Latest Articles from Journal of Orthoptera Research Latest 11 Articles from Journal of Orthoptera Research https://jor.pensoft.net/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 10:31:54 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://jor.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Journal of Orthoptera Research https://jor.pensoft.net/ A new long-winged pygmy grasshopper in Eocene Baltic amber raises questions about the evolution of reduced tegmenula in Tetrigidae (Orthoptera) https://jor.pensoft.net/article/105144/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 33(1): 21-26

DOI: 10.3897/jor.33.105144

Authors: Josip Skejo, Niko Kasalo, M. Jared Thomas, Sam W. Heads

Abstract: Extant pygmy grasshoppers (Tetrigidae) that possess wings have the forewings reduced into scale-like tegmenula, while hind wings remain fully developed. Rusmithia gorochovi gen. et sp. nov. (Tetrigidae, Batrachideinae, Rusmithini trib. nov.) is described based on a single adult female holotype from Lithuanian Baltic amber, from the Bartonian-Priabonian age, some 40 million years ago, and this is the only known tetrigid in which tegmenula or tegmina (the forewings) extend as far as half the length of the hind femur. Besides this very unique trait, other characters of Rusmithia gen. nov. indicate similarity with extant and especially fossil Batrachideinae (genus Danatettix Thomas, Skejo & Heads, 2019). Because of the strong differences this genus and Danatettix have with American Batrachideinae, they are assigned to a new tribe, European Batrachideinae or Rusmithini trib. nov. Acrydium bachofeni (Zeuner, 1937) might belong to this or a sibling genus based on its very long tegmenula or Succinotettix chopardi Piton, 1938, based on its 19-segmented antennae; neither species is tranferred as their types could not be examined.

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Research Article Tue, 9 Jan 2024 10:59:44 +0200
Geographic variation in phenotypic divergence between two hybridizing field cricket species https://jor.pensoft.net/article/90713/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 32(2): 189-200

DOI: 10.3897/jor.32.90713

Authors: Amy R. Byerly, Clara Jenck, Alexander R. B. Goetz, David B. Weissman, David A. Gray, Charles L. Ross, Luana S. Maroja, Erica L. Larson

Abstract: Patterns of morphological divergence across species’ ranges can provide insight into local adaptation and speciation. In this study, we compared phenotypic divergence among 4,221 crickets from 337 populations of two closely related species of field cricket, Gryllus firmus and G. pennsylvanicus, and their hybrids. We found that these species differ across their geographic range in key morphological traits, such as body size and ovipositor length, and we directly compared phenotype with genotype for a subset of crickets to demonstrate nuclear genetic introgression, phenotypic intermediacy of hybrids, and essentially unidirectional mitochondrial introgression. We discuss how these morphological traits relate to life history differences between the two species. Our comparisons across geographic areas support prior research suggesting that cryptic variation within G. firmus may represent different species. Our study highlights how variable morphology can be across wide-ranging species and the importance of studying reproductive barriers in more than one or two transects of a hybrid zone.

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Research Article Mon, 25 Sep 2023 08:02:21 +0300
Geographic variation in the calling songs and genetics of Bartram’s round-winged katydid Amblycorypha bartrami (Tettigoniidae, Phaneropterinae) reveal new species https://jor.pensoft.net/article/96295/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 32(2): 153-170

DOI: 10.3897/jor.32.96295

Authors: Timothy G. Forrest, Micaela Scobie, Olivia Brueckner, Brittania Bintz, John D. Spooner

Abstract: Previous work on Bartram’s round-winged katydid, Amblycorypha bartrami Walker, found inconsistencies in song variation across the species’ range. Individuals of purported populations of A. bartrami from sandhills across the southeastern US were collected, recorded, and their genes were sequenced to better understand their population structure and evolution. Significant differences in songs, morphology, and genetics were found among populations from Alabama (AL), Georgia (GA), North Carolina (NC), and South Carolina (SC), and they differed from those of individuals collected from the type locality in Florida (FL). Males from all populations produced songs composed of a series of similar syllables, but they differed in the rates at which syllables were produced as a function of temperature. At temperatures of 25°C, the calling songs of males from populations in northern AL and GA were found to have the highest syllable rates, those from SC had the lowest rates, and those from NC were found to produce songs with doublet syllables at rates that were intermediate between those of males from FL and those of AL and GA. These song differences formed the basis for cluster analyses and principal component analyses, which showed significant clustering and differences in song spectra and morphology among the song morphs. A Bayesian multi-locus, multi-species coalescent analysis found significant divergences from a panmictic population for the song morphs. Populations from GA and AL are closely related to those of A. bartrami in FL, whereas populations from NC and SC are closely related to each other and differ from the other three. Large river systems may have been important in isolating these populations of flightless katydids. Based on the results of our analyses of songs, morphology, and genetics, three new species of round-winged katydids from the southeastern coastal plain and piedmont are described.

