Eriolus frater

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, : 89

Frater species group

The following, informal assemblage of species of the genus Erioloides includes a number of cryptic taxa, virtually indistinguishable based on their overall appearance. Besides clearly defined differences in the male genital and stridulatory structures, their size, coloration, and external morphology are nearly identical. Females of these species can only be identified with a fair degree of certainty by comparing their coloration and features of the fastigium of vertex with those of males collected at the same site. Often conspecific males exhibit minor variations in coloration and fastigium morphology among sites, and several species can be found at one location. Therefore, males and females collected from the same locality should not be automatically considered conspecific. The structure of the file (or lamella) on the upper valvula of the ovipositor can help identify some species of the Frater species group, but this character is subject to intraspecific variation and should not be used as a definitive key character in identifying females.

Virtually nothing is known about the biology of the species of the Frater species group. Occasionally, individuals of these species come to light, and are frequently collected by canopy fogging, indicating a nocturnal, arboreal life. In captivity they ate numerous fruits and vegetables, refusing any insect material. Nothing is known about their bioacoustic behavior.