Functional equivalence of grasping cerci and nuptial food gifts in promoting ejaculate transfer in katydids.

The function of nuptial gifts has generated longstanding debate. Nuptial gifts consumed during ejaculate transfer may allow males to transfer more ejaculate than is optimal for females. However, gifts may simultaneously represent male investment in offspring. Evolutionary loss of nuptial gifts can help elucidate pressures driving their evolution. In most katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), males transfer a spermatophore comprising two parts: the ejaculate-containing ampulla and the spermatophylax-a gelatinous gift that females eat during ejaculate transfer. Many species, however, have reduced or no spermatophylaces and many have prolonged copulation. Across 44 katydid species, we tested whether spermatophylaces and prolonged copulation following spermatophore transfer are alternative adaptations to protect the ejaculate. We also tested whether prolonged copulation was associated with (i) male cercal adaptations, helping prevent female disengagement, and (ii) female resistance behavior. As predicted, prolonged copulation following (but not before) spermatophore transfer was associated with reduced nuptial gifts, differences in the functional morphology of male cerci, and behavioral resistance by females during copulation. Furthermore, longer copulation following spermatophore transfer was associated with larger ejaculates, across species with reduced nuptial gifts. Our results demonstrate that nuptial gifts and the use of grasping cerci to prolong ejaculate transfer are functionally equivalent

Increased copulation duration before ejaculate transfer is associated with larger spermatophores, and male genital titillators, across bushcricket taxa

Copulation duration varies considerably across species, but few comparative studies have examined factors that might underlie such variation. We examined the relationship between copulation duration (prior to spermatophore transfer), the complexity of titillators (sclerotized male genital contact structures), spermatophore mass and male body mass across 54 species of bushcricket. Using phylogenetic comparative analyses, we found that copulation duration was much longer in species with titillators than those without, but it was not longer in species with complex compared with simple titillators. A positive relationship was found between spermatophore size and copulation duration prior to ejaculate transfer, which supports the hypothesis that this represents a period of mate assessment. The slope of this relationship was steeper in species with simple rather than complex titillators. Although the data suggest that the presence of titillators is necessary to maintain long copulation prior to ejaculate transfer, mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear

La tribu Insarini (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Phaneropteridae): tercera contribución a la organización supragenérica de los faneropterinos neotropicales

La tribu Insarini se delimita en la presente contribución a solo cuatro géneros: Arethaea, Brachyinsara, Insara y Psilinsara. Asimismo, se proporciona una tabla para separar los géneros actuales, ya que los límites de los mismos no están bien establecidos dentro la tribu. El género Callinsara syn. n. se sinonimiza a Sictuna y se transfiere al grupo Plagiopleurae. Finalmente se discute sobre los límites de las tribus Insarini y Pycnopalpini.The tribe Insarini (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Phaneropteridae): third contribution to the supra–generic organization of neotropical Phaneropterinae The tribe Insarini is delimited in this contribution to four genera: Arethaea, Brachyinsara, Insara and Psilinsara. A table to separate these genera is provided. The generic boundaries are not well delimited in this tribe. The genus Callinsara n. syn. is synonymized under Sictuna, which in in turn is moved to the group Plagiopleurae. The tribal boundaries of Insarini and Pycnopalpini are discussed.La tribu Insarini se delimita en la presente contribución a solo cuatro géneros: Arethaea, Brachyinsara, Insara y Psilinsara. Asimismo, se proporciona una tabla para separar los géneros actuales, ya que los límites de los mismos no están bien establecidos dentro la tribu. El género Callinsara syn. n. se sinonimiza a Sictuna y se transfiere al grupo Plagiopleurae. Finalmente se discute sobre los límites de las tribus Insarini y Pycnopalpini

New genera, species and records of Phaneropterinae (Orthoptera, Phaneropteridae) from sub-Saharan Africa

The results of the study of many specimens preserved in different European museums are reported. The tribe Terpnistrini Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878 is resurrected. The distribution of the following species is enhanced: Pardalotaasymmetrica Karsch, 1896, Diogenadenticulata Chopard, 1954, Diogenafausta (Burmeister, 1838), Plangiopsisadeps Karsch, 1896, Poreuomenasanghensis Massa, 2013 and Tylopsiscontinua (Walker, 1869). Further, for their peculiar characteristics, two African representatives of the American genus Symmetropleura Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878 are included in two new genera: Symmetrokarschiaafricana (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878), comb. n. and Symmetroraggeadirempta (Karsch, 1889), comb. n. A new genus and species from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angustithoraxspiniger gen. n., sp. n., and a new genus and species from Tanzania, Arostratumoblitum gen. n., sp. n. are described. Finally Melidiaclaudiae sp. n. and Atlasacrisbrevipennis sp. n. are described and compared with related species.This research received support from the Synthesys Project, which is financed by European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7 “Capacities” Programme at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales of Madrid (CSIC) (2013)Peer reviewe

