Altihoratosphaga montivaga (Sjöstedt, 1909), Sjostedt, 1909

Hemp, Claudia, 2013, Annotated list of Ensifera (Orthoptera) and further records on Caelifera (Orthoptera) of Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Zootaxa 3613 (4), pp. 301-342 : 322

Altihoratosphaga montivaga (Sjöstedt, 1909)

( Fig. 9 A, B)

Distribution. Tanzania; endemic to Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru (Sjöstedt 1909).

Ecology and biology. Adults found at Mt Kilimanjaro in January, March and April, at Mt Meru in December and January (Sjöstedt 1909). Present only during the warm period of the year from November to about April.

Diet: Seen feeding on the herb Isoglossa laxa .

Habitat. Plantation belt, montane forest (Sjöstedt 1909); clearings with Isoglossa laxa in Olea africana forests of West Kilimanjaro, in extensively used coffee-plantations at West Kilimanjaro and forest edge with dense bushes and herbs. On Mt Meru at 1400 m on the eastern slopes on clearings within disturbed forest.

Song. All Altihoratosphaga species produce songs containing two types of elements, A and B with A. montivaga showing the most distinctive verse type (Hemp et al. 2010c). The song is mainly heard in the night hours.

Molecular phylogeny: Vo j e et al. 2009. Hemp et al. 2010c.

Altitudinal range at Mt Kilimanjaro: 1000–1200 m (Ragge 1960); 1300–1800 m

On Mt Meru up to 3000 m (Sjöstedt 1909).

Records: 9

Figures

FIGURE 9. Phaneropterinae species of Kilimanjaro, Acrometopini A, B. Altihoratosphaga montivaga (Sjöstedt), western slopes, Lerongo, 1500 m, male (A) and female (B) C, D. Horatosphaga heteromorpha (Karsch), grassy patches in plantation belt southern slopes, 1430 m, male (C) and female (D) E, F. Horatosphaga meruensis (Sjöstedt), western slopes, savanna grasslands, 1300 m, male (E) and female (F) G. Male Lamecosoma inermis Ragge, savanna grasslands, eastern slopes, 1000 m H, I. Peronura clavigera Karsch, eastern slopes, savanna grasslands on herbs, male (H) and female (I).