A Tale's blade: Understanding evolutionary features of oviposition behavior based on Tettigoniidae (Insecta, Orthoptera, Ensifera) ovipositor morphology.

A remarkable characteristic of katydids (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae) is the elongated ovipositor, which is associated with oviposition behavior. The high degree of complexity of both sclerites and muscles arrangement of the ovipositor, is only similar to the ovipositor of Hymenoptera. Here we describe the morphology of the ovipositor within Tettigoniidae, and add descriptions of known oviposition behavior. Fifteen skeletal structures can be recognized, of these, three pairs of muscles are new while nine pairs were already described in the literature. The new muscles are ap2vf, anterior projection of second valvifer; bcov, blade complex of the ovipositor; and dbl, dorsal blade. The morphology of the ovipositor blade complex (bcov), the shape of the first valvifer (1vf), posterior intervalvular sclerite (piv), tergite IX (T9), anterior projection of the second valvifer (ap2vf), and the second valvifer (2vf), and their related muscles affect oviposition in Tettigoniidae. This contribution helps to understand katydid's oviposition behavior. Additionally, the new descriptions help in the search for new characters in Tettigoniidae.

New reports on Chinese Anelytra species (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae).

Based on the former studies and new material, Anelytra (Euanelytra) eunigrifrons Ingrisch, 1998 is reported in China for the first time. In addition, the female sex of Anelytra (Euanelytra) spinia Shi & Qiu, 2009 is described. We also confirmed that Anelytra (Euanelytra) spinia Shi & Qiu, 2009 is mainly distributed in Southern China. The examined specimens are deposited in Guangxi Normal University.

Recent findings of Pamphagidae (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) from Turkey.

Some new findings of the family Pamphagidae obtained in the field trips carried out in Turkey are presented. New distributional, morphological, and zoogeographical information are given for the recorded 15 species and subspecies. A new species Nocaracris nebulosa Ünal, sp. nov. and the unknown male of Nocaracris tauricola Ramme, 1951 are described.

A new species of the genus Burmadactylus Heads, 2009 from mid-Cretaceous amber in north Myanmar (Orthoptera: Caelifera: Tridactyloidea).

This paper describes a new species of the genus Burmadactylus Heads, 2009 (Tridactylidae: Dentridactylinae) from Burmese amber, namely: Burmadactylus tenuicerci sp. nov. This new species is similar to Burmadactylus grimaldi Heads, 2009, but differs from latter by mesotibia basally inflated and almost as long as mesofemur; the second segment of cercus distinctly slender; paraproctal lobe covered with sparse and slender setae, one of the setae near the apex distinct thick and long.

High acoustic diversity and behavioral complexity of katydids in the Mesozoic soundscape.

Acoustic communication has played a key role in the evolution of a wide variety of vertebrates and insects. However, the reconstruction of ancient acoustic signals is challenging due to the extreme rarity of fossilized organs. Here, we report the earliest tympanal ears and sound-producing system (stridulatory apparatus) found in exceptionally preserved Mesozoic katydids. We present a database of the stridulatory apparatus and wing morphology of Mesozoic katydids and further calculate their probable singing frequencies and analyze the evolution of their acoustic communication. Our suite of analyses demonstrates that katydids evolved complex acoustic communication including mating signals, intermale communication, and directional hearing, at least by the Middle Jurassic. Additionally, katydids evolved a high diversity of singing frequencies including high-frequency musical calls, accompanied by acoustic niche partitioning at least by the Late Triassic, suggesting that acoustic communication might have been an important driver in the early radiation of these insects. The Early-Middle Jurassic katydid transition from Haglidae- to Prophalangopsidae-dominated faunas coincided with the diversification of derived mammalian clades and improvement of hearing in early mammals, supporting the hypothesis of the acoustic coevolution of mammals and katydids. Our findings not only highlight the ecological significance of insects in the Mesozoic soundscape but also contribute to our understanding of how acoustic communication has influenced animal evolution.

Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Gryllacrididae (Orthoptera) IX: One new species of Apterolarnaca Gorochov, 2004 from Guangxi with description of female Apterolarnaca (Apterolarnaca) huanglianensis Bian amp; Lu, 2021.

