebrate species. However, their ef- investigated is to - look at regional sects in particular, remains unknown. species rich- South Africa is one of few coun- ness. A further tries that can be considered as mega- step along is to Africa diverse, being home to not just one include species biodiversity hotspot but rather three, species has been assessed according namely: the Cape Floristic Region, assessments. In South Africa, there to its IUCN Red List status, distribu- the Succulent Karoo and the Ma- currently exists a rapid assessment tion range and sensitivity to habitat putaland Pondoland Albany hotspots change and allocated a score between (Fig. 1). Mapping and understanding 0 and 9. This allows mangers to as- the distribution of diversity is impor- indicators of habitat quality (Simaika Table 1. Showing how mobility and trophic level were assessed

0 Flighted Species 0 Omnivorous 1 1 2 Flightless Species 2 3

Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 14 METALEPTEA Table 2. The Katydid Scoring System, showing how each category was assessed and scored. SA = South Africa, sA = southern Africa.

0 LC 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 - 2 2 2 or widespread in sA but marginal and very rare in SA 2 3 3 3 1 or 2 provinces 3 4 - 5 sess the quality of riparian habitats will therefore score a value of 9 (e.g. boundaries of the Succulent Karoo by simply identifying each dragon- the Cave Katydid, Cedarbergeniana hotspot (Fig. 2A). Secondly, the aver- imperfecta Naskrecki). While on the age KSS values for the 9 terrestrial species scores together to get a DBI other hand, a Least Concern, wide- biomes of South Africa were calcu- value for the area. This allows for the spread and highly mobile polypha- lated, although here the scale was too comparison of multiple areas as well gous species will score a value of 0 large for any real distribution patterns as to track changes in habitat quality (e.g. the Robust Conehead Katydid, within one area over time. Ruspolia ampla (Walker)). This the average KSS scores for the 44 As of December 2014, 129 katydid system ensures that vastly different bioregions were calculated (Mucina (Orthoptera: ) species species are directly comparable. & Rutherford 2006). Drakensberg found in South Africa were assessed In order to determine where pos- Grasslands and Cape Floristic Region according to the IUCN Red List sible katydid hotspots occur in South criteria and assigned a threat status. Africa, all the GPS coordinates avail- it was the West Coast of the Succulent As katydids are close relatives of able in the MANTIS database were grasshoppers, known indicators for mapped, in GIS, onto a map of South containing the species that required grassland condition, it is believed that Africa. Firstly, a grid consisting of the most conservation attention (Fig. katydids possess the ability to be used 1o cells was drawn and the average 2C). as an indicator species within a rapid KSS per grid cell was calculated. This Consistently, the areas of interest assessment method. Thus the Katydid highlighted a few areas of interest: the lay within the Succulent Karoo and Species Score (KSS) was developed. grasslands of the Drakensberg Moun- Cape Floristic Region hotspots, point- The KSS is based on criteria very tains, as well as along the northern ing to katydid assemblages within similar to that of the DBI: threat sta- reaches of the West Coast, within the these areas that contain threatened tus, distribution and life history traits. Drawing exclusively on the MANTIS database constructed and maintained by Piotr Naskrecki, species distribu- tions were determined and, with the help of expert knowledge, each spe- cies was assessed with regards to its the DBI, each of the three categories within the KSS was assigned a value between 0 and 3, preventing the score being biased towards a particular bioregions in South Africa. category (Table 2). To illustrate how the KSS works, a Critically Endangered endemic spe- on a single host plant for survival

Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 15 METALEPTEA and endemic species with specialized not just as a method to determine the life history requirements. Interestingly rather than large geographic regions location of katydid hotspots. enough, though, is the presence of a that were tested in this project. As it katydid hotspot in the Drakensberg currently stands, the KSS method has References Grasslands where 25% of all grass- shown itself to be a successful tool hopper species are endemic (Foord with which katydids species can be et al. 2002). This could possibly hold compared against each other and so Afromontane grasshopper assemblages : true for the katydid species within with adequate sampling of the South these areas as well and help to explain African katydids should be able to the presence of this katydid hotspot. be used in order to systematically Before we jump to any conclusions compare regions and hotspots of ka- - about the ability of katydids to be tydid diversity. If congruence is found used as an indicator group, we will between the KSS and other taxon have to determine if the KSS method distributions, it could be possible that An easy-to-use index of ecological integ- is representative of other taxa and fur- the KSS could be further developed ther tests will need to be conducted, into a Katydid Biotic index that could on smaller geographic scales, to see be used, as the DBI is, to determine whether the KSS is able to accurately the health of terrestrial habitats and Type diversity of Pyrgomorphidae By RICARDO MARIÑO-PÉREZ Department of Entomology Texas A&M University [email protected]

ommonly known as the them belong to the order Orthoptera. gaudy grasshoppers, the This high number is due to scientists, family Pyrgomorphidae such as Samuel H. Scudder (1837- currently consists of 1911), Lawrence Bruner (1856-1937), 477 valid species in 150 Joseph L. Hancock (1864-1922), CC genera. They are mainly James A.G. Rehn (1881-1965), Mor- distributed in the Old World, but there gan Hebard (1887-1946) and Daniel are some genera known from Mexico, Otte. Other orthopterists that have de- Central and South America and posited type material are D. Rentz, D. Australia as well. As part of the grant Pérez-Gelabert, P. Naskrecki, M.M. “Enhancing digital content for Pyr- Cigliano, K. McE. Kevan, and N.D. gomorphidae (Orthoptera: ) Jago among others. in the Orthoptera Species File” (PI Concerning Pyrgomorphidae, Hojun Song and Co-PI Ricardo there are types of 26 valid species Mariño-Pérez) funded by the Orthop- described by K. McE. Kevan and his tera Species File, I had the opportu- collaborators, who were the most nity to visit four museums in order to photograph type material and borrow the family. The type collection is non-type material for the creation of a rich in material from Tropical Asia synoptic collection. and especially from Mexico (in Fig. 1 you can appreciate some of them). A. , B. Prosphena scudderi Bolívar, 1884 (, Founded in 1812, ANSP contains C. more than 3.5 million specimens of Akbar, 1964 (D. Kevan, insects of which more than 11,000 E. Sphenarium rugosum Bruner, 1906 ( are primary types. Of those, 3,664 of Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 16 METALEPTEA

A. Dirsh, 1962 (B. Kuantania squamipennis Miller, 1935 (- sia; C. Uvarov, 1937 (D. Xenephias socotranus Kevan, 1973 (E. Monistria concinna, F. Orthacris comorensis

