Neoconocephalus triops (Linnaeus, 1758)

Piotr Naskrecki, 2000, Katydids of Costa Rica / Vol. 1, Systematics and bioacoustics of the cone-head katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae sensu lato)., Philadelphia, PA: The Orthopterists Society at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, : 58-59

Neoconocephalus triops (Linnaeus, 1758)

Figs. 13 A-B, 37E, 44C-D, 45B, 57A-B, Map 7

1758 Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. (ed. x.) i: 430 >> Gryllus (Tettigonia) ; type locality: “Indiis” =? West Indies; type depository: Collection of the Linnean Society, London, England

1999 Naskrecki and Otte, Illustr. Cat. Orthop. I (CD ROM) >>illustrated, full references

[syn.] bilineatus = 1815 Thunberg, Mem. Acad. St. Petersb. 5: 275; type locality: Hispaniola, Santo Domingo, >> Conocephalus

1906 Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth. 2: 246 >> Conocephaloides

1912 Karny, in Wytsman, Gen. Ins. 139: 33

>> Neoconocephalus

1983 Walker and Greenfield, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 109: 371 >>Syn. of triops

[syn.] contingens = 1869 Walker, Cat. Derm. Salt. Brit. Mus. 2: 304; type locality: Mexico >> Conocephalus

1912 Karny, in Wytsman, Gen. Ins. 139: 31

>> Neoconocephalus ; as syn. of mexicanus

[syn.] dissimilis = 1839 Serville, Hist. nat. Ins., Orthopt.: 518; type locality: North America, USA, South Carolina >> Conocephalus

1906 Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth. 2: 246 >>Syn. of triops ; Conocephaloides

[syn.] exilis = 1906 Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth. 2: 246; type locality: Galápagos islands >>New name for insulans Scudder

1912 Karny, in Wytsman, Gen. Ins. 139: 32

>> Conocephaloides

1920 Hebard, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4) 2(2): 337 >>As insularum; syn. of triops

1999 Naskrecki and Otte, Illustr. Cat. Orthop. I (CD ROM) >> holotype illustrated

[syn.] fuscostriatus = 1891 Redtenbacher, Monografie der Conocephaliden 1891: 380, 399; type locality: USA: southern states >> Conocephalus

1906 Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth. 2: 244 >> Conocephaloides

1914 Rehn and Hebard, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 40: 405 >>Syn. of triops ; Neoconocephalus

[syn.] hebes = 1878 Scudder, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 20: 90; type locality: Cuba >> Conocephalus

1888 Bolivar, Mem. Soc. Zool. France i: 150 >> Conocephaloides

1912 Karny, in Wytsman, Gen. Ins. 139: 33

>> Neoconocephalus

1915 Rehn, J. A. G., Hebard, M., Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc. 40: 405 >>syn. of triops

1999 Naskrecki and Otte, Illustr. Cat. Orthop. I (CD ROM) >> holotype illustrated

[syn.] insulanus [Scudder] = 1893 Scudder, Bull. Mus. Harvard Coll. xxv.: 21; type locality: Galápagos: Chatham Is, Wreck Bay >> Conocephalus

1906 Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth. 2: 246 >>Syn. of exilis; Conocephaloides

1907 Karny, Abh. Zool.-bot. Ges. Wien 4(3): 38 >>Renamed insularum

1920 Hebard, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4) 2(2): 337 >>Syn. of triops

[syn.] insularum = 1907 Karny, Abh. Zool.-bot. Ges. Wien 4(3): 38 >>New name for insulanus Scudder

1920 Hebard, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4) 2(2): 337 >>As insularum; syn. of triops

[syn.] macropterus = 1891 Redtenbacher, Monografie der Conocephaliden 1891: 381, 402; type locality: Mexico:, >> Conocephalus

1906 Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth. 2: 245 >> Conocephaloides

1912 Karny, in Wytsman, Gen. Ins. 139: 32 >> Neoconocephalus

1927 Hebard, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 53: 371 >>Syn. of triops

[syn.] mexicanus = 1859 Saussure, Rev. et Mag. Zool. [2]11: 208; type locality: Mexico >> Conocephalus

