Latest Articles from Journal of Orthoptera Research Latest 27 Articles from Journal of Orthoptera Research https://jor.pensoft.net/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 03:08:18 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://jor.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Journal of Orthoptera Research https://jor.pensoft.net/ New records of Oecanthus species (Orthoptera, Oecanthidae) in the Madeira archipelago https://jor.pensoft.net/article/113947/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 33(1): 95-102

DOI: 10.3897/jor.33.113947

Authors: Hugo Miguel Silva, Laura Avivar-Lozano, Gonçalo Gomes, Howon Rhee, Thomas Dellinger, Dora Aguín-Pombo

Abstract: The Madeira and Porto Santo Islands have both witnessed substantial habitat loss since their initial colonization. Despite their small size and the degradation of their natural habitats, they harbor a rich diversity of terrestrial invertebrates, including a significant number of endemic species. While research on Orthoptera fauna has predominantly focused on the largest island of Madeira, the smaller island of Porto Santo has remained relatively understudied. Fieldwork on both islands has led to the discovery of Oecanthus dulcisonans Gorochov, 1993 in the Madeira archipelago (Porto Santo and Madeira) for the first time. This species was described based on specimens collected in Tenerife and the Arabian Peninsula. However, its distribution, which includes parts of Africa, Western Asia, and some localities in Southern Europe, remains poorly understood. Oecanthus dulcisonans is morphologically very similar to Oecanthus pellucens (Scopoli, 1763), the only species of this genus previously recorded for the island of Madeira. Due to this resemblance, doubts have arisen regarding which of these two species is present in Madeira. By examining new material of O. pellucens, we have confirmed the presence of this species on Madeira as well. These new findings highlight the fact that, for these species, the Madeira archipelago represents the western limit of their distributional ranges in the Palearctic region.

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Research Article Wed, 13 Mar 2024 11:08:54 +0200
Aryalidonta itishreea, a new genus and species of Thoradontini (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae) from Nepal honors the Emperor of Laughter https://jor.pensoft.net/article/94918/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 32(1): 63-80

DOI: 10.3897/jor.32.94918

Authors: Madan Subedi, Niko Kasalo

Abstract: Aryal’s Ten Avatar Groundhopper, Aryalidonta itishreea gen. et sp. nov., named in honor of the late Bhairav Aryal, an iconic Nepali satirist, is a new genus and species of Tetrigidae described as a part of the tribe Thoradontini. The species is native to Nepal, a country with a rich tetrigid fauna in need of taxonomic revisions. This monotypic genus can be easily separated from other Thoradontini genera by its enlarged proximal halves of middle femora, a peculiar lateral lobe morphology (small caudal protrusion in its caudal part and a sharp lateral tip), a triangular, anteriorly narrowing vertex, and by its unique head morphology. The species was observed in its natural habitat. It was found to harbor many color variations that are cryptic in nature. It feeds on detritus, algae, lichen, and moss. Specimens heavily infested by mites were found, as well as those in interaction with wasps (possibly Eulophidae), but the nature of the latter could not be determined.

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Research Article Tue, 18 Apr 2023 18:26:48 +0300
The effects of rearing density on growth, survival, and starvation resistance of the house cricket Acheta domesticus https://jor.pensoft.net/article/86496/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 32(1): 25-31