First song descriptions of some Anatolian species of Tettigoniidae Krauss, 1902 (Orthoptera, Ensifera)

WOS: 000330214900001PubMed: 24478585Fourteen endemic and two sub-endemic species belonging to three subfamilies of Tettigoniidae (Tettigoniinae, Bradyporinae and Saginae) were sampled during field trips throughout the different ranges of Anatolia between the years of 2004 and 2013. Acoustic parameters of these 16 species affiliated to 8 genera (Anterastes, Apholidoptera, Gampsocleis, Parapholidoptera, Pezodrymadusa, Psorodonotus, Bradyporus and Saga) have been described for the first time in this study. Acoustical analysis showed that song characters are species-specific in the genera Saga and Psorodonotus. On the other hand, we could not find big differences among species of the genus Pezodrymadusa and Parapholidoptera castaneoviridis species-group.Namik Kemal University; Aksaray UniversityOur special thanks go to Elife Zerrin BAGCI, Nadim YILMAZER, Levent CAN and Behiye Banu BILGEN and Petru GOLBAN from Namik Kemal Universityfor their valuable comments on manuscript and improving the English of the manuscript. We also thank to three anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. This study was supported by Namik Kemal University and Aksaray University

Preliminary description of new Isophya (Orthoptera: Tettigonioidea: Phaneropteridae): From Serbia with remarks on some known species

Out of over 45 species of the genus Isophya in Europe, six of them have been recorded in Serbia thus far (Adamović, 1975; Pavićević et al., 2014b). Of these six species, two have been described from Serbia - Isophya modestior Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1882 (Niš - Bela Palanka) and Isophya obtusa Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1882 (Stara Planina Mt. - Tri Čuke). The species Isophya miksici Peshev, 1985 recorded at the Beljanica Mt. in eastern Serbia is new for the fauna of Serbia. This paper presents the preliminary descriptions of three new taxa, Isophya radmilae sp. n. from Radan Mt., Isophya pancici sp. n. from Tara and Zlatibor Mts. and Isophya clara orientalis ssp. n. from Belgrade (Miljakovac and Stepin Lug). The morphology of the new taxa has been analyzed with an overview of the relevant sketches and scans of stridulatory files of males

NEW HOST RECORDS IN BARYCONUS FOERSTER (HYMENOPTERA, SCELIONIDAE)

Three different species of Baryconus Foerster reared from eggs of Phaneroptera sp. (Orthoptera, Phaneropteridae) in the Palaearctic Region and two more species from undetermined Phaneropteridae in the Neotropical Region are reported. The host-parasite relationships are briefly discussed. Two new combinations are proposed: Baryconus gravelyi (Mani) and B. montanus (Szabò), both transferred from Hoploteleia Ashm.  NUOVE SEGNALAZIONI DI OSPITI DI Baryconus FOESTER (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) Sono riportate tre specie di Baryconus Foester ottenute da uova di Phaneroptera sp. (Orthoptera, Phaneropteridae) della regione paleartica e altre due ottenute da un Phaneropteridae della regione neotropica. Sono brevemente discusse le relazioni ospite-parassita. Sono inoltre proposte due nuove combinazioni: Baryconus gravelyi (Mani) e B. montanus (Szabò), entrambe trasferite da Hoploteleia Ashm

Check-list of European Orthoptera

List of all 974 recognized species of Ensifera (Tettigonioidea: 458, Rhaphidophoroidea: 44, Grylloidea: 91) and Caelifera (Tetrigoidea: 12, Tridactyloidea: 6, Acridoidea: 363) in Europe including information about their distribution.Aufstellung aller 974 derzeitig anerkannten Arten der Ensifera (Tettigonioidea: 458, Rhaphidophoroidea: 44, Grylloidea: 91) and Caelifera (Tetrigoidea: 12, Tridactyloidea: 6, Acridoidea: 363) in Europa mit Angabe der Verbreitungsgebiete

Effects of Enamel Paint on the Behavior and Survival of the Periodical Cicada, \u3ci\u3eMagicicada Septendecim\u3c/i\u3e (Homoptera) and the Lesser Migratory Grasshopper, \u3ci\u3eMelanoplus Sanguinipes (Orthoptera).

We present information compiled from several studies on the effects of methods for marking individual arthropods on their longevity and behavior. Results from our own research on effects of enamel paint marking on two in- sect species, the periodical cicada, Magicicada septendecim, and the lesser migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes, are also presented. Neither species showed any adverse survivorship or behavioral effects from marking