1906 Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth. 2: 243 >> Conocephaloides

1907 Karny, Abh. Zool.-bot. Ges. Wien 4(3): 33 >> Conocephalus (Neoconocephalus)

1912 Karny, in Wytsman, Gen. Ins. 139: 31 >> Neoconocephalus

1937 Hebard, Unpubl. Syn. List >>Syn. of triops

[syn.] nigrolimbatus = 1891 Redtenbacher, Monografie der Conocephaliden 1891: 405, 406; type locality: Cuba >> Conocephalus

1906 Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth. 2: 245 >> Conocephaloides

1912 Karny, in Wytsman, Gen. Ins. 139: 32 >> Neoconocephalus

1927 Hebard, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 53: 136 >>Syn. of triops

[syn.] obscurellus = 1891 Redtenbacher, Monografie der Conocephaliden 1891: 380, 397; type locality: Mexico: Cuernavaca >> Conocephalus

1906 Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth. 2: 244 >> Conocephaloides

1912 Karny, in Wytsman, Gen. Ins. 139: 31 >> Neoconocephalus

1927 Hebard, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 53: 136 >>Syn. of triops

[syn.] obtusus = 1838 Burmeister, Handb. Ent. 2: 705; Type locality: locality unknown >> Conocephalus

1906 Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth. 2: 246 >>Syn. of triops ; Conocephaloides

[syn.] tibialis = 1907 Karny, Abh. Zool.-bot. Ges. Wien 4: 33; type locality: USA: North Carolina >> Neoconocephalus mexicanus var. tibialis

1914 Rehn and Hebard, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 40: 405 >>Syn. of triops

Diagnostic description.— General characteristics as described above. Stridulatory file of male 1.8-2.4 mm long, with 65-86 teeth, maximum width of file 0.27 mm ( Figs. 44 C-D); teeth thinner and spaced more densely in proximal third of file than thicker and less densely spaced teeth of distal end. Mirror of stridulatory apparatus oval ( Fig. 45 B). Fastigium of vertex separated from fastigium of frons by narrow gap, fastigium underneath blunt, without well developed tooth ( Fig. 13 B); frontal portion of fastigium with weakly defined white band, usually accompanied by thin, dark line below ( Fig. 13 A).

Mid femur with 2-3 small spines on anterior ventral margin, only rarely accompanied by black spots at their bases. Stridulatory area of left wing in most males with short, black longitudinal line parallel to veins M+CuA ( Fig. 45 A). Brown individuals often with dark speckles on tegmina ( Fig. 36 E).

Ovipositor approximately as long as hind femur (ratio ovipositor/hind femur 1.07-1.13), straight.

Measurements.— Table 7 .

Bioacoustics.— The call of Panamanian populations of N. triops was described by Walker and Greenfield (1983) as a “coarse buzz momentarily interrupted at intervals of ca. 0.6 s ” ( Figs. 57 A-B). The average calculated wingstroke rate of this species in Panama is 123±3 wingstrokes/s at 25°C. In populations from temperate areas, such as Gainesville, Florida, this species has two generations per year. Adults that mature in the fall (winter generation) undergo a reproductive diapause and start calling the following spring. Their song has a significantly lower wingstroke rate than that of the adults maturing without diapausing (summer generation). Populations in Central America display a call typical of the summer generation, which indicates a lack of the reproductive diapause ( Greenfield 1990).

Distribution.— Neoconocephalus triops is the most widely distributed species of the genus, having been recorded from southeastern Ohio west to California in USA, through Central America to Peru and Guyana in South America, as well as throughout the Caribbean and Galápagos Island. In Costa Rica it has been collected all over the country ( Map 7 ) although it does not seem to be as common as N. affinis .