from reading their books worked at the Anti-Locust Research is really a remarkable Centre, which was established at the experience. His pas- BMNH. There is also type material A. - sion for Orthoptera is an from J.C. Fabricius, F. Walker, C. vadorae Uvarov, 1952 (B. Stenoscepa fusiformis inspiration to continue, Brunner von Wattenwyl, K. McE. C. (Uvarov, unfortunately I don’t Kevan, N.D. Jago, M. Descamps, and D. , even possess a 1% of A.V. Gorochov among others. E. Uvarov, 1922 ( his drawing skills, but Concerning Pyrgomorphidae, there F. Uvarov, 1953 ( I am compensating for are types of 109 valid species. Walker, Apart from photographing the type that with photographs. A Uvarov and Kevan were the most material, I checked the worldwide special thanks is given to the collec- collection of Pyrgomorphidae in order tion manager Jason Weintraub who in scope, due to historical reasons as- kindly helped us in all the logistics of sociated with the United Kingdom the specimens. It took me some days to this trip. great majority of the material came carefully go through the 65 draw- from countries such as Kenya and ers one by one, but in the end I was South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, able to obtain specimens of the best India, Sri Lanka and Australia. Other quality of around 200 species, in a Formerly known as The British countries of Africa, China and Papua lot of cases, both male and female. Museum of Natural History, it was Guinea are represented as well. In In this travel, I was accompanied by founded in 1881. BMNH houses mil- Figs. 2 and 3 it is possible to appreci- Dr. Hojun Song and Derek A. Woller lions of insects for instance, 8 million ate such diversity. who kindly helped me to complete specimens of Lepidoptera, 3 million For each type specimen I took 3 this task. During the breaks it was a specimens of Hymenoptera and 2.5 photographs: dorsal and lateral views pleasure to have some lunches with million specimens of Diptera. For Co- and labels (Fig. 4), for the case of Dr. Otte and on the last day we had a leoptera it has type material of almost BMNH a number associated with dinner to celebrate his wife’s birthday. 100,000 species. Concerning orthop- the specimen was added to the label It was an honor to listen to endless teroids, it houses 785,000 specimens pictures. Additionally, a scale was in 4,639 drawers with 5,886 speci- positioned next to both lateral and Otte around the world. I remembered mens as primary types. The Orthop- dorsal pictures. As you can see the the way he referred to the leg position tera collection comprises 378,000 specimen is the holotype of Petasida of mounted grasshoppers in different specimens with 4,127 of those being ephippigera and there is an interest- museums around the globe. Sharing primary types. These numbers are ing story behind this specimen. Key the table with the people you know explained by the presence of Sir Boris (1969) explained in detail why this P. Uvarov and Vitaly M. Dirsh who specimen was the holotype and added Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 17 METALEPTEA left a copy of all the photographs for found useful was the way Dr. Bec- following the protocols of BMNH. For instance in the case of the Fig. 4,

identifying them without seeing the images themselves. I realized the utility of this system and since then I has the advantage when I am upload- ing all these pictures into Orthoptera Species File because it allows faster Petasida ephippigera uploading and an easy way to identify Labels. OSF. During the endless and enjoyable hours of pulling in and out drawers I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Judith Marshall, previous curator of the orthopteroids at BMNH, we talked for an hour and she was very enthusiastic about my work. She worked with Dr. Paolo Fontana from Italy on a book about mantids of the Euro-Mediterra- nean Area and it is precisely because of Dr. Fontana’s invitation to collect Petasida ephippigera Orthoptera in Mexico in 2007 that I started studying Orthoptera. the labels of holotype (red ringed) and helped me with the logistics of and the written explanation. In Fig. 5, this trip. He was always on time to three illustrations based on this speci- receive me early in the morning and men are provided. It is remarkable allowed me to stay as late as possible Founded in 1793, MNHN houses to be able to observe and photograph in order to complete my task. 20 million specimens of Coleoptera, a specimen that despite the fact of Also, Dr. Beccaloni provided me a 7 million specimens of Hemiptera, 3 being the holotype of such an amaz- database of Pyrgomorphidae types, million specimens of Lepidoptera, 1 ing grasshopper has also been in this which includes the drawer number. million specimens of Hymenoptera collection for 170 years and has been This information saved me precious and 950,000 specimens of orthopter- illustrated different times. hours considering the size of the oids orders the great majority being The curator of orthopteroids, Dr. collection. Dr. Beccaloni asked me Orthoptera and Blattodea. Concerning George Beccaloni kindly provided me to add a number label to each type Orthoptera, 2,131 primary types are access to the collection, a workspace specimen and at the end of my visit I reported. The researchers associated Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 18 METALEPTEA 6, a glimpse of Madagascar types is presented. Of special mention is the genus Caprorhinus from Madagascar, with primary type material of 23 out of 28 species deposited at MNHN and for the great majority of species the type series consists of dozens of paratypes of both sexes. The curator of the Caelifera section, Simon Poulain, kindly helped me by sorting out all the types prior to my arrival which saved me hours. As in BMNH, Simon Poulain provided an extra label with a number for each specimen in order to be included in the label photographs (Figs. 7 and museum for database purposes and will save time for future references. Also as in BMNH I present here two A. Pseudosphena dispar B. C. Dirsh, 1963 ( case is the lectotype of Dictyophorus D. Caprorhinus fotadrevensis E. Dirsh, 1963 (F. Kevan, 1968 (G. griseus griseus (Fig. 7) and the il- Dirsh, 1963 ( lustration of the same specimen in the original work (Reiche & Fairmaire, 1849) (Fig. 8). I was shocked with the similarities between the photograph (Fig. 7C) and the drawing (Fig. 8). The details in colors and patterns are extraordinary; the diminutive hind wings are exquisitely illustrated. It is hard to believe that both im- ages are 165 years apart. The second case is the holotype of Chrotogonus homalodemus homalodemus (Fig. 9) Dic- and its illustration from the original tyophorus griseus griseus (as work (Blanchard, 1836) (Fig. 10). Petasia grisea Although not in the same detail as the previous one, the illustration is remarkably accurate and based on the ville, I. Bolívar and A. same specimen, but 178 years ago. Finot among others. For both species a lot of synonyms Concerning Pyrgo- exist (13 for D. g. griseus and 7 for morphidae, there are C. h. homalodemus) so it was impera- types of 72 valid spe- tive to have a photographic record for cies. The great major- further revisions. Dictyophorus griseus griseus ity were described by I really appreciated the hospitality (A. Lateral view; B. Labels; C. Dorsal view. Descamps and Win- of Simon Poulain at any given mo- trebert. Due to his- with these numbers are E, Blanchard, torical reasons the great in Mexico, Central and South Amer- L. Chopard, M. Descamps, C. Amédé- majority of Pyrgomorphidae types ica with Dr. Christiane Amédégnato. gnato, L. Desutter-Grandcolas and T. are from Madagascar, although some His memory for places and localities Robillard. There is also type material from Mexico, India and continental (especially the Mexican ones with of other authors such as J.G.A. Ser- Africa are present as well. In Fig. which I am familiar) was remarkable. Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 19 METALEPTEA

