Increased genome size is caused by heterochromatin addition in two non-related bat species, Hesperoptenus doriae and Philetor brachypterus (Vespertilionidae, Chiroptera, Mammalia).

The average genome size (GS) of bats, which are the only mammals capable of powered flight, is approximately 18% smaller than that of closely related mammalian orders. The low nuclear DNA content of Chiroptera is comparable to that of birds, which are also characterized by a high metabolic rate. Only a few chiropteran taxa possess notable amounts of constitutive heterochromatin. Here, we studied the karyotypes of two non-related vesper bat species with unusually high amounts of constitutive heterochromatin: Hesperoptenus doriae and Philetor brachypterus. Conventional staining methods and whole-chromosome painting with probes derived from Myotis myotis (2n = 44), showing a karyotype close to that of the presumed ancestor of Vespertilionidae, revealed Robertsonian fusions as the main type of rearrangement leading to the exceptionally reduced diploid chromosome number of 2n = 26 in both species. Moreover, both karyotypes are characterized by large blocks of pericentromeric heterochromatin composed of CMA-positive and DA-DAPI-positive segments. In H. doriae, the heterochromatin accumulation has resulted in a genome size of 3.22 pg (1C), which is 40% greater than the mean genome size for the family. For P. brachypterus, a genome size of 2.94 pg was determined, representing an increase of about 28%. Most notably, in H. doriae, the presence of additional constitutive heterochromatin correlates with an extended mitotic cell cycle duration in vitro. A reduction in diploid chromosome number to 30 or lower is discussed as a possible cause of the accumulation of pericentromeric heterochromatin in Vespertilionidae.

A comparative study of genome organization and inferences for the systematics of two large bushcricket genera of the tribe Barbitistini (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae).

BACKGROUND: Poecilimon and Isophya are the largest genera of the tribe Barbitistini and among the most systematically complicated and evolutionarily intriguing groups of Palearctic tettigoniids. We examined the genomic organization of 79 taxa with a stable chromosome number using classical (C-banding, silver and fluorochrome staining) and molecular (fluorescence in situ hybridization with 18S rDNA and (TTAGG)n telomeric probes) cytogenetic techniques. These tools were employed to establish genetic organization and differences or similarities between genera or species within the same genus and determine if cytogenetic markers can be used for identifying some taxonomic groups of species. RESULTS: Differences between the karyotypes of the studied genera include some general changes in the morphology of the X chromosome in Isophya (in contrast to Poecilimon). The number of major rDNA clusters per haploid genome divided Poecilimon into two main almost equal groups (with either one or two clusters), while two rDNA clusters predominated in Isophya. In both genera, rDNA loci were preferentially located in the paracentromeric region of the autosomes and rarely in the sex chromosomes. Our results demonstrate a coincidence between the location of rDNA loci and active NORs and GC-rich heterochromatin regions. The C/DAPI/CMA3 bands observed in most Poecilimon chromosomes suggest the presence of more families of repetitive DNA sequences as compared to the heterochromatin patterns in Isophya. CONCLUSIONS: The results show both differences and similarities in genome organization among species of the same genus and between genera. Previous views on the systematics and phylogenetic grouping of certain lineages are discussed in light of the present cytogenetic results. In some cases, variation of chromosome markers was observed to correspond with variation in other evolutionary traits, which is related to the processes of ongoing speciation and hybridization in zones of secondary contact. It was concluded that the physical mapping of rDNA sequences and heterochromatin may be used as an additional marker for understanding interspecific relationships in these groups and their routes of speciation.

Karyotype evolution in the horseshoe bat Rhinolophus sedulus by whole-arm reciprocal translocation (WART).

Robertsonian (centric) fusion or fission is one of the predominant modes of chromosomal rearrangement in karyotype evolution among mammals. However, in karyotypes composed of only bi-armed chromosomes, creation of new chromosomal arm combinations in one step is possible only via whole-arm reciprocal translocation (WART). Although this type of rearrangement has often been proposed to play an important role in chromosomal evolution, direct observations of WARTs remained rare, and, in most cases, were found in hybrids of chromosomal races in the genera Mus and Sorex. For the first time, we present the karyotype of the horseshoe bat species Rhinolophus sedulus (2n = 28, FNa = 52), where a WART between 2 metacentric autosomes was detected by G-banding and confirmed by FISH with painting probes of the vespertilionid bat Myotis myotis. Among the 6 specimens analyzed, 2 showed the heterozygous condition of the WART, 1 showed the presumed ancestral, and 3 specimens showed the derived homozygous state. As the existence of a hybrid zone at the sampling locality is thought to be rather improbable, the WART may indicate ongoing karyotype evolution in this taxon.