DOI: 10.3897/jor.32.86496

Authors: Siyumi Mahavidanage, Tamara M. Fuciarelli, Xiaobing Li, C. David Rollo

Abstract: Alternative food sources have become an important focus of research due to increased food demand coupled with reductions in traditional food productivity. In particular, substitutes for protein sources have been of increasing interest due to the unsustainability of traditional protein sources. Insects have been identified as a sustainable alternative to traditional protein sources, as they are easy to produce and contain essential proteins, fats, and minerals. However, mass-rearing insects requires similar considerations as farming traditional protein sources. To increase productively, growth and survival must be maximized at the highest possible densities while minimizing disease and food requirements. Here, we use the house cricket Acheta domesticus, a highly cultivated insect species, to investigate optimal densities for mass rearing at 14 days of age (4th instar). Nymphs were separated into density groups of 0.09, 0.19, 0.47, and 0.93 cricket/cm2 and monitored for growth and survival. Multiple regression revealed sex (p < 0.0001), density (p < 0.0001), and sex*density interaction (p = 0.0345) as predictors of growth rate. Survival to maturation was significantly reduced in both 0.47 (31%) and 0.93 (45%) cricket/cm2 groups compared to the controls. A second experiment was then conducted to investigate the starvation resistance of adult crickets reared from 14 days of age at 0.09, 0.19, 0.93, and 1.86 cricket/cm2. A second multiple regression analysis revealed only density (p < 0.0001) and to a lesser extent sex (p = 0.0005) to be predictors of starvation resistance. These results indicate that mass-rearing house crickets is most optimal at densities < 0.93 cricket/cm2, where impacts on survival and starvation are minimal. Although these results have implications for cricket mass rearing, research on other endpoints, including reproduction and the synergistic effects of other environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, should be conducted.

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Research Article Tue, 21 Feb 2023 16:10:20 +0200
First record of Myrmecophilus (Myrmecophilus) quadrispinus for Peru and South America (Orthoptera, Myrmecophilidae) https://jor.pensoft.net/article/84157/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 31(2): 197-200

DOI: 10.3897/jor.31.84157

Authors: Nicolás Naveda Yuan, Thomas Stalling

Abstract: The first record of the ant cricket Myrmecophilus (Myrmecophilus) quadrispinus Perkins, 1899 for Peru and South America is presented. This species was discovered in the city of Lima in the nests of the ant species Brachymyrmex cordemoyi Forel, 1895, and Pheidole sp. Westwood, 1939 under a square brick and a stone in two urban gardens.

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Research Article Tue, 1 Nov 2022 11:19:59 +0200
Estimation of katydid calling activity from soundscape recordings https://jor.pensoft.net/article/73373/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 31(2): 173-180

DOI: 10.3897/jor.31.73373

Authors: Laurel B. Symes, Shyam Madhusudhana, Sharon J. Martinson, Ciara E. Kernan, Kristin B. Hodge, Daniel P. Salisbury, Holger Klinck, Hannah ter Hofstede

Abstract: Insects are an integral part of terrestrial ecosystems, but while they are ubiquitous, they can be difficult to census. Passive acoustic recording can provide detailed information on the spatial and temporal distribution of sound-producing insects. We placed recording devices in the forest canopy on Barro Colorado Island in Panamá and identified katydid calls in recordings to assess what species were present, in which seasons they were signaling, and how often they called. Soundscape recordings were collected at a height of 24 m in two replicate sites, sampled at three time-windows per night across five months, spanning both wet and dry seasons. Katydid calls were commonly detected in recordings, but the call repetition rates of many species were quite low, consistent with data from focal recordings of individual insects where calls were also repeated rarely. The soundscape recordings contained 6,789 calls with visible pulse structure. Of these calls, we identified 4,371 to species with the remainder representing calls that could not be identified to species. The identified calls corresponded to 24 species, with 15 of these species detected at both replicate sites. Katydid calls were detected throughout the night. Most species were detected at all three time points in the night, although some species called more just after dusk and just before dawn. The annotated dataset provided here serves as an archival sample of the species diversity and number of calls present in the forest canopy of Barro Colorado Island, Panama. These hand-annotated data will also be key for evaluating automated approaches to detecting and classifying insect calls. In changing forests and with declining insect populations, consistent approaches to insect sampling will be key for generating interpretable and actionable data.

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Research Article Tue, 4 Oct 2022 12:43:20 +0300
Hillside lagomorph grazing and its influence on Orthoptera https://jor.pensoft.net/article/78462/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 31(2): 157-162

DOI: 10.3897/jor.31.78462

Authors: Tim Gardiner

Abstract: The effects of lagomorph grazing on the Orthoptera of a small hill in Mistley (southeast England) were studied during the summer of 2020. Transect counts of Orthoptera revealed low sward height with abundant bare earth due to high wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus grazing on the high slopes. This intensive grazing led to only field grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus (Thunberg, 1815) adults being found in any number on the high slopes, perhaps utilizing the short swards and bare earth as basking and egg-laying habitat. Aspect was also important, with significantly more grasshopper nymphs and C. brunneus adults on the south-facing slope than on the northern slope. Soil slippage areas seem like valuable micro-habitats on the south-facing slope, with these ‘sun traps’ providing excellent basking habitat for nymphs and C. brunneus. This study confirms that lagomorph grazing alters hill summit habitats for Orthoptera, benefiting C. brunneus and, to a lesser extent, the meadow grasshopper Pseudochorthippus parallelus (Zetterstedt, 1821). However, overgrazing of higher hill slopes can exclude tall grass species, such as long-winged conehead Conocephalus fuscus (Fabricius, 1793), and reduce assemblage diversity.

