ISSN 2372-2517 (Online), ISSN 2372-2479 (Print) METALEPTEAMETALEPTEA THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ORTHOPTERISTS’ SOCIETY

* Table of Content is now clickable, which will President’s Message take you to a desired page. By MICHAEL SAMWAYS President rthoptera are among [1] PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE the most fascinating of all , and so it is [2] SOCIETY NEWS not surprising that we have a society dedi- [2] The 2014 Theodore J. Cohn O cated to them. While Research grants funded O [2] ISSN assigned to Metaleptea! they include the good, the bad and the ugly, they also include the beautiful. [3] REGIONAL REPORTS Among their good attributes is the fact that they can be important com- extinct by the early 1900s. [3] South and Central America by ponents of food webs in terrestrial Among the are some of MARCOS G. LHANO ecosystems. Through frass deposition the most fascinating of all insects. Do [5] East Europe - North and Central as well as through their cadavers upon Asia by MICHAEL G. SERGEEV have a look at the superb picture of death, Orthoptera species are impor- [6] Western Europe by FERNANDO the stunning Lichenenodraculus matti, tant recyclers of nutrients and this de- MONTEALEGRE-Z photographed by Luis Salagaje, on position can sometimes be substantial. [7] Japan by KAORI TSURUI the front cover of the latest Journal The brown locust of southern Africa, of Orthoptera Research (Vol. 22[2]). for example, was estimated in 1984/5 [8] OS GRANT REPORTS Crypsis can indeed be beautiful! to have deposited 2.26 million tonnes Perhaps not so cryptic is the amazing of frass, representing 14,700 tonnes [8] Dual-Purpose Armaments in purple, pink, yellow, black and green Pristoceuthophilus of nitrogen. Interestingly, had this ni- Pardalota reimeri photographed by Camel Crickets by LAUREN CONROY trogen been tied up in sheep faeces, it the Orthopterist Society’s webmas- [9] Vibrational Communication in would not have been nearly so readily ter and master photographer Piotr the New Zealand Cook Strait Giant available to plants as through locust Naskrecki in Mozambique. Piotr has Weta (Deinacrida rugosa) by frass because the sheep faeces simply ASHLEY P. SCHMIDT described this species as the ‘Holy dry out on the land surface. [12] Effect of anthropogenic noise Grail for katydid aficionados’, hav- Intriguingly, each land mass has its on the communication of ing not been seen (until now) since it one or, at most, a few, species that Oecanthus tree crickets by LAUREL was described in 1911. Do also have swarm to become outbreak species, B. SYMES & ROBIN A. COSTELLO a look at Piotr’s TheSmallerMajor- impacting on agriculture…why not ity blog (http://thesmallermajority. more species? The Guinness Book [13] CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE com/2014/02/18/mozambique-diary- of Records lists the Rocky Mountain pardalota/) for more! [13] Liladownsia fraile: the rest of locust (Melanoplus spretus) as the This is the advantage of being a the story by DEREK A. WOLLER greatest concentration of any member of the Orthopterists’ Society when it passed over Nebraska in the - it keeps you in touch with a whole [16] EDITORIAL U.S.A. on 15-25 August 1875 with world hidden in plain view… a swarm estimated to cover 514,374 km2 and containing 12.5 trillion indi- viduals weighing a total of 25 mil- lion tonnes. Saliently, for the current biodiversity crisis, this species was Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 1 METALEPTEA The 2014 Theodore J. Cohn Research Grants Funded By MICHEL LECOQ Chair, Theodore J. Cohn Research Fund Committee his year the Committee The following grants (in alphabeti- • Elizabeth Swanger (USA) - The received 15 grant appli- cal order) were made in amounts from role of juvenile hormone in female cations originating from USD $700 to $1,000 (for a total of responses to male sexual signals. eight countries (Algeria, USD $5,733): Argentina, Australia, Congratulations to all the successful TT Bolivia, China, France, • Marianna Anichini (Germany) - To applicants, and on behalf of the Com- Germany, United States). A lot of be “Pavarotti” in a crowded concert mittee, our best wishes for the full fascinating proposals were sent in hall? Song competition between bush success of their work. They will, of covering a good range of topics from males in natural choruses. course, have to present a short report faunistic and systematic to ecology, • Tom Chen (USA) - Sex or Death: on their results for our newsletter ethology, and physiology. Many Behavioral syndrome of a field cricket Metaleptea. groups of orthopteroids were repre- (Gryllus sp.) as a function for parasit- For candidates who have were not sented : Mantidae, , Gryl- oid avoidance. selected, I want to thank them for lidae, Pamphagidae, , etc. • Morgan DePerno (USA) - Vibration- their confidence in the Orthopter- Projects were submitted by under- al communication in the Mahoenui ists’ Society and for their efforts of graduate or graduate students as well giant weta (Deinacrida mahoenui). presentation and formulation of their as from a young postdoc and it was • Kristopher Keane (USA) - Raw research projects. Their work was also not easy to select the projects to be materials of sexual selection: Signal greatly appreciated by the Commit- funded. After a very carefull exami- variation in a rare, lekking cricket. tee and it is really encouraging to see nation, the Committee, comprised • Ricardo Mariño-Pérez (USA) - On such activity taking place across the of David Hunter (Australia), Battal the origin of the New World Pyrgo- world... unfortunately, our funds are Ciplak (Turkey), and myself, finally morphidae. limited and we had to choose. I invite decided to approve 6 proposals. them to submit further proposals at the next call (probably in early 2015).

ISSN assigned to Metaleptea By HOJUN SONG Editor, Metaleptea he International Standard is used in libraries in multiple ways, “When faced with the task of Serial Number (ISSN) including searching databases, iden- naming the Newsletter, the edi- is a unique identifica- tifying titles, ordering (especially in tors laboriously sought out some tion number for serials. electronic order systems), check-in, aspect of New World Acridology that Metaleptea has been and claiming of serials. For our mem- would be symbolic of the goals of our society. To these ends, the name continuously published bers, this means that by publishing TT Metaleptea was chosen from a host since 1978, but the journal has never in Metaleptea you can reach a much of suggestions. One species of the had a formal ISSN assigned until now. larger audience. For our Society, this genus Metaleptea is found distrib- I am pleased to inform our members is an important step forward. uted from Canada southward all the that Metaleptea now has its own ISSN Thinking about this new change way through Chile, encompassing number (2372-2517 for online ver- to our newsletter, I looked through a major portion of the New World. sion and 2372-2479 for print version, some of the older issues of Metalep- What better symbolism of the PAAS located on the upper-right corner of tea. From the very first issue of the and its unifying purpose than the the cover page). newsletter published in the summer of shared by all New World So, what are the benefits of the 1978, at that time of the Pan Ameri- Acridologists!” ISSN? According to the U.S. ISSN can Acridological Society (PAAS), I Center within the Library of Con- discovered how our newsletter came Now, 36 years later, the Society has gress, the ISSN results in accurate to be called Metaleptea, which I re- evolved into a global group, but the citing of serials by scholars, research- produce here. spirit of the founders still lives on. ers, abstracters, and librarians and it Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 2 METALEPTEA Regional Reports - What’s happening around the world?