Taxonomic, bioacoustic and faunistic data on a collection of Tettigonioidea from Eastern Congo (Insecta: Orthoptera).

During a 14-day excursion in March 1990, 28 species of tettigonioids were found at Irangi (1º54'S, 28º27'E), ca.100 km north west of Bukavu at Lake Kivu (Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire), and at other localities near Bukavu. One species -Arantia (Arantia) gracilicercata Heller sp. n. - is new to science, another one-Pantecphyllus helleri Schmidt et al. 2004-was already described as new in a generic revision. All our specimens of the morphologically quite diverse and sexually dimorphic phaneropterine genus Arantia were studied using molecular methods. We propose a new subgenus Arantia (Euarantia) Heller subgen. n. based on relative tegmen width. Songs and stridulatory organs were studied in 9 species. Two phaneropterines, Horatosphaga leggei and Pardalota asymmetrica, showed remarkable calling songs lasting more than 10 s and produced by quite complicated stridulatory movements. The song of the large phaneropterine Zeuneria biramosa is noteworthy because of its unusually low carrier frequency of 3.7 kHz. Based on the examination of other specimens and species, some taxonomic changes are proposed (Phaneropteridae Burmeister, 1838 stat. rev.; Afromecopoda monroviana (Karsch, 1886) stat. rev.; Leproscirtus ebneri Karny, 1919, syn. n., Leproscirtus karschi Karny, 1919, syn. n., Leproscirtus granulosus aptera Karny, 1919, syn. n., all synonyms of Leproscirtus granulosus (Karsch, 1886); Lanistoides Sjöstedt, 1913 stat. rev.; Plastocorypha cabrai Griffini, 1909 stat. n.).

The tanan [Chlorocoelus hypericifolius (Stoll 1813): Orthoptera, Tettigonioidea, Pseudophyllinae]re-discovered more than 150 years after the description of the male by Bates and the figuring by Darwin.

In his famous book, The descent of man and selection in relation to sex, Darwin (1871) described the male secondary sexual characters of Orthoptera in some detail. As the most prominent example, he presented a figure of a South American bush-cricket species. It had been described a few years before by Bates and was called, onomatopoetically, Chlorocoelus tanana. Surprisingly, the fascinating species has never been found since this time, although in old collections some additional specimens were located. Based on recently collected material and information on the internet, we clarify the taxonomy of the species and give details of the male stridulatory organ and its distribution. The peak frequency (2.1 kHz) of its resonant disturbance sounds indicates that also calling song may have an unusually low carrier frequency similar to other large bush-crickets with extraordinarily inflated tegmina.

The bush-cricket Isophya kraussii (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae): bioacoustics, distribution and description of a new subspecies from Romania.

Isophya kraussii Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878, one of the widest spread bush-crickets within this genus, is confirmed to be present east of the Carpathian Mountains. Based on acoustic analysis and morphological characters, the populations from NE Romania are considered to belong to a different subspecies, I. kraussii moldavica ssp. n. A map with distribution of both subspecies is presented.

A review of Eupholidoptera (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae) from Crete, Gavdos, Gavdopoula, and Andikithira.

Being nocturnal, hiding in prickly bushes and shrubs during the day, Eupholidoptera species in Crete and its neighbouring islands are easily overlooked, and until now our knowledge about their distribution was based on some thirty sightings across 11 species. In this paper results are presented of a study of Eupholidoptera specimens collected between 1987 and 2020 by hand-catches and pitfall and fermenting traps on the Greek islands of Crete, Gavdos, Gavdopoula, and Andikithira. Diagnostic features of all known species are presented and illustrated with stacked images. An updated key to all species is provided. Eupholidopterafrancisae Tilmans & Odé, sp. nov. from Andikithira and southwestern Crete and Eupholidopteramarietheresae Willemse & Kotitsa, sp. nov. from Mt. Dikti are described. Female E.cretica, E.gemellata, and E.mariannae are described, and the female of E.astyla is redescribed. Bioacoustics for E.francisae Tilmans & Odé, sp. nov., E.giuliae, and E.jacquelinae are presented for the first time. Eupholidopterasmyrnensis is reported for the first time from Crete. A substantial amount of new distribution data for Eupholidoptera species on Crete is presented. The current distribution pattern and first analyses of phylogeny based on molecular data of Eupholidoptera species on Crete are discussed in relation to paleogeographical events.