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Short Communication Fri, 30 Sep 2022 15:26:15 +0300
Rediscovering the rare short-winged unicorn katydid Toledopizia salesopolensis (Piza) (Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae) from South and Southeastern Brazil: First description of male and bioacoustics https://jor.pensoft.net/article/72513/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 30(2): 193-200

DOI: 10.3897/jor.30.72513

Authors: Marcos Fianco, Phillip Watzke Engelking, Gustavo Costa Tavares

Abstract: Toledopizia Chamorro-Rengifo & Braun, 2010 is a poorly known monotypic genus of Copiphorini. The only known specimen is the female type of T. salesopolensis (Piza, 1980). In this contribution, we present an updated description of this species, describing the unknown male, and provide biological and bioacoustic data. We also describe color variation, update the distribution data, and extend the known distribution of the species to two localities in Paraná State and another two in São Paulo State.

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Research Article Thu, 16 Dec 2021 03:39:49 +0200
Establishing the nutritional landscape and macronutrient preferences of a major United States rangeland pest, Melanoplus sanguinipes, in field and lab populations https://jor.pensoft.net/article/61605/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 30(2): 163-172

DOI: 10.3897/jor.30.61605

Authors: Deanna Zembrzuski, Derek A. Woller, Larry Jech, Lonnie R. Black, K. Chris Reuter, Rick Overson, Arianne Cease

Abstract: When given a choice, most animals will self-select an optimal blend of nutrients that maximizes growth and reproduction (termed “intake target” or IT). For example, several grasshopper and locust species select a carbohydrate-biased IT, consuming up to double the amount of carbohydrate relative to protein, thereby increasing growth, survival, and migratory capacity. ITs are not static, and there is some evidence they can change through ontogeny, with activity, and in response to environmental factors. However, little research has investigated how these factors influence the relative need for different nutrients and how subsequent shifts in ITs affect the capacity of animals to acquire an optimal diet in nature. In this study, we determined the ITs of 5th instar (final juvenile stage) Melanoplus sanguinipes (Fabricius, 1798), a prevalent crop and rangeland grasshopper pest in the United States, using two wild populations and one lab colony. We simultaneously collected host plants to determine the nutritional landscapes available to the wild populations and measured the performance of the lab colony on restricted diets. Overall, we found that the diet of the wild populations was more carbohydrate-biased than their lab counterparts, as has been found in other grasshopper species, and that their ITs closely matched their nutritional landscape. However, we also found that M. sanguinipes had the lowest performance metrics when feeding on the highest carbohydrate diets, whereas more balanced diets or protein-rich diets had higher performance metrics. This research may open avenues for studying how management strategies coincide with nutritional physiology to develop low-dose treatments specific to the nutritional landscape for the pest of interest.

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Research Article Tue, 14 Dec 2021 23:55:19 +0200
Perception and knowledge of grasshoppers among indigenous communities in tropical forest areas of southern Cameroon: Ecosystem conservation, food security, and health https://jor.pensoft.net/article/64266/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 30(2): 117-130