Brazil”, by Dr. Carlos Frankl Sperber South and Central (UFV – MG) America 2. “Taxonomic descriptions in Orthop- tera: carry out the role to clear the way By MARCOS G. LHANO for future researchers”, by Dr. Francisco Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia (UFRB) de Assis Ganeo de Mello (UNESP – SP) Centro de Ciências Agrárias 3. “To inventory the diversity of grass- Ambientais e Biológicas (CCAAB) hoppers (Orthoptera, ): Bahia, Brazil where we are and where we want ast February, during the to go”, by Dr. Maria Kátia Matiotti da 30th Brazilian Congress of Costa (PUCRS – RS) Zoology, at the Pontifícia 4. “Unraveling the genital complex- Universidade Católica ity of ”, by Dr. Fernando Campos de Domenico (USP – SP) do Rio Grande do Sul, 5. “Chromosome evolution and ge- associated with the decomposition of the “5th Brazilian Sym- LL nomics in Orthoptera: a story told by pig carcass”, by Rodrigo Gonçalves- posium on Orthoptera” took place. molecular cytogenetics”, by Dr. Diogo Oliveira, Janyra Oliveira-Costa, Marina For this meeting the theme focused Cavalcanti Cabral de Mello (UNESP - de Oliveira Barros & Bruna de Carvalho on was “Brazilian Biota of Orthop- SP) Generoso tera – Challenges and Perspectives.” 6. “ of Brazil: diversity and 3. “Characterization of Biotopes and The symposium was organized by Dr. distribution”, by Dr. Juliana Chamorro analysis of composition of the species Edison Zefa (Universidade Federal de Rengifo (UFV - MG) of grasshoppers (Orthoptera: ) at Serra do Cipo, Minas Gerais, Brazil”, Pelotas) and Dr. Maria Kátia Matiotti 7. “Distribution and abundance of by Bruno R. Terra, Marco Antonio A. da Costa (Pontifícia Universidade grasshoppers in Rupestrian Fields in Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brazil”, by Carneiro & Maria Kátia Matiotti da Católica do Rio Grande do Sul), and Dr. Bruno Rodrigues Terra (UFOP – MG) Costa they made a successful and important 8. “Bioacoustics of crickets: state of the 4. “Chromosomes of two species of impact upon our scientific commu- art in Brazil”, by MSc. Luciano de Pinho Gomphocerinae grasshoppers (Orthop- nity. The symposium was organized Martins (INPA - AM) tera, Acrididae) from Chapada Dia- to engage speakers who discussed 9. “Evolution and Ecology of Orthop- mantina, Bahia”, by Edison Zefa, Maria interrelated themes and updated data tera: technical and theoretical chal- Kátia Matiotti da Costa, Anelise F. e regarding the different aspects of the lenges”, by Dr. Karla S. C. Yotoko (UFV Silva, Paulo Roberto Boeira Fuculo Jr., biology of Orthoptera, especially – MG) Giovanna Boff Padilha, Marcelo Ribeiro Pereira, Darlan Rutz Redü & Luciano de , ecology, cytogenetics, Pinho Martins During the same Congress, Dr. molecular biology, and bioacoustics. 5. “Cladistic analysis of the phylo- The main objective was to encourage Márcio Bolfarini (UNESP/Botucatu, genetic relationships of the family the advancement of scientific knowl- SP) presented the symposium: “Cave Ommexechidae grasshoppers (Insecta, edge about Neotropical orthopterans Crickets: unclear studies” as part of Orthoptera, Caelifera)”, by Fernando through the exchange of experiences, the symposium “Subterranean Biol- Campos de Domenico integration between research groups, ogy - the taxonomic impediment and 6. “Comparative morphology of the and an increase in inter-institutional proposed strategies for conservation phallus of katydids (Insecta: Or- relations. The meeting also demon- of a hidden diversity.” thoptera: Tettigoniidae)”, by Juliana strated the potential for further re- Also important were the presented Chamorro Rengifo & Cristiano Lopes- Andrade search in Orthoptera highlighting the posters because they assist in demon- 7. “Effects of altitude, vegetation and strating the importance of this event great diversity of species that occur in substrate on the distribution and abun- different biomes and attracting new and the growth of the Neotropical dance of grasshoppers (Orthoptera: researchers to the group. Orthopterology (original titles in Caelifera) in the Serra do Cipó, Minas Over three days, the following top- Portuguese): Gerais, Brazil”, by Bruno R. Terra, ics (original titles in Portuguese) were Marco Antonio A. Carneiro & Maria presented: 1. “A new species of the cricket genus Kátia Matiotti da Costa Eneoptera Burmeister, 1838 (Orthop- 8. “First record of Lerneca ornata 1. “Brazilian Biota of Orthoptera tera, Grylloidea, Eneopterinae) from (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Luzarinae) for project: general features and integra- Bahia”, by Luciano de P. Martins, Ga- Brazil and description of the calling tion plan for the research network in briel Lobregat de Oliveira & Edison Zefa song”, by Lúciene Gimaque da Silva, 2. “Analysis of the Orthoptera fauna Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 3 METALEPTEA Luciano de Pinho Martins & Augusto tus Matiotti da Costa & Silva Carvalho, Atlantic Forest”, by Gabriel Lobregat Loureiro Henriques 2006 (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Om- de Oliveira, Luciano de Pinho Martins, 9. “First record of X1X20 sex deter- matolampidinae)”, by Paulo Roberto Edison Zefa & Carlos Frankl Sperber mination mechanism in Gryllidae Boeira Fuculo Junior, Maria Kátia 25. “Taxonomical and functional re- (Orthoptera, Grylloidea)”, by Giovanna Matiotti da Costa, Anelise F. e Silva, sponses of grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Boff Padilha, Luciano de Pinho Martins, Giovanna Boff Padilha, Darlan Rutz Caelifera) to the fire in the Southern Anelise Fernandes e Silva, Darlan Rutz Redü, Marcelo Ribeiro Pereira, Luciano Grasslands”, by Claire Pauline Röpke Redü & Edison Zefa de Pinho Martins & Edison Zefa Ferrando, Luciana Regina Podgaiski, 10. “How to preserve samples of crick- 18. “Morphology of phallic sclerites Maria Kátia Matiotti da Costa & Milton ets for studies of stable isotopes of car- of two sympatric species of crickets of de Souza Mendonça Jr. bon and nitrogen?”, by Fabiene Maria the genus Miogryllus Saussure, 1877 26. “The assemblage structure of de Jesus, Marcelo Ribeiro Pereira, Cas- (Orthoptera, Gryllidae)”, by Emily Costa grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Acridoidea) siano Sousa Rosa, Marcelo Zacharias Silveira, Luciano de Pinho Martins, in an altitudinal gradient in rupestrian Moreira & Carlos Frankl Sperber Darlan Rutz Redü, Rosiele de Fátima fields”, by Felipe Donateli Gatti, Carlos 11. “Karyotype and mechanism of sex Cabreira Monteiro, José Eduardo Henrique M. Menezes, Marco Antonio determination of a species of cricket Figueiredo Dornelles & Edison Zefa A. Carneiro & Maria Kátia Matiotti da Diatrypa Saussure, 1874 (Orthoptera, 19. “Morphology of the spermatozoids Costa Grylloidea, Podoscirtinae)”, by Anelise of Melanotes Desutter-Grandcolas, 27. “The curatorship of Orthoptera Fernandes e Silva, Darlan Rutz Redü, 1993 (Orthoptera, Grylloidea, Phalan- (Insecta) of the collection Prof. José Luciano de P. Martins & Edison Zefa gopsidae, Luzarinae)”, by Maria Luiza Alfredo Pinheiro Dutra”, by André Fon- 12. “Karyotypes of two species of Fernandes, Marcelo Ribeiro Pereira, seca Antunes & Daniela Maeda Takiya crickets of the tribe Phylloscyrtini (Or- Marcelo Silva Barcellos, José Lino-Neto, 28. “Three