Taxonomy review of the genus Brachytrupes (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) with the description of a new species and key to the species.

The taxonomy of the genus Brachytrupes Serville, 1838, known as Giant Burrowing Crickets is revised. Brachytrupes includes thirteen species, with B. megacephalus Lefebvre, 1827 designated as type species to promote nomenclature stability. Brachytrupes membranaceus Drury 1773, is regarded as a nomen dubium. Furthermore, the present study provides a description of a new species Brachytrupes bapaensis Simeu-Noutchom, Kekeunou & Heller sp. nov. from West Cameroon, together with a species identification key and geographic distribution. Brachytrupes bapaensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other species of the genus by its black-brown body, pronotum smooth and black with a yellow spot on the lateral margin, posterior pronotum as wide as the anterior. Moreover, calling song with the syllable period around 8 ms and the syllable repetition rate near 115 Hz have been recorded. This review has wide implications for the knowledge of edible insects as well as their distribution.

Dinarippiger gen. nov. (Tettigoniidae: Bradyporinae: Ephippigerini), a new saddle bush-cricket genus for Ephippiger discoidalis Fieber, 1853 from the Dinaric karst.

A new genus of the tribe Ephippigerini, Dinarippiger Skejo, Kasalo, Fontana et Tvrtkovic gen. nov., is described based on the characters of occiput coloration, tegmina coloration, cerci and pronotum shape. The new genus is morphologically intermediate between the genera Ephippiger Berthold, 1827 and Uromenus Bolívar, 1878, and presently includes only Dalmatian Saddle Bush Cricket, Dinarippiger discoidalis (Fieber, 1853) comb. nov., hitherto known as Ephippiger discoidalis Fieber, 1853. The species inhabits NE Italy (mainly Carso Triestino), SW Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro, i.e., islands and karst habitats along the eastern Adriatic coast, with isolated findings in Albania and Italy. Its prominent variation in size and coloration has already produced many synonyms (= limbata Fischer, 1853, = limbata var. major Krauss, 1879, = limbata var. minor Krauss, 1879, = selenophora Fieber, 1853, = sphacophila Krauss, 1879), which may suggest that what is currently regarded as a single species could represent a complex of distinct species with restricted distributions. This study also presents an annotated distribution map and a bioacoustic analysis of D. discoidalis comb. nov. Further research, especially adopting molecular methods, is necessary to assess possible cryptic diversity within the genus Dinarippiger gen. nov. and elucidate its evolutionary history.

Review of song patterns and sound production in armoured ground crickets (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Hetrodini) with karyological data and taxonomic notes.

In the mate finding system of bush-crickets, acoustical signals play a central role. Here we review and describe the bioacoustics of Hetrodini, a morphologically uniform group of Tettigonioidea with a distribution centered in Africa. The male calling songs are produced by tegmino-tegminal stridulation. In all species, these fore wings are completely covered by the pronotum (invisible in intact specimens) and lack the glossy mirror cells which are well-known from many other singing Ensifera. Concerning spectral composition, the broad frequency peak and the parts with the most energy lie in the high audio or low ultrasonic range. In amplitude modulation, the songs are relatively simply structured and contain only one type of syllables each. These syllables consist of heavily dampened impulses (non-resonant song) and are arranged in long series of echemes (chirps) or trills. As far as it is known, syntopic species differ in syllable and/or echeme repetition rates. In contrast to the uniform morphology, the karyotypes are surprisingly diverse with chromosome numbers ranging from 2n = 29 to 17 and one of two sex determination systems: X0 and neo-XY. In our opinion, taxonomically the group is at the moment at best considered as a tribe incertae sedis (without subfamily classification) within Tettigoniidae (not Tettigoniinae sensu OSF).

