Conocephalus (Anisoptera) iris (Serville, 1838)

Naskrecki, Piotr & Guta, Ricardo, 2019, Katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) of Gorongosa National Park and Central Mozambique, Zootaxa 4682 (1), pp. 1-119 : 16

Conocephalus (Anisoptera) iris (Serville, 1838)

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:17232

( Figs. 7A, B , 45 D–F)

Diagnostic remarks. Among Gorongosa katydids this species is easily recognizable by the unique shape of the male cercus, armed with two unequal, widely spaced inner teeth ( Fig. 7A ), the bright yellow-orange coloration of the apical half of the abdomen, and the black markings in the cells of the tegminal median field; females can be distinguished from other species of Conocephalus in Gorongosa by the relatively long ovipositor, which is at least as long or longer than the hind femur. Only brachypterous form of this species has been recorded from the region ( Fig. 7B ).

Distribution and natural history. A widely distributed species, recorded from Kenya ( Chopard & Kevan 1954), Tanzania ( Hemp 2013a), South Africa, Zimbabwe ( Chopard 1955a), Gabon, Mauritius, Madagascar ( Saussure 1899), Republic of the Congo, and Uganda (specimens examined at ANSP). This is the first record of this species from Mozambique, where in addition to Gorongosa it has been collected in Cabo Delgado, and it is likely to be distributed throughout the entire country.

In Gorongosa adults of C. iris can be found from January to early June and disappear during the dry season. This species is distributed throughout the entire region and is associated mostly with low elevation, humid, at least partially shaded habitats, such as the understory of tall miombo forest. They feed on grass flowers and seeds, caterpillars, and other soft-bodied insects.

Bioacoustics. C. iris males call primarily at night; the call consists of a long, uninterrupted buzz, audible to the human ear, with most of its energy at approximately 17 kHz; frequently the first few second of the call is in the form of short series of individual syllables ( Figs. 45 D–F).

Measurements (3 males, 3 females). body w/o wings: male 14–15 (14.3.6), female 15–20 (182.6); pronotum: male 3–4 (3.7.6), female 5; tegmen: male 4, female 4–5 (4.7.6); hind femur: male 14, female 17–19 (18.31.2); ovipositor: 18–19 (18.7.6) mm.

Material examined (21 specimens). Mozambique: Sofala, Coutada 12, Inhamitanga Forest , elev. 210 m (- 18.238350, 35.330155), 16.iii.2018, coll. P. Naskrecki & N. Vicente— 1 male ; Cheringoma, Coutada 12, Chironde camp, elev. 156 m (-18.32780, 35.35799), 2.iii.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male ; same locality, 25.iii.–4.iv.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki, J. Guyton & M. Castene— 1 male ; nr. Codzo ( Khodzue ), cave and nearby, elev. 216 m (-18.564, 34.872222), 14–25.iv.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female, 1 male ; Cheringoma, Coutada 12, Camp 2, 7km north of Pawue Village , (-18.43151, 035.35499), 17.iii.2018, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male ; GNP, between Bunga and Chiuata Inselbergs , elev. 31 m (-18.588611, 34.337222), 2.iii.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki & R. Guta— 2 females, 2 males ; GNP, Bunga Inselberg, Camp 1, nr. Bunga ranger outpost, elev. 75 m (-18.59989, 34.33686), 21.iv.–5.v.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 females, 1 male ; Gorongosa Dist., Claud’s Waterfall campsite, elev. 94 m (-19.03011, 34.67592), 1– 6.v.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 males ; GNP, Picada 1, elev. 28 m (-18.969, 34.3615), 2.ii.2014, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male ; Nhagutua , elev. 221 m (-18.64339, 34.81425), 16–20.iv.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female ; GNP, sand forest, elev. 28 m (-18.961472, 34.342861), 17.ii.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki & R. Guta (230)— 2 males; GNP, Chitengo , elev. 38 m (-18.973333, 34.351033), 18.iii.2015, coll. R. Guta— 1 female, 1 male ( EOWL) .

Figures

FIGURE 7. Mozambican Conocephalinae: A. Conocephalus iris, male cerci; B. ditto, male habitus; C. Conocephalus conocephalus, male cerci; D. ditto, male habitus; E. Conocephalus maculatus, male cerci; F. ditto, male habitus; G. Pseudorhynchus hastifer, female face; H. ditto, female habitus; I. Pseudorhynchus pungens, face, green morph; J. ditto, face, pale morph; K. ditto, female habitus, green morph; L. ditto, head and pronotum lateral, pale morph.

FIGURE 45. Oscillograms and power spectra of Mozambican Conocephalus: A–C. C. maculatus; D–F. C. iris.