Chrotogonus (as Ommexecha A. Dorsal XXII, 4. view; B. Lateral view: C. Labels. I was astonished by his perfect Span- staecker, F.A.E. Karsch, K. Günther, Guinea (Deutsch-Neuguinea). There ish, which made a difference during W. Ramme. C. Bolívar and more is also material from other countries my stay (my French knowledge is recently A.V. Gorochov, S. Ingrisch of Africa, Mexico and particularly zero). I also want to thank Drs. Laure and C. Hemp among others. other parts of Malesia (Philippines, Desutter-Grandcolas, Tony Robillard, In the particular case of Pyrgomor- Indonesia). The great majority and Ranjana Jaiswara who kindly phidae, there is primary type material described by Karsch and Ramme. shared the table during their lunches of 49 species. For historical reasons In Figs. 11 and 12 some of the type in the museum cafeteria with me. the great majority of the material is diversity is presented. It was nice to see a museum alive, from Tanzania (part of Deutsch-Os- As in the previous two museums, where a lot of research is being done. trafrika), Cameroon and Congo (part in Fig. 13 I present the three pictures Also, I had the privilege to meet Dr. of Kamerun) and northern Papua New taken per specimen. For the case of all Roger Roy who is the oldest active Mantodea taxonomist. It was a plea- sure to show him some photographs of live mantids I had taken on recent trips to Southern Mexico. Dr. Roy those pictures and showed me very old books with descriptions and draw- ing of Neotropical mantids.