new species of Brasilodon- thoptera, Gryllidae)”, by Paulo Roberto Carlos Frankl Sperber & José Eduardo tus de Mello, 1992, from the Atlantic Boeira Fuculo Junior, Luciano de Pinho Serrão Forest (Gryllidae, Landrevinae)”, by Lu- Martins, Anelise F. e Silva, Giovanna 20. “Morphometry of the spermatozo- cas Denadai de Campos, Marcio Perez Boff Padilha & Edison Zefa ids of Mellopsis Mews & Sperber, 2010 Bolfarini & Francisco de Assis Ganeo 13. “Marking crickets (Orthoptera, (Orthoptera, Grylloidea, Phalangopsi- de Mello Grylloidea) for ecological studies”, by dae, Luzarinae): new evidence for the 29. “Two new species of the cricket Fabiene Maria de Jesus, Enio Henrique creation of a genus from M. zefai”, by genus Hygronemobius Hebard, 1913 Viana Araújo, Marcelo Ribeiro Pereira, Maria Luiza Fernandes, Marcelo Ri- (Orthoptera: Grylloidea: Nemobiinae) Cassiano Sousa Rosa & Carlos Frankl beiro Pereira, Marcelo Silva Barcellos, from Central Amazon”, by Luciano de Sperber José Lino-Neto, Carlos Frankl Sperber P. Martins, Marcelo R. Pereira, Lúciene 14. “Meiotic chromosomes and sex & José Eduardo Serrão Gimaque da Silva, Augusto L. Hen- determination mechanism of three 21. “New genus of Ommatolampidinae riques & Edison Zefa species of Ommatolampidinae grass- (Orthoptera, Acridoidea, hoppers (Orthoptera, Acrididae)”, by Acrididae) from the Atlantic Forest of At the main congress, the Brazilian Anelise Fernandes e Silva, Maria Kátia northeastern Brazil, with chromosome Society of Zoology announced the Matiotti da Costa, Paulo Roberto Boei- supplement”, by Maria Kátia Matiotti winner of the “Rodolpho von Ihering ra Fuculo Jr., Giovanna Boff Padilha, da Costa, Anelise F. e Silva, Marcelo Marcelo Ribeiro Pereira, Darlan Rutz Ribeiro Pereira, Darlan Rutz Redü, Lu- Award” for the best Brazilian Ph.D. Redü, Luciano Martins & Edison Zefa ciano de Pinho Martins & Edison Zefa thesis in the field of Zoology, the de- 15. “Meiotic chromosomes of two 22. “Redescription of Argizala brasil- fense of which occurred in the period species of grasshoppers of the genus iensis (Orthoptera, Grylloidea, Tri- from November 1, 2011 to October Amblytropidia (Orthoptera, Acrididae, gonidiidae) including accounts of 31, 2013. This year’s winner was Dr. Gomphocerinae)”, by Giovanna Boff its diagnostic characters and Argi- Fernando Campos de Domenico, with Padilha, Maria Kátia Matiotti da Costa, zala relationship with other genera the thesis: “Phylogenetic study of the Anelise F. e Silva, Paulo Roberto Boeira of Neartic Nemobiinae”, by Marcelo family Ommexechidae (Orthoptera, Fuculo Jr. Darlan Rutz Redü, Marcelo Ribeiro Pereira, Maria Luiza Fernandes, Caelifera, Acridomorpha)” (Advisor: Ribeiro Pereira, Luciano de Pinho Mar- Luciano de P. Martins, Edison Zefa & Dr. Eliana Marques Cancello, Mu- tins & Edison Zefa Carlos Frankl Sperber 16. “Morphological analysis of five 23. “Reproductive behavior of the seum of Zoology, USP). Congratula- species of Diponthus Stål, 1866 (Or- cricket of shrub Cranistus colliurides tions! thoptera, Acridoidea, Romaleidae) and (Orthoptera, Gryllidae)”, by Elliott Also this year, Martina Eugenia new records for the Rio Grande do Sul Centeno de Oliveira, Luciano de Pinho Pocco got her Ph.D. degree in March state, Brazil”, by Maria Kátia Matiotti Martins, Gabriel Lobregat de Oliveira & from the Universidad Nacional de da Costa, Douglas da Rocha Sebben & Edison Zefa La Plata (Argentina), with the thesis: Gervásio Silva Carvalho 24. “Similarities in calling song affect “Neotropical Romaleini (Orthoptera: 17. “Morphology and cytogenetics of the temporal co-occurrence of species Acridoidea): biodiversity, phylogeny the grasshopper Caruaruacris bivitta- in an assemblage of crickets at the and biogeography” (Advisor: Dr. Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 4 METALEPTEA Maria Marta Cigliano). Addition- Recently announced by The Orthop- up the success of past ICO meet- ally, Daniela Santos Martins Silva teristis’ Society, the proposal to orga- ings, supplying the participants with received her MSc. Degree in Febru- nize the 12th International Congress interesting programming, memorable ary from the Universidade Federal do of Orthopterology was accepted discussions, and the Brazilian way Recôncavo da Bahia (Brazil) with the and Brazil will have the opportu- of receiving our visitors. It will be a dissertation: “Grasshoppers (Orthop- nity to host the meeting for the first pleasure to host the event here, so, tera: Acrididea) in conservation areas time. This will be a great opportunity dear fellow orthopterologists, wel- in the Central Corridor of the Atlantic to magnify and grow the scientific come to Brazil! Forest, Brazil” (Advisor: Dr. Marcos community of our region. Much care Gonçalves Lhano). and dedication will be taken to keep East Europe - North and Central Asia By MICHAEL G. SERGEEV Novosibirsk State University Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals Russia he first joint expedition of Chinese and Russian orthopterists was orga- nized in July, 2013. The altitudinal distribution of TT Orthoptera and Plecop- tera was studied on the northern mac- roslope of Eastern Tian Shan. Several endemics of this area (Euthystira xinyanensis, Eremitusacris xinjangen- sis) and the northern part of the Tian Shan Mts. (Montana tianshanica) were found. Outbreaks of the Migratory, Italian, and Moroccan locusts, and several The Italian locust (Calliptamus italicus) (solitarious male) is one of the most economically and ecologically other grasshopper species continued important species in the plain and mountain steppes and semi-deserts of Central Asia and south Russia. in different semi-arid and arid regions (Photo credit: M. G. Sergeev) of the former USSR. This resulted in some active discussions between acri- plant protection specialists were the U.S.A. have almost finished the dologists and plant protection special- involved in the FAO “Five-year editing of three books concerning the ists and managers during the 3rd All- Programme to improve national main pest species of this area, namely Russian Plant Protection Congress, and regional locust management in the Italian, Migratory, and Moroccan which was held in Saint-Petersburg in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA)” locusts. These books will be pub- December, 2013. Several acridologists officially launched in October, 2011 lished soon in Russian and later in from Russia and Kazakhstan charac- (http://www.fao.org/ag/locusts-CCA/ English. terized the population dynamics of en/index.html). In 2013, two special the locusts (especially the Italian one) meetings were organized, namely and grasshoppers and discussed some “Locust geographic information sys- possible approaches to manage their tem (GIS) workshop” and “Technical populations in different areas during workshop on locusts in Caucasus and outbreaks and between them. Several Central Asia (CCA)” (both in Novem- presentations were also devoted to ber in Tashkent, Uzbekistan). Besides some new opportunities of biological that, the group of acridologists from control of locust upsurges. Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russian Federa- Several applied acridologists and tion, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and

Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 5 METALEPTEA Table 1. Number of Orthopterists, in Western European countries, categorized by research field Western Europe and major interest.

Ecology, Genetics, Neurosciences By FERNANDO Country/Research Systematics, Management Behaviour & Molecular & Physiology & Bioacoustics Interest Taxonomy & Agriculture MONTEALEGRE-Z Conservation Evolution Biomechanics School of Life Sciences Austria 5 1 2 3 3 0 Riseholme Campus University of Lincoln Belgium 0 0 1 0 0 0 United Kingdom Croatia 0 0 2 0 0 0

s the new regional Czech Republic 0 0 1 0 0 0

representative of the France 6 7 10 2 4 3 society in Western Germany 3 5 15 10 8 1 Europe, I think that my first report should pres- Hungary 2 1 0 0 0 0 AA ent a general overview Italy 5 2 8 0 3 1 of the current situation in terms of the Netherlands 0 0 4 0 0 0 research in orthopteroid insects in this Slovakia 1 0 0 0 0 0 part of the Old World. I have ventured Spain 4 1 3 0 4 2 a search of member expertise and re- Switzerland 0 1 4 1 0 0 search activities using the OS member database as well as social networks United Kingdom 3 5 7 10 9 3 (e.g. Facebook) to track colleagues TOTAL 29 23 57 26 31 10 actively showing some research inter- interest in Orthoptera. Since the six of researchers working on categories est in orthopterans. In this search I categories do not exclude from each 1, 2, 4 and 5. Category 3 (System- have divided our fields of interest into other, a researcher might focus his/her atics and Taxonomy) shows that a six major categories as follows: 1) research across several fields, so the relatively large proportion (32%) of Ecology, Behavior & Conservation, analysis might overestimate the real researchers have an interest in these 2) Genetics, Molecular & Evolution, number of researchers currently work- two areas. However, as mentioned 3) Systematics and Taxonomy, 4) ing on specific areas. For instance, if above, some of these likely integrate Physiology, Neurophysiology, Bio- a researcher works on taxonomy but these two disciplines with others or mechanics, 5) Bioacoustics, and 6) also has an interest in physiology, s/ do taxonomy as a hobby. I could not Management/Agriculture. he was scored twice, one for each re- find a substantial amount of inputs for This report focuses on the num- spective category. In a similar manner category 6, which is in certain ways ber of individual researchers, rather the total number of researchers found peculiar as agriculture has traditional- than on research groups. Usually the might be compromised because the ly been a field of attention and held as individuals counted are the heads of students of most labs were, perhaps, important to the economy of different research labs, and I have also included not completely counted. Neverthe- countries in this region. independent workers with a particular less, these prelimi- An interesting idea would be to Ecology, Behaviour & Conservation Genetics, Molecular & Evolution nary results might carry out the same analysis in other Systematics, Taxonomy Neurosciences Physiology & Biomechanics reflect the current regions and compare the tendencies. Bioacoustics Management & Agriculture activity and inter- Of course, one would expect to find est of members and significant differences in research 6% 16% non-members of the trends across regions as research sup- society in Western port varies and is prioritized different- 18% Europe. ly across countries. A sharper resolu- The results of this tion analysis might tell us more about 13% preliminary search the specific fields of active research are shown in Table and the interests of our members, 15% 1 and Figure 1. as well as other research somehow Except for agricul- linked to the society. In this regards, it tural research, it will be interesting to know how many 32% can be said that in researchers actually focus on single Western Europe we and pure research fields compared to have a relatively how many carry out their research Figure. 1. Pie chart showing the proportion of Orthopterists in Western Eu- rope organized by research fields. balanced proportion across different fields, etc.

Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 6 METALEPTEA Japan By KAORI TSURUI Okinawa Prefectural Plant Protection Center Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus Ryukyu-Sankei Co., Ltd.

Self-introduction and present Figure 1. Color-marking polymorphism in the pygmy grasshopper Tetrix japonica works

am studying behavioral ecol- to understand more about the genetic ogy. My research interests background of the latitudinal cline in are defensive traits in grass- T. japonica in the future. hoppers, especially cryptic Autotomy in a rice grasshopper, coloration (camouflage) and yezoensis (Fig. 2), occurs only II autotomy (the ability to spon- in the hind limbs, which function in taneously self-amputate a limb or jumping, and never in the fore- or other appendage). I am also fascinated mid-legs. This limb amputation typi- with trade-offs between the benefits cally occurs as a specialized defensive of defensive traits and other fitness response to an attack from a predator and thereby enables the prey to escape components, such as mating success Figure 2. The rice grasshopper Oxya yezoensis and thermoregulation. from predation. Despite the benefits Species that are polymorphic in of escape, autotomized organisms References lose the body part and its associated [1] Tsurui K, Honma A, Nishida T. 2010. color patterns are particularly use- Camouflage effects of various colour-marking ful as model systems in camouflage function. I am currently studying the jumping behavior and performance of morphs against different backgrounds of mi- research because their discrete crohabitats in a polymorphic pygmy grasshop- variation is feasible for evaluat- one-leg-autotomized O. yezoensis not per Tetrix japonica. PLoS ONE, 5(7): e11446. ing camouflage effects of different only ecologically but also kinemati- [2] Tsurui K, Honma A, Nishida T. 2013. Size- dependent predation risk partly explains the body color-markings. Therefore, I cally and mechanically with robotics researchers. Our results suggest that sex-related marking polymorphism in the am studying a polymorphic pygmy sexually size-dimorphic pygmy grasshopper grasshopper, Tetrix japonica, that has O. yezoensis may alter their take- Tetrix japonica. Entomological Science, 16(2) various markings on the back (Fig. off elevation after limb autotomy to 136–144. [3] Tsurui K, Nishida T (2010) Latitudinal clines 1). We have demonstrated that the minimize the reduction in jumping distance [4]. To understand the physi- of the black-marking morph in a pygmy grass- different morphs are not equivalent Tetrix japonica cal mechanisms of one-leg-jumping, hopper (Orthoptera: Tetrigi- in the degree of crypsis, suggest- dae). Bull Osaka Mus Nat Hist 64: 19–24. (In ing that trade-offs exist between the kinetic analyses using a high-speed Japanese with English abstract). camouflage benefit of body coloura- camera are ongoing. [4] Tsurui K, Narita S, Iwatani Y, Honma A. on line. Change in take-off elevation angle after tion and other fitness components [1]. limb autotomy mitigates the reduction in In addition, an investigation of the jumping distance in rice grasshoppers Oxya relationship between the frequency yezoensis. Entomological Science. of morphs with black marking and latitude in T. japonica, based on the Editor’s Photo Picks specimens kept at the Osaka Museum of Natural History revealed a clear latitudinal cline in males, with greater proportion of the morphs with black marking in northern areas, except for Hokkaido populations. By contrast, almost all females were morphs with black marking [2]. This sex-linked marking polymorphism might be partly explained by size-dependent Nymphs of lineata (left) and S. ceratiola(right), two North American members of the grasshop- predation risk in the sexually size-di- per genus Schistocerca. (Photo credit: H. Song) morphic T. japonica [3]. I would like Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 7 METALEPTEA The Orthopterists’ Society Grant Reports Dual-Purpose Armaments in Pristoceuthophilus Camel Crickets By LAUREN CONROY California State University Northridge orced copulation is an alternative mating behav- ior in many taxa, where it is usually employed by small, poor-condition, or FF otherwise inferior males that have little chance of enticing a female to mate voluntarily (Clutton- Brock & Parker 1995). In vertebrates, males typically use larger body size, relative to females, to achieve forced copulation (McKinney et al. 1983). In insects, forced copulation is often fa- cilitated by specialized male clasping structures, such as the abdominal “gin Figure 1. Hind leg armaments in a P. marmoratus male. The femoral spines and tibial bend are indicated. trap” in sagebrush crickets (Sakaluk et al. 1995). However, in the camel female behavioral trials in three copulation was attempted in two cricket Pristoceuthophilus marmo- other species of Pristoceuthophilus species (P. ‘Huachuca summer’ and ratus (), males use (approximately twenty Pristoceu- P. ‘Mt. Pinos’) but was not success- hind leg weaponry, consisting of bent thophilus species have similar hind fully completed (i.e., a male grabbed tibiae and spines on enlarged femora leg morphology to P. marmoratus; T. a female with a hind leg, but she (Figure 1), not only to achieve forced Cohn, pers. comm.). These species escaped before the male could force copulation (Figure 2), but also to are officially undescribed, but were genital coupling to occur). However, fight with other males (Haley & Gray known to the late Pristoceuthophilus successful forced copulation occurs 2012). In both intra- and intersexual expert Ted Cohn. I collected P. ‘Hua- at extremely low rates in P. marmora- interactions, males attempt to pin their chuca summer’ from the Huachuca tus (observed in 4 out of 101 trials in opponent, or unwilling mate, against Mountains in Arizona in July 2013, another study; Conroy & Gray, under the spines on their hind femora. When P. ‘Madera’ from Madera Canyon in review), so it is likely that I did not subdued thusly, females are subjected Arizona in October 2013, and P. ‘Mt. perform enough trials in these three to forced copulation. Pinos’ from Mount Pinos in Cali- other species to see successful forced To the best of my knowledge, this fornia in July 2013. After collection, copulation (I performed ca. 20 male- is the first example of male weaponry individuals were brought to the lab male and 20 male-female trials for traits being used for both male-male for behavioral trials. Male-male trials each species). Therefore, I tentatively agonism and sexual coercion. The consisted of two males plus a female conclude that hind leg-facilitated novelty of such “dual-purpose” arma- as incentive for males to fight for, forced copulation occurs in at least ments prompted me to explore the while male-female trials consisted of two species of Pristoceuthophilus genus Pristoceuthophilus in order one male and one female. Behavioral other than P. marmoratus. to determine: (1) whether hind leg trials lasted three hours each and took The results of my study indicate that armaments are used for one or both place under red light to minimize light dual-purpose armaments, a novelty purposes in other morphologically disturbance. During trials, I recorded in sexual selection literature, may similar species, and (2) whether the whether fighting, attempted forced be widespread in the genus Pristo- fighting or coercive mating function copulation, or successful forced copu- ceuthophilus. Given that hind legs of hind leg weaponry might have lation took place. were used for male-male fighting arisen first. Male-male fighting with hind legs in all species for which trials were To accomplish these objectives, took place in all species, while forced performed, while sexual coercion I performed male-male and male- Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 8 METALEPTEA Figure 2. Voluntary and forced copulation in P. mar- of this uniquely dual-purpose male moratus. (A) In voluntary copulation, the female is mounted on top of the male; his hind legs do not weapon. touch her. (B) In forced copulation, the male grabs and subdues the female with one of his hind legs. References The female is on the ground, on her side, rather Clutton-Brock, T.H. & Parker, G.A. 1995. than on top of the male. Sexual coercion in animal societies. occurred at much lower rates and has Animal Behaviour 49: 1345-1365. only been conclusively demonstrated Gould, S.J. & Vrba, E.S. 1982. Exaptation in P. marmoratus, I assert that the - a missing term in the science of form. fighting function of hind leg weap- Paleobiology 8: 4-15. onry evolved first, and that hind leg Haley, E.L. & Gray, D.A. 2012. Mating behavior and dual-purpose armaments armaments were exapted for mating in a camel cricket. Ethology 118: 49-56. coercion secondarily (sensu Gould & McKinney, F., Derrickson, S.R. & Mineau, Vrba 1982). Determining where in the P. 1983. Forced copulation in waterfowl. evolutionary history of this genus this Behaviour 86: 250-294. exaptation occurred will require be- Sakaluk, S.K., Bangert, P.J., Eggert, A.K., havioral analysis of all twenty species Gack, C. & Swanson, L.V. 1995. The gin of Pristoceuthophilus with this hind trap as a device facilitating coercive mat- leg morphology, but my study laid the ing in sagebrush crickets. Proceedings of groundwork for further exploration the Royal Society B 261: 65-77. Vibrational Communication in the New Zealand Cook Strait Giant Weta (Deinacrida rugosa) By ASHLEY P. SCHMIDT Department of Biology Augustana College