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Research Article Thu, 21 Sep 2023 16:58:16 +0300
The role of community science in orthopteran research https://jor.pensoft.net/article/90444/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 32(2): 109-114

DOI: 10.3897/jor.32.90444

Authors: Amy R. Byerly, Thomas J. Firneno Jr., Riley Beard, Erica L. Larson

Abstract: Orthopterans are commonly encountered in rural, suburban, and urban landscapes and have charismatic songs that attract the public’s attention. These are ideal organisms for connecting the public with science and critical concepts in ecology and evolution, such as habitat conservation and climate change. In this review, we provide an overview of community science and review community science in orthopterans. Best practices for orthopteran community science are provided, with a focus on audio recordings and highlighting new ways in which scientists who study orthopterans can engage in community science. Before the modern era, scientific discovery was commonly made by people who were not scientists by profession (Brenna 2011, Miller-Rushing et al. 2012). This began to change in the middle of the nineteenth century when science became highly academic, with greater “gatekeeping” of knowledge, and data collection became increasingly expensive. As a result, much of the knowledge gained during that time has been effectively withheld from non-scientists in difficult-to-obtain scientific journals, and there were few opportunities for the public to directly engage with scientific research. In recent years, there has been a concerted effort from the scientific community to change the way we engage with the public. These “citizen” or “community” science projects are filling gaps in the modern approach to scientific inquiry (Jordan et al. 2012, Toomey and Domroese 2013, Johnson et al. 2014). Here, we provide an overview of community science and highlight the exciting and unique role that community science can play in orthopteran research. We focus on how acoustic surveys can be used to study orthopteran biodiversity, provide best practices for orthopteran community science, and suggest future avenues for research.

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Review Article Wed, 10 May 2023 10:20:14 +0300
Substrate-borne vibration in Pacific field cricket courtship displays https://jor.pensoft.net/article/47778/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 30(1): 43-50

DOI: 10.3897/jor.30.47778

Authors: E Dale Broder, Aaron W. Wikle, James H. Gallagher, Robin M. Tinghitella

Abstract: While thought to be widely used for animal communication, substrate-borne vibration is relatively unexplored compared to other modes of communication. Substrate-borne vibrations are important for mating decisions in many orthopteran species, yet substrate-borne vibration has not been documented in the Pacific field cricket Teleogryllus oceanicus. Male T. oceanicus use wing stridulation to produce airborne calling songs to attract females and courtship songs to entice females to mate. A new male morph has been discovered, purring crickets, which produce much quieter airborne calling and courtship songs than typical males. Purring males are largely protected from a deadly acoustically orienting parasitoid fly, and they are still able to attract female crickets for mating though typical calling song is more effective for attracting mates. Here, we document the first record of substrate-borne vibration in both typical and purring male morphs of T. oceanicus. We used a paired microphone and accelerometer to simultaneously record airborne and substrate-borne sounds produced during one-on-one courtship trials in the field. Both typical and purring males produced substrate-borne vibrations during courtship that temporally matched the airborne acoustic signal, suggesting that the same mechanism (wing movement) produces both sounds. As previously established, in the airborne channel, purring males produce lower amplitude but higher peak frequency songs than typical males. In the vibrational channel, purring crickets produce songs that are higher in peak frequency than typical males, but there is no difference in amplitude between morphs. Because louder songs (airborne) are preferred by females in this species, the lack of difference in amplitude between morphs in the substrate-borne channel could have implications for mating decisions. This work lays the groundwork for investigating variation in substrate-borne vibrations in T. oceanicus, intended and unintended receiver responses to these vibrations, and the evolution of substrate-borne vibrations over time in conjunction with rapid evolutionary shifts in the airborne acoustic signal.