Material examined.— COSTA RICA: no other locality data (coll. P. Biolley) - 1 male ( ZMAN); 15 August 1935 - 1 female ( USNM); Bataan (=Batan), 10° 5' N, 83° 20' W, 16 June 1951 (coll. O.L. Cartwright) - 1 female ( USNM); C.M.Acc. 2745, (coll. P. Biolley) - 1 male ( ANSP); Alajuela Prov., Caño Negro, R.N.V. S Caño Negro, elev. 20 m, 29 December 1994 - 24 January 1995 (coll. K. Flores) - 1 male ( INBio); same locality, elev. 20 m, 3 - 23 April 1995 (coll. R. Villalobos) - 1 female ( INBio); Finca San Gabriel, 2 km SW Dos Rios, elev. 600 m, 15 May 1989 (coll. GNP Biodiv. Survey) - 1 female ( INBio); Playuelas, Caño Negro, R.N.V. S Caño Negro, elev. 20 m, 26 January 1992 (coll. K. Flores) - 1 female ( INBio); Puesto Quebradón, elev. 300 m, 1 - 31 August 1997 (coll. G. Rodríguez) - 1 male ( INBio); R.B. San Ramón, elev. 800 m, 1 - 31 March 1997 (coll. G. Carballo) - 1 female ( INBio); same locality, elev. 800 m, 1 - 30 April 1997 (coll. K. Flores) - 1 male ( INBio); Río San Lorencito, Res. For. Sn. Ramón, 5 km N Col. Palmarena, elev. 900 m, 15 March 1990 (coll. Curso Carabidae ) - 1 female ( INBio); Zona Protectora de Arenal, Pocosol, 10 - 16 February 1994 (coll. P. Naskrecki) - 2 males ( PN collection); Cartago Prov., 3 km SE Turrialba, CATIE, 13 May 1985 (coll. J. Powell, P. Opler and J.A. Chemsak) - 1 male ( EMEC); Turrialba, 6 June 1951 (coll. O.L. Cartwright) - 1 male ( USNM); same locality, 6 March 1965 (coll. S.S. and W.D. Duckworth) - 3 males, 3 females ( USNM); Guanacaste Prov., 5 mi N Cañas, PanAm Highway, 15 October 1969 (coll. E. Frankie) - 3 males ( ANIC); 9 mi N Cañas on Río Tenorio, Finca La Pacifica, elev. 40 m, 3 - 10 February 1969 (coll. D.C. Rentz) - 2 males, 2 females ( ANIC); Dos de Tilaran (San Ramón), elev. 1100 m, 1 - 31 May 1995 (coll. G. Rodríguez) - 2 females ( INBio); Estac. Cacao, elev. 1100 m, 8 - 18 February 1995 (coll. M. Moraga) - 1 male, 1 female ( INBio); Estac. Cacao, 2 km SW del Cerro Cacao, elev. 1100 - 1650 m, 7 - 18 February 1995 (coll. E. Nunez) - 3 males ( INBio); same locality, elev. 1000 - 1400 m, 12 - 17 February 1995 (coll. S. Avila) - 1 female ( INBio); Estac. Cacao, Lado suroeste del Volcán Cacao, P.N. Guanacaste, elev. 1000 - 1400 m, 15 June 1990 (coll. II curso Parataxon) - 2 females ( INBio); Estac. Katalina, Parque Nacional Palo Verde, 13 April 1992 (coll. A. Gutiérrez) - 1 female ( INBio); Estac. Maritza, lado O Vol. Orosí, elev. 600 m, 15 August 1990 (coll. II curso Parataxonomos) - 8 females ( INBio); Estac. Pitilla, 9 km St. Cecilia, elev. 700 m, 15 May 1988 (coll. GNP Biodiversity Survey) - 2 females ( INBio); same locality, 15 June 1988 (coll. GNP Biodiversity Survey) - 1 male ( INBio); same locality, 15 July 1988 (coll. GNP Biodiversity Survey) - 2 females ( INBio); same locality, 15 September 1988 (coll. GNP Biodiversity Survey) - 1 female ( INBio); Estac Cacao, SW side Volcán Cacao, elev. 1000 - 1400 m, 15 September 1989 (coll. R. Blanco and C. Chávez) - 1 male, 1 female ( INBio); same locality, elev. 1000 - 1400 m, 1 December 1989 (coll. R. Blanco and C. Chávez) - 5 males, 10 females ( INBio); Estac. Pitilla, 9 km S Santa Cecilia, elev. 700 m, 15 March 1990 (coll. P. Rios, C. Moraga and R. Blanco) - 1 female ( INBio); Estación Exper. Enrique Jimenez Nuñez (20 km SW Cañas), 7 November 1991 (coll. A.S. Menke) - 3 males, 1 female ( USNM); Finca Pasmompa Estación Pitilla, 5 km SW Santa Cecilia, elev. 400 m, 15 March 1989 (coll. GNP Biodiversity Survey) - 1 female ( INBio); Finca Jenny, 31 km N Liberia, elev. 300 m, 15 September 1988 (coll. GNP Biodiversity Survey) - 2 females ( INBio); same locality, elev. 300 m, 15 October 1988 (coll. GNP Biodiversity Survey) - 2 males, 5 females ( INBio); Hacienda “La Pacifica,” 13 November 1965 (coll. T.H. Hubbell) - 1 male ( UMMZ); Hda. Palo Verde on Río Tempisque, 17 January 1975 (coll. D.C. Rentz) - 2 males, 1 female ( ANIC); Las Cañas, Río Corobicí, 26 July 1967 (coll. O.S. Flint, Jr.) - 3 males ( USNM); Liberia, 27 August 1972 (coll. G.F. and S. Hevel) - 2 males, 4 females ( USNM); Los Mesones, P.N. Barra Honda, elev. 100 m, 1 - 31 July 1995 (coll. M. Reves) - 1 male ( INBio); Palo Verde N. P., Palo Verde Biological Station, 5 February 1994 (coll. P. Naskrecki) - 3 males, 1 female ( PN collection); Río San Lorenzo, Tierras Morenas, Z.P. Tenorio, elev. 1050 m, 15 May 1991 (coll. C. Alvarado) - 1 male ( INBio); Santa Rosa N. P., 12 August 1977 (coll. D.H. Janzen) - 1 male, 1 female ( USNM); same locality, 10 January 1979 (coll. D.H. Janzen) - 1 female ( USNM); same locality, 4 May 1980 (coll. D.H. Janzen and W. Hallwacha) - 1 male, 1 female ( USNM); Santa Rosa N. P., Playa Naranjo, 15 September 1990 (coll. E. Alcazar) - 1 female ( INBio); same locality, 15 October 1990 (coll. E. Alcazar) - 1 female ( INBio); Sect. Palo Verde, elev. 10 m, 4 - 10 April 1995 (coll. E. Navarro) - 3 females ( INBio); Taboga, 29 July 1967 (coll. Flint and Ortiz) - 1 male ( USNM); Vicinity Estac. Murciélago, 8 km SW Cuajiniquil, elev. 100 m, 15 June 1989 (coll. GNP Biodiversity Survey) - 1 female ( INBio); Heredia Prov., Est Magsasay, P. N. Braulio Carillo, elev. 200 m, 15 January 1991 (coll. M. Bareller) - 1 female ( INBio); Puerto Viejo, La Selva Biological Station, elev. 50 - 150 m, 10° 26' N, 84° 1' W, 11 October 1995 (coll. P. Naskrecki) - 1 female ( ALAS ); Limón Prov., Limón Plantation, Charges River G201, 24 August 1918 (coll. J. Zetek and H.F. Dietz) - 1 female ( USNM); Pandora, 5 August 1961 (coll. C.F. Walker) - 1 male ( UMMZ); Puntarenas Prov., Albergue, Cerro de Oro, elev. 150 m, 29 September - 6 October 1995 (coll. E. Fletes) - 1 male ( INBio); Buen Amigo, San Luís Monteverde, elev. 1000 - 1350 m, 1 - 31 March 1997 (coll. Z. Fuentes) - 2 males ( INBio); Estac. Pittier, PILA-ACLA, elev. 1670 m, 23 January - 2 February 1995 (coll. A. Azofeifa) - 1 male ( INBio); Estación Altamira, 1 km S del Cerro Biolley, elev. 1450 m, 2 - 29 June 1996 (coll. R. Vilalobos) - 1 female ( INBio); Finca Las Cruces (OTS, 2 km S San Vito), elev. 1219.2 m, 15 March 1973 (coll. D.C. Rentz) - 1 female ( ANIC); Puntarenas Prov., Gulf of Nicoya, - 1 male ( ANSP); Las Cruces, nr. San Vito, 20 March 1965 (coll. S.S. and W.D. Duckworth) - 2 females ( USNM); Monte Verde, Powell Property, elev. 1580 m, 23 March 1974 (coll. D.C. Rentz) - 1 male ( ANIC); Mount Verde (Quaker Colony), elev. 1500 m, 22 March 1973 (coll. D.C. Rentz) - 1 male ( ANIC); nr. San Vito de Java, 24 February 1970 (coll. M. Kosztarab) - 2 females ( USNM); Río Seco, NW of Esparta (Esparza?), 23 July 1967 (coll. O.S. Flint, Jr.) - 1 male ( USNM); San Vito, 13 February 1970 (coll. M. Kosztarab) - 3 females ( USNM); San Vito, 2 km S San Vito, Finca Las Cruces, elev. 1219.2 m, 8° 42' N, 83° 0' W, 14 March 1969 (coll. D.C. Rentz) - 1 female ( ANIC); Sirena, Corcovado N.P., elev. 0 - 100 m, 15 December 1989 (coll. G. Fonseca) - 1 female ( INBio); Valle de Coto Brus, Las Cruces, Wilson Botanical Gardens, 22 March 1994 (coll. P. Naskrecki) - 1 male ( PN collection); San José Prov., San José, 15 February 1903 – 5 males, 3 female ( UNSM); San José, 21 September 1905 (coll. F. Knab) - 1 female ( USNM); same locality, 19 September 1912 (coll. A.Alfaro) - 1 male ( USNM); same locality, 6 September 1915 (coll. A. Alfaro) - 2 males, 5 females ( USNM); same locality, elev. 1135 m, 15 July 1928 (coll. M. Valerio) - 2 females ( USNM); same locality, 7 March 1981 (coll. L. Hartshorn) - 1 male ( USNM).