Established in 1810, ZMHB has more than 15 million specimens of insects. The orders Coleoptera (6 mil- lion) Lepidoptera (4 million), Hyme- noptera (2.2 million) and Diptera (1.3 million) account for the 90% of the A. (Klug, specimens. In the case of Orthoptera, B. Taphronota cacuminata Karsch, 1893 (C. Sphenarium there are 2,105 primary types. This mexicanum histrio Gerstaecker, 1884 (D. Atractomorpha angusta Karsch, 1888 number is due to descriptions of C. (E. F. - Brunner von Wattenwyl, A. Ger- G. Karsch, 1892 ( Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 20 METALEPTEA relationship. This species apart from being the type species of the genus is very special for me. As many of you know, some spe- cies of the genus Sphenarium are used as human food in Mexico and this one is the most common one. This species is also a plague in central and northern Mexico and due to its abundance it has been present in Sphenarium purpurascens purpura- the backyard of scensA. my parent’s house Labels; B. Dorsal view; C. Lateral view. since I was a kid. Even these days I still grab some A. of them to teach B. Loveridgacris impotens (Karsch, others how to dis- C. tinguish the male (D. Psednura pedestris, from the female E. (despite the fact F. Phyteumas purpurascens purpurascens ( that they always regurgitate on my the type material deposited at Ger- hands). I would man Museums, an extra label from have never imagined 20 years ago that DORSA was added. DORSA stands one day I would have in my hands the for “Deutsche Orthopterensammlun- primary type and even less that is at gen” (German Orthoptera Collections least 172 years old. in English). DORSA is a specimen- The curator of the Orthoptera sec- based database of Orthoptera col- tion, Dr. Michael Ohl, was very kind lections held in German Museums. and helped me with all the logistics involved in this visit. Sphenarium One important characteristic of this purpurascens purpurascens (as Sphenarium database is that is mutually linked In total for the four museums, 1,437 purpurascens with Orthoptera Species File so both photographs from 479 type specimens XXXI, 1,3. are complementary. Before this grant, were taken and are in the process of the only 86 available color images of being uploaded to OSF. Woller for taking all of the type pic- Pyrgomorphidae types were made by tures from ANSP. Dr. Hojun Song for Dr. Otte and DORSA. Acknowledgments his support through these years. In Fig. 14 two of the original illus- Orthoptera Species File for funding, trations of Sphenarium purpurascens the curators and researchers from purpurascens are shown. There is ANSP, BMNH, MNHN and ZMHB. strong evidence that those drawings Dr. Holger Braun for all his comments correspond to the lectotype (Fig. and suggestions related to edit entries 13). Kevan left a label indicating this and upload images to OSF. Derek A. Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 21 METALEPTEA Re-discovery of a species thought to possibly be extinct: Melanoplus foxi (Acrididae: Melanoplinae) By DEREK A. WOLLER ince 2006, JoVonn and I Henry Fox, M. foxi’s type locality Department of Entomology had each independently is Macon, Georgia and its habitat Texas A&M University [email protected] tried in vain over the has been described by its collectors JOVONN G. HILL - as being composed of longleaf pine Mississippi Entomological Museum (Pinus palustris) and scrubby under- Mississippi State University SS of Melanoplus foxi (Fig. growth, fairly typical for other Puer [email protected] 1), a member of the Melanoplinae Group members. However, JoVonn Puer Group from the U.S. state of and I had each been to the general the University of Michigan’s Museum Georgia. JoVonn was simply curious site as well as other sites in the region of Zoology’s Puer Group holdings about it because he had captured just pulled from specimen locality data (largely collected by Theodore H. about all other known brachypterous and mentions of the species in publi- Hubbell). These specimens were Melanoplus species from the state cations and found no trace of M. foxi, mainly collected by Hubbell and the only other brachypterous Melanoplus late Ted Cohn during June of 1953 he was having. I wanted the species species that belonged to different and 1956, respectively. Having more for a different reason: my research is groups. We surmised that this might recent specimens gave us some hope, focused on examining speciation in be because longleaf pine habitats have but even more exciting was that the the Puer Group, which is comprised largely disappeared from Georgia locality data from these specimens of 24 Melanoplus species distributed with the exception of southern parts of the state and plantations that are entries from both gentlemen revealed primarily Florida. The backbone of often kept free of undergrowth and exact property boundaries in an area my project is a molecular phylogeny from which pine needles are collected that I had looked in twice before and M. foxi was the one species that, frequently to be sold as mulch. Fur- (Spring and Fall of 2014). so far, I had been unable to acquire thermore, there are only 35 specimens With new data in hand, we set out to fresh tissue from. I even tried us- known from four U.S. museum col- look for M. foxi once more, this time ing museum material, but failed to lections with the most recent being - acquire any usable data. from September 3, 1937. ened because all of the sections of Described by Hebard in 1923 and Given the habitat degradation and property noted by Hubbell and Cohn named for its original collector, Dr. long period of time since its last col- have largely been either re-planted lection, JoVonn with different trees, destroyed, or and I were consid- simply allowed to grow out of con- ering the possibil- ity that M. foxi was our prize within the boundaries of extinct. However, Seminole State Park, in a sandhill- as the title of this like habitat, just outside of any of short piece indi- the areas in which Hubbell and Cohn cates, we managed found specimens and, hilariously, just around the corner from a site that I again in mid-May looked in the previous year. Over a of this year thanks length of time, we managed to capture to the additional a fair number of specimens (don’t discovery of 71 worry, many more eluded capture), specimens hiding all nymphs except for a single adult within the unde- termined Melano- identify the species. We are each pline specimens currently raising the nymphs in our Live photo of a male of that I borrowed labs and having much success. I will along with all of soon extract the DNA and add it to Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 22 METALEPTEA my study, something that I thought contributed articles. I would like to -Collecting techniques might not be possible. We are both thank all those who have contributed -Personal stories ecstatic that the site is a protected one, to this issue. I would also like to To publish in Metaleptea, please but obviously this species is having a thank our associate editor, Derek A. send articles, photographs, or any- harder time adapting to shifts in habi- Woller, for his continued assistance in thing related to orthopteroid insects tat unlike the majority of encountered the editorial process. to [email protected] [please note that melanopline species. Metaleptea is an excellent outlet this is my new email] with a subject The re-discovery of this species to communicate to our members line starting with [Metaleptea]. As took persistence, luck, and the as- around the world. There is no limit on for the format, a MS Word document sistance of invaluable specimen data, what we can publish: articles, sto- is preferred and images should be in reinforcing the need for museum ries, photos, artwork, etc. However, JPEG or TIFF format with a resolu- tion of at least 144 DPI. The next notebook data, when possible). With- following types of contributions for issue of Metaleptea will be published out these things, we may never have all future issues: in September 2015, so please send me found this species again, which would -Collecting travelogues content promptly. I look forward to not only have been a loss for science, -Museum visit travelogues hearing from you soon! but orthopteran biodiversity as well -Highlights of your peer-reviewed because M. foxi is quite unique mor- publications phologically. -Photography/collecting techniques