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Research Article Fri, 7 May 2021 19:58:30 +0300
Consequences of advanced maternal age on reproductive investment by male offspring https://jor.pensoft.net/article/39228/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 29(1): 71-76

DOI: 10.3897/jor.29.39228

Authors: Jacob D. Wilson, Sophia C. Anner, Shannon M. Murphy, Robin M. Tinghitella

Abstract: Maternal age can have contrasting effects on a variety of offspring fitness traits. While the effects of maternal age on offspring traits that are not sex-specific, such as body size and growth rate, as well as on traits specific to females, have been well researched, traits that are specific to male offspring have been understudied. Across taxa, male reproductive investment is a particularly salient component of fitness, especially when females mate with several males. We tested whether maternal age affects the reproductive traits of their male offspring by comparing the investment made by male field crickets, Teleogryllus oceanicus, from ‘young’ and ‘old’ maternal age treatments. Female T. oceanicus mate with several males, and sperm competition is a fair lottery, so male reproductive investment is important for fitness in this system. After two generations of mating young and old females, we measured the testes mass, spermatophore mold mass, and sperm viability of their male offspring. Despite differences in maternal and grand-maternal age and the demonstrated effects of advanced maternal age on egg number and offspring immunocompetency in this system, the male offspring of young and old females did not differ in reproductive tissues and sperm viability. This study is one of the first to examine the effect of maternal age on fitness-related traits specific to male offspring, and we encourage future research that tests the effects of maternal age on male offspring in other species.

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Research Article Thu, 14 May 2020 18:59:36 +0300
What determines the number of auditory sensilla in the tympanal hearing organs of Tettigoniidae? Perspectives from comparative neuroanatomy and evolutionary forces https://jor.pensoft.net/article/33586/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 28(2): 205-219

DOI: 10.3897/jor.28.33586

Authors: Johannes Strauß

Abstract: Insects have evolved complex receptor organs for the major sensory modalities. For the sense of hearing, the tympanal organ of Tettigoniidae (bush crickets or katydids) shows remarkable convergence to vertebrate hearing by impedance conversion and tonotopic frequency analysis. The main auditory receptors are scolopidial sensilla in the crista acustica. Morphological studies established that the numbers of auditory sensilla are species-specific. However, the factors determining the specific number of auditory sensilla are not well understood. This review provides an overview of the functional organization of the auditory organ in Tettigoniidae, including the diversification of the crista acustica sensilla, a list of species with the numbers of auditory sensilla, and a discussion of evolutionary forces affecting the number of sensilla in the crista acustica and their sensitivity. While all species of Tettigoniidae studied so far have a crista acustica, the number of sensilla varies on average from 15–116. While the relative differences or divergence in sensillum numbers may be explained by adaptive or regressive changes, it is more difficult to explain a specific number of sensilla in the crista acustica of a specific species (like for the model species Ancistrura nigrovittata, Copiphora gorgonensis, Gampsocleis gratiosa, Mecopoda elongata, Requena verticalis, or Tettigonia viridissima): sexual and natural selection as well as allometric relationships have been identified as key factors influencing the number of sensilla. Sexual selection affects the number of auditory sensilla in the crista acustica by the communication system and call patterns. Further, positive allometric relationships indicate positive selection for certain traits. Loss of selection leads to evolutionary regression of the auditory system and reduced number of auditory sensilla. This diversity in the auditory sensilla can be best addressed by comparative studies reconstructing adaptive or regressive changes in the crista acustica.

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Review Article Wed, 2 Oct 2019 17:26:13 +0300
Discovery of an acoustically locating parasitoid with a potential role in divergence of song types among sympatric populations of the bush cricket Mecopoda elongata https://jor.pensoft.net/article/34115/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 28(2): 181-186

DOI: 10.3897/jor.28.34115

Authors: Rochishnu Dutta, Manjunatha Reddy, Tom Tregenza

Abstract: The bush cricket Mecopoda elongata provides a striking example of sympatric intraspecific divergence in mating signals. Five completely distinct song types are found in various parapatric and sympatric locations in South India. While there is convincing evidence that population divergence in M. elongata is being maintained as a result of divergence in acoustic signals, cuticular chemical profiles, and genital characters, the causes of the evolution of such divergence in the first place are unknown. We describe the discovery of a tachinid parasitoid with an orthopteroid hearing mechanism affecting M. elongata. This parasitoid may have a role in driving the extraordinary divergence that had occurred among M. elongata song types. Over two years we sampled individuals of three sympatric song types in the wild and retained individuals in captivity to reveal rates of parasitization. We found that all three song types were infected with the parasitoid but that there were significant differences among song types in their probability of being infected. The probability of tachinid parasitization also differed between the two sampling periods. Therefore, it is possible that parasitoid infection plays a role in song type divergence among sympatric bush cricket populations.