tudies of communication in produce and transmit vibrational sig- the soil using tremulation. Here we orthopterans have led us to nals are variable and can include strid- show for the first time that the Cook understand that this diverse ulation, drumming, and tremulation Strait giant weta (Deinacrida rugosa) group of insects utilize a (Stratton and Uetz 1983; Zunic et al. uses tremulatory signals transmitted variety of mechanisms and 2008). Vibration itself is more prop- through the soil to produce substrate- SS modalities for information erly referred to as a substrate-borne borne signals, and that these signals transmission. However, unlike the disturbance, whether that substrate is are used primarily in inter-male ago- extensive catalog of studies focused a leaf, stem, soil, or spider web (Hill nistic interactions. on acoustic and chemical communica- 2008), and regardless of how it is The giant weta (genus Deinacrida ) tion, vibrational signaling in orthop- produced. Tremulation, the oscillation are a group of nocturnal, herbivorous, terans has until recently received little of the abdomen, either dorso-ventrally apterous Orthopteran insects belong- attention. Over the past twenty years or laterally through body vibrations, ing to the family a robust body of research has accu- can allow to send a variety (Field 2001; Fig. 1). Represent- mulated that has begun to unravel the of substrate-borne signals (De Luca ing some of the largest insects ever mystery that surrounds how insects and Morris 1998). These vibrational described (the mass of one female produce vibration, and how communi- signals are usually transmitted to the D. rugosa has been documented up cation through substrate-borne vibra- substrate through the legs and tend to 70 g), this genus of New Zealand tion has generally evolved (Hill 2001, to be low-frequency, narrow-ranged, endemics is thought to possess a 2008; Bradbury and Vehrencamp and often vary with body morphology vicariant origin, with eleven extant 2011). What we have learned from and the physical motion of the sender species (Morgan-Richards and Gibbs this growing body of literature is that (Drosopoulos and Claridge 2006; Hill 2001; Trewick and Morgan-Richards we have merely scratched the surface 2009). While previous studies have 2004). The Cook Strait giant weta, in regard to the biological prevalence described tremulation in arthropods Deinacrida rugosa, was historically of vibrational communication (Co- on surfaces such as leaves and stems found along a corridor between the croft and Rodriguez 2005), especially (Morris et al. 1994), no prior research North and South Islands of the New in the Orthoptera. has documented the transmission Zealand mainland. Currently listed Mechanisms that insects utilize to of vibrational signals on or through as highly endangered by the New

Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 9 METALEPTEA to a Marantz PMD-661 digital au- dio recorder, and we documented all interactions using a Sony high defini- tion video camera. In 2013, we conducted vibrational playback experiments. For these ex- periments we used a synthetic signal that was created, filtered, conditioned, and calibrated for spectral and tem- poral accuracy from a vibrational recording taken from a male D. ru- gosa the previous year. The synthetic signal was amplified and played back through an electromagnetic exciter coupled to the arena substrate (see De Luca and Morris 1998 for similar playback methods). Individuals in various pairing combinations were Figure 1. Male (right) Cook Strait giant weta (Deinacrida rugosa) courting a female (left). The vibrational placed in the center of the arena and signals produced by males are not used for courtship, but are used in inter-male contests. subjected to the vibrational playback Zealand Department of Conservation, Due to their nocturnal nature, Cook after a ten minute resting period. it is now restricted to a few protected Strait giant weta of both sexes were Responses to the vibrational playback island reserves from which introduced opportunistically hand-collected be- signal were documented again using mammalian predators have been tween the hours of 22:00-23:30 using both video and digital audio record- eradicated. While some studies have red spectrum headlamps to minimize ings. shown that some Deinacrida species disturbance. can produce an acoustic alarm signal For purposes of obtaining substrate- Results: (Field and Roberts 2003), the primary borne vibrational recordings in 2012, Vibrational signaling interactions mechanism of communication in an arena of proprietary construction were first detected betweenD. rugosa this terrestrial group of Orthopteran design was used. Intra- and inter- males while in the presence of a insects remains poorly understood. sexual pairings of Cook Strait giant female during our 2008 laboratory tri- From a small collection of live insects weta were placed in the arena center, als. This was confirmed in 2012 when transported to the University of To- then vibrational signals were recorded high-speed videography revealed ronto in 2008, we found preliminary to determine the social context of sig- that vibrations were being created by evidence for the use of vibrational naling. We recorded substrate-borne dorso-ventral tremulation. Recordings signaling in the species. Thus, in vibrational signals using a Polytec also revealed that when two males our study we sought to determine PDV-100 portable Doppler laser were in the presence of one female, the structure and function of these vibrometer sending digital signals a dueting contest between the two substrate-borne vibrational signals.