Revision of the high-altitude genus Hyphinomos Uvarov, 1921 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) with a redescription and new data on mating behavior and acoustic signals of H. svenhedini Ramme, 1950.

High mountains are known for their unique habitats and extreme climatic conditions. Many inhabitants of this area are specialists and are known as hypsobionts. Among Ensifera, only selected species from different genera are true hypsobionts. Species in the genus Hyphinomos are one of them. Hyphinomos occurs only between 3800 and 5500 m a.s.l., and is known from two species, fasciata Uvarov, 1921 and svenhedini Ramme, 1950. Until recently they were both known only from their type localities situated in mountain ranges of the Himalayas. In this paper, we amend the description of H. svenhedini by adding new data on its distribution, habitat, structure of the male genitalia, stridulatory structures, acoustic signals (long-distance and courtship), and mating behavior. In addition, we have revised the description of Hyphinomos.

Review of the genus Macroscirtus Pictet, 1888 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) with the description of a new species.

The genus Macroscirtus belongs to the subfamily Mecopodinae with five recognized species distributed in central-west tropical Africa. All species are known from very few localities. The species are reviewed and, in addition, a new species from Cameroon is described. Macroscirtus kekeunoui sp. nov. is characterized by the tegmina not reaching the penultimate abdominal segment; hind femura with mottled brown external face, ventral and internal face completely pale yellow; male subgenital plate elongated horizontally, indentation edge straight. Species descriptions of the genus are documented and a key to the species is also provided.

Highly divergent karyotypes and barcoding of the East African genus Gonatoxia Karsch (Orthoptera: Phaneropterinae).

East Africa is a hotspot of biodiversity of many orthopteran taxa, including bushcrickets. Gonatoxia Karsch, 1889 species are fully alate Phaneropterinae, which are perfectly adapted to the foliage of forests. We examined five species using combined cytogenetic and molecular data to determine the inter- and intraspecific genetic diversity. The variation in the diploid number of chromosomes in males ranged from 2n = 28 + X0 and 26 + X0 to 2n = 6 + X0. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed from one to many 18S rDNA loci as well as interstitial sequences, especially in G. helleri. 18S rDNA loci coincided with active NOR and C-banding patterns. The isolation of populations of the species explains differences in the number of chromosomes (G. maculata), chromosomal polymorphism and chromosomal heterozygosity (G. helleri). Our molecular phylogeny based on the COI locus supported the monophyly of the genus Gonatoxia and separateness of the five examined species in accordance with their morphological features and chromosome numbers as well as the species' distribution.

Songs in the genus Uromenus (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Ephippigerini): A review with new information about some species.

With nearly 60 described forms Uromenus is the most species-rich genus of the tribe Ephippigerini, a west Palearctic group of flightless bush-crickets (katydids). As it is typical for bush-crickets, Uromenus males produce species-specific calling songs to attract females prepared to mate. These insects are relatively large and their songs have always components audible to humans. Nevertheless, acoustical information are available only for few species. Also the phylogenetic relationships of species and species groups are poorly known. In this paper we present new data on the song and morphology of several species (U. dyrrhachiacus, U. elegans, U. finoti, U. galvagnii, U. robustus, U. tobboganensis and U. innocentii) and give a review of all published acoustical data. Judging from the still few data, as in other Ephippigerini the song patterns often seem to contain species-group characteristics making them candidates to be used in phylogenetic studies. Additionally, we have studied the female stridulatory organs which are unique in structure in Ephippigerini and completely different from those of the males. Despite in Uromenus used only for defensive stridulation, possibly species-specific similarities in structure between males and females exist.

Diversification of the Balloon bushcrickets (Orthoptera, Hexacentrinae, Aerotegmina) in the East African mountains.

East African mountains constitute a network of isolated habitat islands among dry savannah and are thus ideal for studying species diversification processes. This study elucidated the phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships of all bushcricket species comprising the genus Aerotegmina. Our analysis indicated that large-scale climatic and topographic processes in Africa are likely to have driven speciation in this group, and revealed the cytogenetic traits of the species. Molecular phylogeny supported the monophyly of Aerotegmina and showed that the genus probably originated in the old Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and Kenya. Two lineages were distinguished: small- and large-sized species with geographically distinct habitats. The underlying processes are thought to be eight dispersals, ten vicariance events, and one extinction event linked to repeated fragmentation of the African rainforest. Those processes, in conjunction with habitat change, probably also led to the spatial separation of the species into a northern clade with a diploid number of chromosomes 2n = 32 + X0 or 2n = 30 + neo-XY and a southern clade with a reduced number of chromosomes (2n = 28 + X0 or 24 + neo-X1X2Y). Karyotype analysis suggests that Aerotegmina is currently in the process of speciation.