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Research Article Thu, 12 Sep 2019 20:47:57 +0300
Conspecific mortality cues mediate associative learning in crickets, Acheta domesticus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) https://jor.pensoft.net/article/25484/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 27(2): 187-192

DOI: 10.3897/jor.27.25484

Authors: Alexander M. Shephard, Vadim Aksenov, C. David Rollo

Abstract: Many terrestrial and aquatic animals learn associations between environmental features and chemical cues of mortality risk (e.g. conspecific alarm pheromones or predator-derived cues), but the chemical nature of the cues that mediate this type of learning are rarely considered. Fatty acid necromones (particularly oleic and linoleic acids) are well established as cues associated with dead or injured conspecifics. Necromones elicit risk aversive behavior across diverse arthropod phylogenies, yet they have not been linked to associative learning. Here, we provide evidence that necromones can mediate associative olfactory learning in an insect by acting as an aversive reinforcement. When house crickets (Acheta domesticus) were forced to inhabit an environment containing an initially attractive odor along with a necromone cue, they subsequently avoided the previously attractive odor and displayed tolerance for an initially unattractive odor. This occurred when crickets were conditioned with linoleic acid but not when they were conditioned with oleic acid. Similar aversive learning occurred when crickets were conditioned with ethanol body extracts composed of male and female corpses combined, as well as extracts composed of female corpses alone. Conditioning with male body extract did not elicit learned aversion in either sex, even though we detected no notable differences in fatty acid composition between male and female body extracts. We suggest that necromone-mediated learning responses might vary depending on synergistic or antagonistic interactions with sex or species-specific recognition cues.

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Research Article Mon, 10 Dec 2018 00:20:49 +0200
Paraplangia sinespeculo, a new genus and species of bush-cricket, with notes on its biology and a key to the genera of Phaneropterinae (Orthoptera: Tettigonioidea) from Madagascar https://jor.pensoft.net/article/24243/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 27(2): 143-153

DOI: 10.3897/jor.27.24243

Authors: Klaus-Gerhard Heller, Claudia Hemp, Bruno Massa, Maciej Kociński, Elżbieta Warchałowska-Śliwa

Abstract: Madagascar is a well-known hotspot of biodiversity. However, many Orthoptera, and especially the Tettigonioidea, belong to little-studied groups. Here we describe a new genus and species of bush-cricket reared from field-collected eggs. Paraplangia sinespeculo gen. nov., sp. nov. belongs to Phaneropterinae and shares diagnostic characteristics with members of the tribe Amblycoryphini and its African subtribe Plangiina stat. nov. Paraplangia, which has a chromosome number of 31 X0, differs from other African members of the tribe and subtribe such as Eurycorypha and Plangia, which both have 29 X0. In addition to morphology, we describe the male calling song, female acoustic response, and mating behavior. As calling song, the male produces two series of short syllables. At the end of the second series the female responds with signals of similar duration and spectral composition as the male sounds (peak about 8-9 kHz). To make future identification easier, a key to all genera of Phaneropterinae found in Madagascar is presented.

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Research Article Mon, 23 Jul 2018 06:15:09 +0300
Viability and fertility of hybrid New Zealand tree wētā Hemideina spp. (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae) https://jor.pensoft.net/article/14963/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 27(2): 97-106

DOI: 10.3897/jor.27.14963

Authors: Natasha E. Mckean, Steven A. Trewick, Melissa J. Griffin, Eddy J. Dowle, Mary Morgan-Richards

Abstract: Natural hybridization between species provides an opportunity to study the mechanisms that maintain independent lineages and may help us understand the process of speciation. The New Zealand tree wētā species Hemideina thoracica produces F1 hybrids where it lives in sympatry with two closely related species: Hemideina crassidens and Hemideina trewicki. This study looked at the viability and fertility of F1 hybrid wētā between H. thoracica and H. crassidens that were collected from the wild and kept in captivity. The hybrids appeared to have normal viability from the late juvenile stage, with all male wētā maturing at a late instar. Male F1 hybrids displayed normal mating behavior and one male produced offspring in captivity. In contrast to Haldane’s rule, female F1 hybrids appeared to be infertile; they refused to mate and did not produce eggs. No evidence of Wolbachia infection was identified in any of the three North Island Hemideina species.

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Research Article Fri, 29 Jun 2018 22:23:06 +0300