Conocephalus upoluensis ( Karny, 1907 )

Hugel, Sylvain, 2009, Gryllacrididae and Tettigoniidae (Insecta, Orthoptera, Ensifera) from Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, Zoosystema 31 (3), pp. 525-576 : 560-561

Conocephalus upoluensis ( Karny, 1907) ( Figs 11B, H ; 16 )

Xiphidium (Xiphidion) modestum upoluense Karny, 1907: 95 .

Conocephalus upoluensis – Pitkin 1980: 341.

Conocephalus brevixiphus Willemse, 1942: 95 .

TYPE MATERIAL. — Conocephalus upolensis : Samoa. Upolu, ♂ lectotype ( NHW). Not examined.

Conocephalus brevixiphus : Australia. Northern Territory, Burnside, ♀ holotype ( NHMB). Not examined.

TYPE LOCALITY. — Southwestern Pacific, Samoa, Upolu.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Vanuatu. (8 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀), Sanma Province, Espiritu Santo Isl., Matantas , pointe de Quirros, 50 m de la plage, 15°09’54”S 166°56’22”E, végétation basse et arbustive en zone supralittorale, nuit, Exped. Santo 2006, 18.X.2006, coll. T. Robillard, 1 ♂ (SH-108 TR-178) (MNHN-ENSIF2260). Luganville, site du CTRAV, 15°27’00”S, 167°12’26”E, 2 m alt., pelouse, zone herbacée, nuit, enregistrement TR take 2, Exped. Santo 2006, 12.X.2006, coll. T. Robillard, 1 ♂ (SH-109 TR-002) (MNHN-ENSIF2261). — Same locality and date, nuit, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♂ (SH-110) (MNHN-ENSIF2262). — Same locality and date, nuit, enregistrement spn2, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♂ (SH-111) (MNHN-ENSIF2263). — Same locality and date, coll. S. Hugel, 3 ♂♂ (SH-112-114) (MNHN-ENSIF2264-2266) ; 1 ♀ (SH-116) ( MNHN- ENSIF2268 ) ; 1 ♂, enregistrement spn1 (SH-117) (MNHN-ENSIF2269).

Chemin côtier entre Peavot et Pealulup, zone herbacée, Exped. Santo 2006, 24.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♀ (SH-115) (MNHN-ENSIF2267).

DISTRIBUTION. — Widely distributed in the South western Pacific Islands. Already known from Espiritu Santo ( Pitkin 1980).

HABITAT AND LIFE HISTORY TRAITS. — We found this species in open anthropized areas (pasturelands, road sides) of low altitude.

DESCRIPTION COMPLEMENT

Stridulatory file with 30 lamellar teeth unevenly spaced along the length of the file, being closer together at the distal end, proximal teeth knobshaped, median triangular and distal minute and lamellar; with numerous minute spinules on the anterior side at middle ( Fig. 11B ).

CALLING SONG ( FIG. 16 )

Males call during both night and day. We recorded three specimens in early night hours. The echemesequence of C. upoluensis call has two repeating distinct parts: a series of individual short syllables, alternated with a train of continuous buzz (this seems not to be always the case, see Rentz 1996: CD). The echeme-sequence has an average duration of 62 ± 16 s. Th e duration of the individual syllables series is 5.90 ± 2.34 s (min: 3.76; max: 11.13), and the rate of syllables is 30.5/s. Th e duration of the buzz train is shorter: 2.75 ± 0.66 s (min: 1.56; max: 3.67), and the rate is 80.9/s. Th e calling frequency first harmonic peaks between 20-22 kHz).

Figures

FIG. 11. — A-E, SEM pictures of stridulatory files; F-H, right femur III in side views;A, Phaneroptera gracilis Burmeister, 1838; B, H, Conocephalus upoluensis (Karny,1907);C, G, C. semivittatus vittatus (Redtenbacher, 1891); D, F, C. oceanicus (Le Guillou, 1841);E, Pseudorhynchus lessonii Serville,1838.Scale bars:A-E, 100 μm; F-H, 10 mm.

FIG. 16. — Calling song of Conocephalus upoluensis (Karny, 1907), specimen MNHN-ENSIF2269, 20H30, 21.5°C.