Figures

FIG. 13. Frontal and lateral view of fastigia of Costa Rican Neoconocephalus spp. A-B. N. triops, C-D. N. punctipes - form without a fastigial gap, E-F. N. punctipes - form with a fastigial gap, G-H. N. cf. spiza.

FIG. 36. Costa Rican species of Conocephalinae s. l. A. Conocephalus angustifrons - male, B. Caulopsis cuspidata - female, C. Acantheremus colwelli - male, D. Vestria punctata - male and female, in copula, E. Copiphora hastata - male, F. Podacanthophorus vargasi - female, G. Copiphora rhinoceros - male eating a snail, H. Subria sylvestris - male, brown form.

FIG. 44. Stridulatory files of Costa Rican species of Neoconocephalus. A. N. affinis, B. ditto, enlarged fragment, C. N. triops, enlarged fragment, D. ditto, entire file, E. N. punctipes, entire file, F. ditto, enlarged fragment, G. N. cf. spiza, enlarged fragment, H. ditto, entire file.

FIG. 45. Stridulatory areas of Costa Rican species of Neoconocephalus, dorsal views, left and right sides. A. N. affinis, B. N. triops, C. N. punctipes, D. N. spiza.

FIG. 57. Oscillograms of male airborne calls of Costa Rican species of Conocephalinae s. l. A. Neoconocephalus triops, B. ditto, 0.5 s fragment, C. Eppia truncatipennis (Panama, Gamboa), D. ditto, 0.5 s fragment, E. Sphyrometopa atlantica, F. ditto, 0.5 s fragment, G. Sphyrometopa femorata, 0.5 s fragment.

MAPS 7 - 12. Distribution of species of Conocephalinae s. l. in Costa Rica. 7. Neoconocephalus affinis, N. triops, 8. Neoconocephalus punctipes, N. cf. spiza, 9. Bucrates capitatus, B. clausus, Metacaputus brenesi, 10. Pyrgocorypha rogersi, P. hamata, 11. Caulopsis cuspidata, C. microprora, 12. Moncheca elegans, M. pretiosa, Vestria punctata.