Bioacoustics and systematics of Mecopoda (and related forms) from South East Asia and adjacent areas (Orthoptera, Tettigonioidea, Mecopodinae) including some chromosome data.

Bush-crickets (or katydids) of the genus Mecopoda are relatively large insects well-known for their sounds for centuries. Bioacoustic studies in India and China revealed a surprisingly large diversity of sound patterns. We extend these studies into the tropics of South East Asia using integrative taxonomy, combining song analysis, morphology of sound producing organs and male genitalia as well as chromosomes, to get a better understanding of the phylogeny and evolution of this widespread group. Besides the closely related genus Eumecopoda, the genus Mecopoda contains some isolated species and a large group of species which we assign to the Mecopoda elongata group. Some species of this group have broad tegmina and stridulatory files with different tooth spacing patterns and produce continuous, often relatively complicated, trill-like songs. The species of another subgroup with narrower wings have all similar files. Their songs consist of echemes (groups of syllables) which differ in syllable number and syllable repetition rate and also in echeme repetition rate. Our results show that South East Asia harbours a large and certainly not yet fully explored number of Mecopoda species which are most easily and clearly identified by song. Based on the data, five new forms are described: Mecopoda mahindai Heller sp. nov., Mecopoda paucidens Ingrisch, Su Heller sp. nov., Mecopoda sismondoi Heller sp. nov., Mecopoda niponensis vietnamica Heller Korsunovskaya subsp. nov., Eumecopoda cyrtoscelis zhantievi Heller subsp. nov. In addition, some taxonomic changes are proposed: Eumecopoda Hebard, 1922 stat. rev., Paramecopoda Gorochov, 2020, syn. nov. of Eumecopoda Hebard, 1922, Mecopoda javana (Johansson, 1763) stat. nov. (neotype selected) with M. javana minahasa Gorochov, 2020 stat. nov., M. javana darevskyi Gorochov, 2020 stat. nov., M. javana buru Gorochov, 2020 stat. nov., Mecopoda macassariensis (Haan, 1843) stat. rev., Mecopoda ampla malayensis Gorochov, 2020 syn. nov., Mecopada ampla javaensis Gorochov, 2020 syn. nov., Mecopoda fallax aequatorialis Gorochov, 2020 syn. nov., the last three are all synonyms of Mecopoda himalaya Liu, 2020, Mecopoda yunnana Liu 2020, stat. nov.

Bioacoustics of poorly known Poecilimon taxa (Insecta: Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) with redescriptions of P. pechevi and P. stschelkanovzevi.

The genus Poecilimon has been object of several studies dealing with its systematics, sound communication and evolution. Yet, published data contradict in the classification, while many taxa are still insufficiently known. In the present study we supplement the knowledge of 13 poorly known species and one additional subspecies with data on their sound communication and/or morphology. Most species concerned here are classified within two acoustic groups. First group includes P. celebi, P. obtusicercus and P. toros, showing typical characteristics of the P. syriacus group. Second group is more heterogeneous. Among that, P. pechevi, P. armeniacus, P. harveyi, P. guichardi, P. haydari, P. doga, P. davisi and P. excisus present a song pattern similar to that of P. ampliatus. In addition, P. ataturki is also quite similar in basic song structure to the latter but differs in its fine song structure. Poecilimon stschelkanovzevi, with unclear relationships, is described morphologically in detail. The present study provides hints for solving some disagreement between recent revisions, proposing unification of the Poecilimon celebi with P. syriacus group and opening discussion based on close relationships of the groups ampliatus, armeniacus, davisi, luschani and the species P. guichardi on one hand, while the complex P. ataturki/glandifer shows significant differences on the other. The acoustic peculiarities of the ampliatus group allies are discussed in an evolutionary light.