DOI: 10.3897/jor.30.64266

Authors: Charly Oumarou Ngoute, David Hunter, Michel Lecoq

Abstract: The increased attention given to health, food security, and biodiversity conservation in recent years should bring together conventional scientists and indigenous people to share their knowledge systems for better results. This work aims to assess how grasshoppers are perceived by the local people in southern Cameroon, particularly in terms of food, health, and landscape conservation. Villagers were interviewed individually using a rapid rural assessment method in the form of a semi-structured survey. Nearly all people (99%) declared that they are able to identify local grasshoppers, generally through the color of the insect (80%). Crop fields were the most often cited landscape (16%) in terms of abundance of grasshoppers, with forest being less mentioned (8%). In general, villagers claimed that grasshopper abundance increased with forest degradation. Grasshoppers were found during all seasons of the year but noted to be more abundant during the long dry seasons. People found grasshoppers both useful and harmful, the most harmful reported being Zonocerus variegatus, an important crop pest. Cassava is the most attacked crop with 75–100% losses. Industrial crops, such as cocoa, coffee, and bananas, were not cited as being damaged by grasshoppers. The most effective conventional method cited for the control of pest grasshoppers is the use of pesticides (53%) with, in most cases (27%), a 75–100% efficiency. The traditional method of spreading ash was also often cited (19%), with an estimated efficiency of 25–75%. Biological methods were neither cited nor used by the villagers. Most of them (87%) declared that they eat grasshoppers; some sold these insects in the market (58%) and some used them to treat diseases (11%).

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Research Article Fri, 27 Aug 2021 14:39:28 +0300
First observations of the Atlantic beach cricket, Pseudomogoplistes vicentae (Grylloidea: Mogoplistidae), in the Basque autonomous community, Spain https://jor.pensoft.net/article/52634/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 30(1): 67-71

DOI: 10.3897/jor.30.52634

Authors: Laurent Pelozuelo

Abstract: The Atlantic beach cricket Pseudomogoplistes vicentae Gorochov, 1996 (Orthoptera: Grylloidea: Mogoplistidae) is among the rare Orthoptera species that live exclusively in coastal habitats. It inhabits cobble beaches from North Africa to Great Britain, with populations known in Morocco, Portugal, Spain, France, Channel Islands, Wales and England. P. vicentae was found on the Spanish continental coast for the first time in 2018, in Asturias. The discovery of three populations in the Basque autonomous community (Northern Spain) is reported here, and useful information for increasing its detection and monitoring its populations is provided.

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Short Communication Wed, 12 May 2021 16:50:56 +0300
Conservation possibilities of Isophya costata (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae) based on frequency, population size, and habitats https://jor.pensoft.net/article/59262/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 30(1): 35-41

DOI: 10.3897/jor.30.59262

Authors: Zoltán Kenyeres, Norbert Bauer

Abstract: Isophya costata Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878, commonly called the Keeled Plump Bush-cricket, is an endemic Natura 2000 species in the Carpathian Basin and is included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened species. We used extensive data collection from Hungary retrieved between 2004 and 2019 from 700 sampling sites spread over an area of 12,700 km2 to examine the occurrence of the species in different regions in grasslands of similar structure but different origin, naturalness, and character. The results confirmed that I. costata currently occurs with the highest number of populations and highest density in regularly mowed, mesophilic hayfields rich in dicotyledonous plants (Arrhenatheretalia). The species also appears in smaller numbers in grasslands adjacent to hayfields, such as wetland meadows (Molinion coeruleae), marsh meadows (Deschampsion caespitosae, Alopecurenion pratensis), and edge habitats dominated by herbaceous plants. However, the results show that the extension of these habitats has a negatively significant correlation with both the occurrence of the species and its density. Isophya costata occurs in steppe meadows much less frequently than in mesophilic hayfields. The species is endemic to the Pannonian Steppe, and the key to their conservation is by maintaining stocks of hayfields in the species’ area of distribution. According to this study, overseeding of mowed grasslands leads to the decline of the species. To preserve I. costata, it is necessary to eliminate trampling in its areas of occurrence (prohibition of grazing) and encourage late-season mowing adapted to the phenology of the species (not as early as mid-July) or, if this is not feasible, mosaic-type treatment leaving unmown patches (e.g., 1/3 of the plot).

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Research Article Mon, 26 Apr 2021 17:27:47 +0300
Description and photographs of cricket parental care in the wild https://jor.pensoft.net/article/52079/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 30(1): 27-30

DOI: 10.3897/jor.30.52079

Authors: Darin J. McNeil, Bettina Erregger

Abstract: Although certain forms of parental care are relatively widespread phenomena among insects, within Orthoptera, parental care is rare. Short-tailed burrowing crickets (Anurogryllus spp.) are among the few members of this order for which extensive parental care has been documented. However, accounts of parental care in Anurogryllus have been largely under laboratory conditions, and observations of this behavior in the wild are rare. Herein we present photographic observations from a mountain slope in Honduras where we discovered an active Anurogryllus brood chamber where an adult female was tending her brood. We present these results in the context of parental care in insects and compare our observations with those reported in past literature published on Anurogryllus crickets’ parental behavior.