Methods: The study was conducted in January 2012 and 2013 on Matiu Island Scien- tific and Historic Reserve (-41.257°S, 174.865°E). Owned by New Zealand Maori Te Atiawa, Taranaki, Ngati Tama, and Ngati Ruanui Iwi, and managed by the New Zealand Depart- ment of Conservation, Matiu Island has been free of introduced mammali- an predators since the late 1980’s due to intensive eradication efforts. Thus, Figure 2. Oscillogram (top), spectrogram (center) and FFT (bottom) of a vibrational duetting bout in a pair a large population of the focal species of Deinacrida rugosa males. A vibrational duetting contest would typically result in one male abandoning can be found and collected at this site. courtship efforts and the winning male remaining in the presence of the female. Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 10 METALEPTEA males would typically arise, with al- show for the first ternating vibrational signals produced time that a species by the males. The tremulations ceased in the group uses when one male abandoned the contest substrate-borne and the winning male remained in the vibrational signals presence of the female (Fig. 2). in intraspecific Our analysis revealed that substrate- communication. borne vibrational signals occurred Our data show significantly more often in the male- that the highest male-female context than any other prevalence of social context (χ2 = 18.125, df = 3, p vibrational signal- < 0.001), with the males producing ing occurred when the vibrational signals (Fig. 3). a pair of males Playbacks were utilized to discrimi- were placed in nate between the two possible func- the presence of tions of the male’s substrate-borne a female. Males vibrational signal: aggression toward often engaged other males or courtship of a female. in a vibrational A binomial likelihood ratio test found duet, whereupon that males produced a vibrational Figure 3. Mosaic plot of vibrational occurrences in various social contexts in the one male would Cook Strait giant weta. Our study showed that vibrational signals are produced signal in response to playback sig- typically exit the significantly more often in a male-male-female social context. nificantly more often in a male-male- contest by fleeing. sion properties of the substrate. For female social context (χ2 = 18.073, df This provides preliminary evidence example, our work on an alpine weta = 3, p < 0.001). There were no occur- for the role of the signal in mediating species in January 2014 found that rences of male or female vibrational agonistic interactions between males D. connectens, a species that lives on response to the playback signal in any contesting for mates. The results from rock fragment in high altitude scree other social context. Videographic the playback experiments confirmed fields, does not use such vibrational analyses showed that both males and the function of the vibrational signal signals. The loss of substrate-borne females exhibited negative vibrotaxis as a means of mediating inter-male signals in this alpine species was in response to the playback signal, aggression. Because the males had also accompanied with much higher spending significantly less time than a vibrational response to the play- levels of aggression between males. expected in the region of the arena back in the male-male-female social This further supports our hypothesis associated with the playback stimulus context, but not in any other context, that vibrational signalling in giant (One-sample test, males; t = -14.32, we concluded that the male was using weta likely serves to mediate aggres- df = 18, p < 0.001; females; t = -2.95, the tremulatory signal as an inter-male sive interactions between males, by df = 18, p = 0.009). agonistic response rather than a court- allowing contestants to assess their ship signal. In addition, both males rival through non-contact signals, and Discussion: and females spent less time near the lower the high cost of direct physical The communication system of the playback stimulus than expected, pro- conflict. endemic New Zealand genus Deina- viding evidence for the signal func- crida has long remained a mystery. tioning as a an agonistic signal. Evolving in isolation for 80 million References Our findings provide the prelimi- Bradbury JW, Vehrencamp SL (2011) Prin- years on the New Zealand microcon- nary data for a more exhaustive study ciples of animal communication. Sun- tinent, the eleven extant member spe- that examines the fate of substrate- derland: Sinauer Associates, Inc. cies occupy a variety of niches from borne signals in a group thought to Cocroft RB, Rodriguez RL (2005) The sea level to the alpine zone (Gibbs have undergone ecological speciation behavioral ecology of vibrational 2006). The group’s wingless evolu- and adaptive radiation. Signals trans- communication. Bioscience 55: 323-334. tionary heritage has led to speculation mitted through the substrate are often De Luca PA, Morris GK (1998) Courtship that this species may utilize chemi- highly adapted to the transmission communication in meadow katydids: cal cues as a primary communica- environment in which they pass. For female preference for large male vibra- tions. Behaviour 135: 777-794. tion modality. While our study does animals that use vibrational signal- not address nor eliminate that as an Drosopoulos S, Claridge MF (2006) Insect ling, like the Cook Strait giant weta, sounds and communication: physiology, alternative explanation, here we char- the exploitation of new niches may behaviour, ecology, and evolution. Tay- acterize the tremulatory signals and then be constrained by the transmis- Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 11 METALEPTEA lor & Francis Group, LLC, Boca Raton. Hill PSM (2009) How do animals use sub- and reproductive isolation in wolf spi- Field LH (2001) The biology of wetas, king strate-borne vibrations as an informa- ders (Araneae: Lycosidae). Anim Behav crickets and their allies. CABI, New York. tion source?: A review. Naturwissen- 31: 164-172. Field LH, Roberts KL (2003) Novel use of schaften 96: 1355-1371. Trewick SA, Morgan-Richards M (2004) hair sensilla in acoustic stridulation by Morgan-Richards M, Gibbs GW (2001) A Phylogenetics of New Zealand’s tree, New Zealand giant wetas (Orthoptera: phylogenetic analysis of New Zealand giant and tusked weta (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae). Struct giant and tree weta (Orthoptera: Anos- Anostostomatidae): evidence from Dev 31: 287-296. tostomatidae: Deinacrida and Hemi- mitochondrial DNA. J Orthopt Res 13: Gibbs GW (2006) Ghosts of Gondwana: deina) using morphological and genetic 185-196. the history of life in New Zealand. Craig characters. Invertebr Taxon 15: 1-12. Zunic A, Cokl A, Doberlet MV, Millar JG Potton Publishing, Nelson. Morris GK, Mason AC, Wall P, Belwood JJ (2008) Communication with signals pro- Hill PSM (2001) Vibration and animal (1994) High ultrasonic and tremulation duced by abdominal vibration, tremula- communication: A review. Am Zool 41: signals in neotropical katydids (Orthop- tion, and percussion in Podisus maculiv- 1135-1142. tera: Tettigoniidae). J Zool (London) 233: entris (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Ann Hill PSM (2008) Vibrational communica- 129-163. Entomol Soc Am 101: 1169-1178. tion in animals. Harvard University Stratton GE, Uetz GW (1983) Communica- Press, Cambridge. tion via substratum-coupled stridulation Effect of anthropogenic noise on the communication of Oecanthus tree crickets By LAUREL B. SYMES & ROBIN A. COSTELLO Department of Biology Dartmouth College nterference from biotic and to communicate in the abiotic sources can obscure or presence of anthropo- shape communication channels genic interference. The in many types of organisms combined findings from (Gerhardt 2001; Seehausen examining male signals II et al. 2008; Maan et al. 2010; and female responses Amezquita et al. 2011). Anthropogen- suggest that tree crickets ic noise represents a recent but perva- will experience minimal sive addition to many environments, direct interference from with demonstrated effects on the road noise. However, the communication of many organisms effect of road noise on (Barber et al. 2010). To assess how trophic interactions (such road noise, a specific form of anthro- as ability to detect preda- pogenic noise, impacted the commu- tors or ability of preda- nication of tree crickets in the genus tors to detect singing Robin Costello collecting road noise recordings. Oecanthus, we measured the direct males) remains an open noise exposure for terrestrial organisms. effect of road noise on male calling question. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 25:180- as well as female phonotaxis. While 189. males were 30% less likely to initiate Costello, R. A., and L. B. Symes. Gerhardt H. 2001. Acoustic communica- calling in the presence of road noise, 2014. Effects of Anthropogenic Noise tion in two groups of closely related call features (amplitude, dominant on Male Signalling Behaviour and treefrogs. Advan. Study Behav. 30:99- frequency, and calling duration) were Female Phonotaxis in Oecanthus Tree 167. unchanged in the males that did call. Crickets. Animal Behaviour. In press. Maan M. E., O. Seehausen, and J. J. M. In addition, playback experiments Van Alphen. 2010. Female mating pref- demonstrated that female phonotaxis References erences and male coloration covary with was unaffected by the addition of high Amezquita A., S. Victoria Flechas, A. P. water transparency in a Lake Victoria cichlid fish. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 99:398- amplitude road noise. One possible Lima, H. Gasser, and W. Hoedl. 2011. 406. explanation for this finding is that Acoustic interference and recognition space within a complex assemblage of Seehausen O., G. Takimoto, D. Roy, and tree crickets have evolved to commu- dendrobatid frogs. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. J. Jokela. 2008. Speciation reversal and nicate in environments that are rich U. S. A. 108:17058-17063. biodiversity dynamics with hybridization with conspecific and heterospecific Barber J. R., K. R. Crooks, and K. M. in changing environments. Mol. Ecol. signals, making them well-adapted Fristrup. 2010. The costs of chronic 17:30-44.

Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 12 METALEPTEA Liladownsia fraile: the rest of the story By DEREK A. WOLLER Department of Biology University of Central Florida s some of you are al- bright and vibrant ready no doubt aware, colors, often charac- my colleagues (Paolo teristic of Mexican Fontana, Ricardo culture, and this new Mariño-Pérez, and Ho- species reflects that AA jun Song) and I recently well (Fig. 2). published a paper in Zootaxa, entitled: Due to its fantastic “Studies in Mexican Grasshoppers: colors and fairly large Liladownsia fraile, a new genus and size (Fig. 3), we were species of Dactylotini (Acrididae: astounded that no ) and an updated mo- one had yet described lecular phylogeny of Melanoplinae” this species on behalf (open access: http://www.mapress. of science when com/zootaxa/2014/f/zt03793p495. we, quite randomly, pdf). We are very proud of the paper, came across the especially since it contains a little of type locality back in this and a little of that from molecular 2011. In fact, I briefly evidence to alpha taxonomy to habitat touched on this tale and (possible) host plant descriptions. in my “Musings on All in all, it’s quite a robust work, in Mexico: A Mexican our opinion, but the thing that prob- Travelogue” article in ably stands out the most is the name Metaleptea 32(1). In a of the species. The genus name, for nutshell, Paolo, Ricar- those of you unfamiliar with her (as do, and Paola Tirello, I was originally), comes from Lila and I (Fig. 4) were on Downs (Fig. 1), a Mexican-American an expedition around singer who was born close to the type southern Mexico to Figure 2. Field photographs of both sexes of Liladownsia fraile from the locality in Oaxaca who promotes the collect Pyrgomorphi- type locality: A. Female. B. Male. (Photo credits: D.A. Woller & P. Fontana) cultural diversity of Mexico through dae species for Ricar- her music. She also enjoys wearing do’s Ph.D. project and how), parked on the faded road he had we were headed to San José del Pací- spotted, and we fanned out in search fico (highly recommended!) towards of…nothing…Minutes went by with a known species locality. To get to the not even a common hopper to be had town, you must drive up an extremely when SUDDENLY: “A very strange windy road through a pine forest and nymph! I have never seen before!”, as we neared our destination, Paolo Paolo exclaims excitedly. We all took looked out the window to the left, a look and remarked that the colors towards the dense forest, and saw a were quite vibrant and noted its fairly break in the brush where a crude road large size. With renewed energy, we had been made (Fig. 5). Now, if you went back to hunting in our own ways have never met Paolo, then let me say when I saw something move across that his instincts for finding orthopter- a plant near my waist. I bent down oids are quite impressive. I have seen for a closer look and, lo and behold, him head across a field to pick up a a fiery rainbow emerged into the sun phasmid on the other side. Yes, I am and we had captured our first adult! exaggerating slightly, but not much, I With renewed vigor, we all contin- Figure 1. Lila Downs as she appeared on the cover assure you. Anyway, he suddenly says of her 2011 album, Pecados y Milagros (Sins and ued the pursuit until we all emerged Miracles). “Stop the car. We need to check this victorious with at least one specimen habitat”, so I turned around (some- Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 13 METALEPTEA monk), so we have honored the lo- Then, when David Rentz saw our cal name for this grasshopper in the paper come through over at Zootaxa, specific epithet of the species name. he saw the photos and swore he knew I personally feel that it’s important to where some more specimens might acknowledge such connections wher- be curated, so he contacted a few ever possible. After all, more often institutions, one being the California than not, species are simply new to Academy of Sciences which he had science and not often to local peoples. worked in the seventies. However, the I mentioned earlier that we were curatorial staff at the Cal Academy incredulous that no one had yet (and all other museums) were unable described this species, but it turns out to find the specimens. I relayed this we were rather lucky because, in fact, story to Ricardo who then showed me it had been discovered previously in a note that accompanied the MNHN 1962, not far from the type locality. specimens that stated that they had We discovered this when Ricardo been borrowed from the Cal Acad- traveled to Paris, France during this emy 20 years prior, which means they past spring on a European tour to pho- are most likely the same ones David tograph type pyrgomorphid specimens saw! Presumably then, Christiane housed within various collections. Amédégnato took an interest in them While there, on a whim, he showed sometime after David’s trip there, bor- the newly-made plates of L. fraile rowed them, and most likely, did not to Simon Poulain, the curator of the have the time (where does it go?!?)

Figure 3. Photographs of preserved specimens of Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle for a formal description. We are both sexes. A. Male; holotype; lighter color form. (MNHN), and he quickly opened now immensely curious if any other B. Male; paratype; darker color form. C. Female; some drawers and located a small box specimens of this beautiful species are paratype. (Photo credit: D.A. Woller) containing two specimens (male and hiding in other collections out there. apiece. A hard-fought battle through female) of the species. A note ac- If you find some, let us know because waist-high weeds, spiny plants, dense companied them and said something more phenological data would be needles, and the unfortunate trash that along the lines of: “I think this is new, especially useful. came with being on the side of a main let’s describe it”. These specimens are As I wrote this piece, yet another thoroughfare, but well worth it! included in our paper as paratypes. piece of the puzzle revealed itself. We traveled into the town next and struck up a conversation with a local man while looking around for more localities. We showed him the speci- mens and asked him what he knew about this particular grasshopper. If you have never spoken with locals while collecting, you really should be- cause they are sometimes filled with relevant information (and some can catch things really, really well) as was the case here. The man took a look and casually said something along the lines of (in Spanish, of course): “Oh, that? We call that the friar. I see those around here sometimes”. Naturally, we were a bit taken aback because we were so thrilled and he was so serene, but, really, if you owned a dairy farm, you’d act the same if city tourists came to see the cows and acted as if Figure 4. The intrepid explorers at the type locality holding Salvia elegans (pineapple sage), the potential host plant for Liladownsia fraile. Left to right: Paola Tirello, Paolo Fontana, Ricardo Mariño-Pérez, and Derek they were exotic. For the non-Spanish A. Woller. (Photo credit: D.A. Woller) speakers, “fraile” means friar (or Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 14 METALEPTEA someone set up a EntomologyToday’s page views were symposium and their highest ever (in the thousands) let’s do it!), there and Lila’s fans began re-posting the are benefits as article all over the world. They also well. The most left a plethora of supportive and obvious one is appreciative comments about our recognition of our naming the hopper after her as well as hard work by a noting what a fitting homage it is. much larger audi- Another benefit of naming a species