Island mysteries in the spotlight: Barbitistes kaltenbachi and Rhacocleis buchichii, the only bush-cricket species endemic to Croatia (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae).

Hvar Saw Bush-cricket Barbitistes kaltenbachi Harz, 1965 (Phaneropterinae: Barbitistini) and Lesina Bush-cricket Rhacocleis buchichii Brunner von Wattenwyl in Herman 1874 (Tettigoniinae: Platycleidini) are flightless orthopterans restricted to a narrow area in the Mediterranean part of Croatia, both originally described from Hvar Island. In this study, all available information on these two interesting species is presented: data on morphology, bioacoustics, distribution, habitat, and a key to identification of the species belonging to genera Barbitistes and Rhacocleis in Croatia. The songs of both B. kaltenbachi and R. buchichii are described here for the first time, with the former one being the second known example of a synchronising and presumably duetting species. Both species were reassessed according to the IUCN Red List criteria, where B. kaltenbachi should be considered an endangered species, while R. buchichii is suggested to be downgraded to a less threatened category. Biogeography and evolution of the species are briefly discussed.

Rapid chromosomal evolution in the bush-cricket Gonatoxia helleri Hemp, 2016 (Orthoptera, Phaneropterinae).

Gonatoxia helleri Hemp, 2016 is one of the most widespread bush-crickets of the genus Gonatoxia Karsch, 1889 in East Africa. This species with seven large chromosomes (2n♂ = 7) differs from other representatives of the genus Gonatoxia drastically by its reduced chromosome number, the asymmetrical karyotype including karyomorphs rarely found in tettigoniids, as well as in irregularities in the course of meiosis. To better understand the origin of such an exceptional karyotype, chromosomes of 29 specimens from four populations/localities were studied using classical techniques, such as C-banding, silver impregnation, fluorochrome double staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique with 18S rDNA and (TTAGG) n telomeric probes. FISH showed many 18S rDNA loci as well as interstitial telomeric sequences, where chromosome morphology varied in these components in terms of quantity and distribution. The 18S rDNA loci coincided with active NORs and C-banding patterns. We suggest that a combination of Robertsonian rearrangements and/or multiple common tandem fusions involving the same chromosomes contributed to the formation of this karyotype/karyomorphs. The results are the first step towards a better understanding of chromosomal reorganization and evolution within the genus Gonatoxia. Low chromosome number, together with the incidence of chromosomal polymorphism that is higher in G. helleri than previously reported in bush-crickets, implies that this species can be a valuable new model for cytogenetic and speciation studies. Our findings suggest that chromosomal translocations lead to diversification and speciation in this species and could be the driving force of adaptive radiation.

Biology, sounds and vibratory signals of hooded katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phyllophorinae).

The tettigoniid subfamily Phyllophorinae, distributed in Southeast Asia and Australia, is poorly known. Our study of the biology of Giant Katydid Siliquofera grandis (Blanchard, 1853) from a laboratory culture has shown that these insects mate more than once, the females lay a total of up to 400 eggs during their life, and these hatch after 2-2.5 months. The life cycle from egg to death takes longer than one year. In the laboratory, the insects fed mainly on leaves of various Rosaceae, Ficus, and lettuce, and on fruits.                It is known that the males of hooded katydids lack the tegminal stridulatory apparatus typical for Tettigoniidae, but are capable of producing protest sounds using their coxosternal sound-producing organs for stridulation. Here, protest stridulation of the males and females and the sound-producing organs used to produce it have been analyzed in Phyllophorina kotoshoensis Shiraki, 1930 and S. grandis. In addition, nymphal protest sounds produced by friction of the metafemur against the edge of the pronotum and adult protest signals produced with the wings are described. In S. grandis, vibratory signals have been described and studied for the first time: territorial, protest, drumming and rhythmic low-amplitude vibrations emitted by adults and nymphs and pre- and postcopulatory vibrations of the males and females. The territorial signals not accompanied with visible movements of the body may be produced by contracting the antagonist muscles of the thorax and possibly of the legs. Using their coxosternal sound-producing organs males of S. grandis produced also an audible courtship song lasting for several seconds. Acoustic signals may thus both regulate intrapopulation relations and serve for interspecific communication (protest signals). The acoustic communication in Phyllophorinae is probably especially important during mating behavior.