This study provides description of one new species, Apterolarnaca (Bianigryllacris) spiculoproceris sp. nov. (Chinese name: ), from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The morphological photographs of Apterolarnaca (Apterolarnaca) huanglianensis Bian Lu, 2021 from Menghai, Yunnan Province are provided and the female sex is described for the first time. The newly founded female is similar to Apterolarnaca (Bianigryllacris) bilobus (Guo Shi, 2012) in basal area of ventral valvulae with a pair of digitate sclerites, which is proved that reducing the status of Bianigryllacris Cadena-Castaeda, 2019 to subgeneric level under Apterolarnaca Gorochov, 2004 is reasonable. All the specimens are deposited in Guangxi Normal University.

Contribution to the Chinese subfamily Rhaphidophorinae Walker, 1869 (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae: Rhaphidophorinae) IV: Seven new species of Rhaphidophora and one new mitogenome.

Seven new species and the female sex of Rhaphidophora xishuang Gorochov, 2012 of the rhaphidophorines are described from China. The images illustrating the morphology of the two known species are provided. Meanwhile, the complete mitogenome of Rhaphidophora quadrispina was assembled. The mitogenome was 15892 bp in length and contained the typical gene arrangement. All examined specimens are deposited in the Guangxi Normal University.

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).

Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Gryllacrididae (Orthoptera) VI: new descriptions of Ocellarnaca Gorochov, 2004.

In this paper, we report one new species, viz. Ocellarnaca longilobulata sp. nov. (Chinese name: ), and provide the descriptions of tegminal veins and morphological illustrations of Ocellarnaca fuscotessellata (Karny, 1926) (Chinese name: ) and Ocellarnaca furcifera (Karny, 1926) (Chinese name: ). All the specimens are deposited in Guangxi Normal University.

Studies on Neotropical Pseudophyllinae: A new, short-winged Platyphyllini genus (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from a High Andean Forest in Colombia.

By combining different research disciplines, biologists can understand natural processes in a broader way. Here, we combine both taxonomic and bioacoustic methodologies to provide the first observations of the morphology, geographical distribution, and the acoustic behavior of the monotypic genus Andeophylloides n. gen. This katydid is the second short-winged genus of the tribe Platyphyllini, after Brachyplatyphylloides, both of which are found in the Colombian Andes. This new genus is unique, because it is the first to be collected in a High Andean Forest, in contrast to the other members of the tribe that have been found predominantly at lower elevations. The sound recordings showed males calling with an echeme duration in average of 5.9 ± 3.1 s, a peak frequency of 22.5 kHz, and peak activity starting at 19:00 and decreasing until 05:00. These calls occur mainly in the months of the first rainy season of the year (March to May). Andeophylloides zarauzensis n. sp., is the sixth species of platyphyllines which calling song is known. Additionally, we discuss the taxonomy, bioacoustics, and differentiate the species with Dasyscelidius atrifrons (Pleminiini). This is required as the females are superficially similar and both species share the same geographical distribution.

Ovipositor and mouthparts in a fossil insect support a novel ecological role for early orthopterans in 300 million years old forests.

A high portion of the earliest known insect fauna is composed of the so-called 'lobeattid insects', whose systematic affinities and role as foliage feeders remain debated. We investigated hundreds of samples of a new lobeattid species from the Xiaheyan locality using a combination of photographic techniques, including reflectance transforming imaging, geometric morphometrics, and biomechanics to document its morphology, and infer its phylogenetic position and ecological role. Ctenoptilus frequens sp. nov. possessed a sword-shaped ovipositor with valves interlocked by two ball-and-socket mechanisms, lacked jumping hind-legs, and certain wing venation features. This combination of characters unambiguously supports lobeattids as stem relatives of all living Orthoptera (crickets, grasshoppers, katydids). Given the herein presented and other remains, it follows that this group experienced an early diversification and, additionally, occurred in high individual numbers. The ovipositor shape indicates that ground was the preferred substrate for eggs. Visible mouthparts made it possible to assess the efficiency of the mandibular food uptake system in comparison to a wide array of extant species. The new species was likely omnivorous which explains the paucity of external damage on contemporaneous plant foliage.

A new addition to the genus Apterolarnaca Gorochov, 2004 (Orthoptera: Gryllacrididae).