Figure 5. Photo of the type locality habitat. (Photo credit: Google Maps’ Street ence. The science after a celebrity?: the possible chan- View) crowd is wonder- neling of such goodwill and apprecia- ful, of course, but tion for a type of creature that is nor- I was suddenly curious as to how to show the public mally ignored (and even reviled) into the specimens came to be at the Cal what we do and why on a larger stage a more conservation-oriented mindset. Academy in the first place, so I went is often much simpler than explaining Towards that end, this species was to our paper and looked at the collec- it to a few interested parties, and the chosen to be included in the upcom- tor: J. Stuart Rowley. A preliminary portal, in this case, was Lila Downs. ing Red List of threatened species google search turned up nothing of in- We contacted her well before publish- put out by the International Union for terest, so I put in the name, plus “Or- ing the paper to see what she thought Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and thoptera” and, for whatever reason, and she loved the idea, especially has been classified as “endangered”. this revealed a French Wikipedia page since it made sense to her as well (ie. Axel Hochkirch of the Grasshopper (that I translated into English using the Oaxaca and color connections). Specialist Group of the IUCN has google) with some interesting infor- Once it was finally published, she was been searching for candidate species mation, but nothing about Orthoptera ecstatic, but also on tour (and still is), to be included on the forthcoming list on it, bizarrely. Still, despite it being a so a meet-and-greet is currently out and Paolo suggested that we should wiki entry, it makes some sense. The of the question. That was publicity submit L. fraile since it is only known “J.” stands for John and he was an plan A, so we went with B and had from a relatively small region in American ornithologist born in 1907 an article written up about us and the Oaxaca and the known populations in California who did much good for paper on the University of Central appear to be quite diminutive for the Cal Academy until 1933 when Florida’s (where the Song Lab is reasons unknown. We strongly urge he set out on his own to raise birds located) website using Lila Downs as others to head out there and look for in Baja California. This is relevant the selling point. more. Again, any further information because in 1958 he began leading That was the spark that lit the week- you can add to our general knowledge expeditions to Oaxaca to collect birds. long fuse and the article rapidly un- of their behavior, habits, diet, etc. Thus, it must have been on one of derwent a series of permutations and would be very interesting to know. those trips that he encountered what started popping up all over the web, Lastly, one of the web comments is now known as Lila Downs’ friar so much so, that a google inquiry into regarding one of the posted articles grasshopper. Shortly after, in 1968 “Liladownsia fraile” while I write revealed yet another potential benefit (only 6 years after his hopper discov- this brings back 2,000 results (and of getting the word out to the public: ery), he met his end all too early from constantly growing!), which is truly potentially locating new localities. A an undescribed accident in the Sierra astounding since it was obviously fellow from Mexico swears he saw a Madre del Sur, a mountain range in zero prior to publication. To be fair, few specimens of L. fraile when he Oaxaca and the home of this new most of those are probably re-posts of was younger near his home in Oaxa- species. Eerie. All in all, a fascinating the original article or mentions of the ca, but about a 100 miles northwest. story, I think, and we have a lover of name in comment sections of sites, Perhaps the guy is misremembering, a major enemy of our beloved orthop- but it is still remarkable. Then, later but, still, it is worth checking out if terans to thank for it, in a manner of that same week, things really took off a field expedition is going near that speaking. when EntomologyToday, a news site particular area. And on that note, as I’d like to close out this essay by run by the Entomological Society of Paul Harvey used to say, “and now mentioning that, although the merits America posted their version of the you know the rest of the story”. Until of naming a species after a pop cul- original article, which was picked up next time! ture icon (multiple Grammy-winning, by Lila Downs herself and re-posted in this case) are debatable (and the on her Facebook and Twitter sites. debate is definitely worth having – After that, it was reported to me that Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 15 METALEPTEA • Interesting observations for the format, a MS Word document Editorial • Highlights of your peer-reviewed is preferred and images should be in By HOJUN SONG publications JPEG or TIFF format with a resolu- Editor, Metaleptea • Wish lists tion of at least 144 DPI. The next t was five years ago when I • Photography techniques issue of Metaleptea will be published took this Editor position of • Collecting techniques in September, 2014, so please send Metaleptea. The newsletter • Personal stories me content promptly. Also, please started in 1978 and, throughout do not hesitate to send me feedback its 36 years of history, it has I would be particularly keen to regarding Metaleptea. I look forward II gone through several editor- receive personal stories. Stories about to hearing from you soon! ships and evolved over time. When other orthopterists, exciting collecting I took over in 2009, Metaleptea was events, or some wild stories. Remem- already excellent in format, thanks to ber that Metaleptea is completely my predecesor Marianne Niedzlek- dependant on member contributions! Feaver. But, I wanted to change things To be published in Metaleptea, a bit, and in the first issue that I edited please send me articles, photographs, (vol. 29[2]), I completely redesigned or anything related to orthopteroid in- the look of the newsletter. From 2010, sects at [email protected] with a subject I started to publish three issues per line starting with [Metaleptea]. As year, and somehow I’ve managed to do so every year since then. Under my editorship, Metaleptea has steadily Officers of the Orthopterists’ Society become modernized and added differ- ent functionalities such as interactive President: Michael Samways, Department of Conservation Ecology links and optimized web-viewing. & Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa. In the current issue, I am happy to [email protected] report that we have reached another President-Elect: Alexandre Latchininsky, Department of Ecosystem Science milestone. Now, Metaleptea officially and Management, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA. has an ISSN number. With this new [email protected] change, I fully expect that our read- Executive Director: David Hunter, Locust and Grasshopper Control, ership will further increase and the 125 William Webb Drive, McKellar ACT 2617 Australia. newsletter will become even more [email protected] appealing to our members who are Treasurer: Pamm Mihm, 2417 Fields South Drive, Champaign, IL 61822 considering contribution. USA. [email protected]. As usual, this issue is full of in- Managing Editor JOR: Sam Heads, Illinois Natural History Survey, teresting articles. We have regional University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA. reports from many parts of the world, [email protected] as well as OS grant reports from Editorial Assistant JOR: Nancy Morris, Department of Biology, University several students. I would like to thank of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada. all those who have contributed to this [email protected] issue. I would also like to thank our Manager Orthopterists’ Society Website: Piotr Naskrecki, Museum of associate editor, Derek A. Woller, for Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. his continous assistance in the edito- [email protected] rial process. Associate Manager OS Website: David C.F. Rentz, 19 Butler Dr., Kuranda, Metaleptea is an excellent outlet Queensland, Australia. [email protected] to communicate to our members Editor Metaleptea: Hojun Song, Department of Biology, University of around the world. There is no limit on Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA. [email protected] what we can publish: articles, sto- Associate Editor Metaleptea: Derek A. Woller, Department of Biology, ries, photos, artwork, etc. However, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA. [email protected] specifically I would like to solicit the Orthoptera Species File Officer: María Marta Cigliano, División following types of contributions for Entomología, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de la Plata, all future issues: La Plata, Argentina. [email protected] • Collecting travelogues The Ted Cohn Research Fund Manager: Michel Lecoq, CIRAD, France. • Museum visit travelogues [email protected] Volume 34 (2) / May 2014 16