Rerefence species of the genus from President: Michael Samways, Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa. - [email protected] 34:260-262. President-Elect: Alexandre Latchininsky, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA. [email protected] Editorial Executive Director: David Hunter, Locust and Grasshopper Control, By HOJUN SONG 125 William Webb Drive, McKellar ACT 2617 Australia. Editor, Metaleptea [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer: Pamm Mihm, 2417 Fields South Drive, Champaign, IL 61822 his spring semester has USA. [email protected]. been a pretty busy one Managing Editor JOR: Sam Heads, Illinois Natural History Survey, for me. There were University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA. several major grant [email protected] proposal deadlines to Editorial Assistant JOR: Nancy Morris, Department of Biology, University TT meet and manuscripts to of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada. turn around, in the midst of trying to [email protected] Piotr Naskrecki, Museum of is slowly taking shape and hopefully Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. soon I will be able to do some actual [email protected] science! My two students, Derek and David C.F. Rentz, 19 Butler Dr., Kuranda, Ricardo, are adjusting well to the new Queensland, Australia. [email protected] school, which is good news. But, I am Editor Metaleptea: Hojun Song, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M also looking forward to having new University, College Station, TX, USA. [email protected] students in my lab. So, if you know Associate Editor Metaleptea: Derek A. Woller, Department of Entomology, any student who is interested in pur- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA. [email protected] suing graduate work, I’d be happy to María Marta Cigliano, División talk to you about some possibilities. Entomología, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de la Plata, As usual, this issue is full of inter- La Plata, Argentina. [email protected] esting articles. We have several grant The Ted Cohn Research Fund Manager: Michel Lecoq, CIRAD, France. reports, regional reports, and member- [email protected] Volume 35 (2) / May 2015 23