Herein one new species of Apterolarnaca is reported from Southwest China, Yunnan. The morphological features are described, and provided with colored charts of classification features. Up to now, the number of the genus reach four for Chinese fauna. The hootype is deposited in the Museum of Guangxi Normal University.

Two new species of the genus Criotettix Bolivar (Orthoptera: Tetrigoidea: Scelimenidae) from Zhejiang, China.

Two new species of the genus are described from Zhejiang, China in this paper. The new species Criotettix jinningensis sp. nov. is similar to Criotettix strivertexoides Zheng, Wei Li, 2009, but differs in width of vertex narrower than diameter of eye; pronotum shorter, not reaching the end of hind tibiae; width of fore wing 1.3 times width of mid leg femur and hind wing not reaching the end of pronotum. The new species Criotettix pananensis sp. nov. is similar to Criotettix transpi-noides Zheng, Bai Xu, 2012, it differs from latter by width of vertex narrower than diameter of eye; pronotum with parallel lateral keels and without a pair short longitudinal keels between shoulders; hind femur without projection in upper keel and hind wing extending over the end of pronotum. The type specimens are deposited in the College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, China.

First record of the genus Yalvaciana (Tettigoniidae; Tettigoniinae; Platycleidini) with the description of a new species from India.

The genus Yalvaciana Ciplak et.al (2002) is reported for the first time from India represented by a new species. Previously the genus comprised a single species, Yalvaciana yalvaci Demirsoy, (1974). Brief information about morphology, distribution and key to species are given. The Holotype has been deposited in the Museum of Zoology Department, AMU (ZDAMU).

Description of a new species of the genus Ruspolia (Schulthess, 1898) (Conocephalinae: Copiphorini) from Kashmir, India.

Karny (1912) proposed the tribe Copiphorini within the subfamily Conocephalinae, family Tettigoniidae. Copiphorini is one of the four tribes of Conocephalinae. The members of this tribe are characterized by slanting head shape and notched frons. The specimens for this study were collected in different regions of the Kashmir valley in the year 2020. A brief morphological description of the genus and new species is given. Also, a key to Indian species is provided. The type specimen has been deposited in the Museum of Zoology Department AMU.

A new species of Parapteronemobius from Zhejiang, China (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae: Nemobiinae).

Parapteronemobius contains 7 species or subspecies distributed in East Asia with only one species recorded from China. In this study, we reported the second species, P. chenggong He sp. nov., from Zhejiang. The new species differs from P. dibrachiatus in body size, male genitalia and COI gene. The phylogeny of this genus in subfamily Nemobiinae are discussed based on COI, 18S and 28S genes. The type specimens are deposited in the Museum of Biology, East China Normal University (ECNU).

Report of a new genus Arboramima belonging to tribe Diestramimini, with a new species A. cattusis from Guangxi, China (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae: Aemodogryllinae).

A new genus (Arboramima Zong, Qin He gen. nov.) with a new species (Arboramima cattusis Zong, Qin He sp. nov.) is reported from Guangxi, China. The morphology of the new genus and species are provided. Samples of Aemodogryllinae species were selected for the reconstruction of phylogenetic tree based on mitochondrial COI fragment. The results supported the validation of the new genus. The type specimens are deposited in Museum of Biology, East China Normal University (ECNU).

A new species of Heminicsara (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Agraeciini) from West Papua (New Guinea).

Heminicsara Karny, 1912 is a katydid genus of Agraeciini from the Axylus genus group. It currently comprises 62 species from mainly New Guinea and surrounding archipelagos. Based on recent fieldwork in Lobo in West Papua, Indonesia, a new species of Heminicsara is described here: Heminicsara incrassata sp. nov. It is most readily characterised from congeners and other species of the Axylus genus group by the male tenth abdominal tergite forming a large shield-shaped plate. This represents the first species of Heminicsara described and known from the south-west of New Guinea.

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.

Description of a new species of the genus Pseudepitettix Zheng (Orthoptera: Tetrigoidea: Cladonotinae) from China.

Pseudepitettix convexa Deng, sp. nov. is described with detailed illustrations of external morphology. Comparison between new species and other species of the genus Pseudepitettix Zheng, 1995 is compiled into a table for identification. An updated key to species of the genus is given.