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Short Communication Tue, 23 Mar 2021 16:38:47 +0200
Presence of the four-spined pygmy devil, Arulenus validispinus (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae), confirmed in Bukidnon region on the island of Mindanao, Philippines https://jor.pensoft.net/article/53718/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 29(2): 133-136

DOI: 10.3897/jor.29.53718

Authors: Alma B. Mohagan, Romeo R. Patano Jr., Mescel S. Acola, Daniel O. Amper, Fulgent P. Coritico, Victor B. Amoroso

Abstract: The four-spined pygmy devil (Arulenus validispinus Stål, 1877) is an endemic species to the Philippines. It was described more than 140 years ago from a single female specimen. Since its description, only a single new record was known, reported by Skejo from the Lanao region in 2017 and based on a specimen from eBay. Here, we record the species from the Bukidnon Mountains. We present measurements of a male and a female we collected, with the description of the species morphology and habitat. This species differs from its congeneric Mia’s pygmy devil (A. miae Skejo & Caballero, 2016) by the sharp dorsal and lateral spines.

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Short Communication Mon, 30 Nov 2020 02:33:34 +0200
Initial impact of a soil disturbance technique (disc harrowing) on Orthoptera in a grass heath in Breckland, UK https://jor.pensoft.net/article/51900/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 29(2): 127-131

DOI: 10.3897/jor.29.51900

Authors: Tim Gardiner

Abstract: On a Breckland grass heath in eastern England, soil disturbance methods such as disc harrowing employed to benefit endangered plants such as tower mustard, Arabis glabra, could also create exposed ground for localized insects, specifically the mottled grasshopper, Myrmeleotettix maculatus. Orthoptera of disc-harrowed strips on a grass heath at Santon Warren in Norfolk, UK, were monitored in 2018 and 2019. Data analysis focused on two target species, field grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus, and M. maculatus, which are likely to respond positively to the creation of early successional habitat. Of the two species, M. maculatus was found in significantly high abundance on the disc-harrowed strips, whereas C. brunneus was not. The species richness of Orthoptera did not appear affected by harrowing, although three species at this location (lesser marsh grasshopper, Chorthippus albomarginatus, long-winged conehead, Conocephalus fuscus, and Roesel’s bush-cricket, Roseliana roeselii) need taller vegetation than was present on the disc-harrowed strips.

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Short Communication Mon, 14 Sep 2020 01:11:30 +0300
Bioecological aspects of the common black field cricket, Gryllus assimilis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) in the laboratory and in Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) plantations https://jor.pensoft.net/article/48966/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 29(1): 83-89

DOI: 10.3897/jor.29.48966

Authors: Marcus Vinicius Masson, Wagner de Souza Tavares, Jacyr Mesquita Alves, Pedro José Ferreira-Filho, Leonardo Rodrigues Barbosa, Carlos Frederico Wilcken, José Cola Zanuncio

Abstract: The common black field cricket, Gryllus assimilis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), damages young plants of red cedar, Juniperus virginiana (Cupressaceae); strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa (Rosaceae); sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum (Poaceae); teak, Tectona grandis (Lamiaceae); upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (Malvaceae); and, mainly, Eucalyptus spp. (Myrtaceae). The objective of this study was to investigate the biological and behavioral parameters of this insect in the laboratory and in Eucalyptus spp. plantations in Inhambupe, Bahia State, Brazil. The incubation period and the viability of G. assimilis eggs were 11.87 days and approximately 22%, respectively. The duration of the nymphal stage was 62.34 days with approximately 60% of the nymphs obtained in the laboratory being females. The average number of egg batches per female, eggs per female, and eggs per batch per female of this insect were 25.50, 862.17, and 34.65, respectively. G. assimilis females lived for 76.50 days in the adult stage, and 138.34 days in total, from egg through nymph to adult. Males produced three characteristic sounds: one for the marking of territory, one for courtship, and one when alone. G. assimilis fed primarily on weeds but, in their absence, it damaged young Eucalyptus spp. plants. This paper presents important data on the biology and behavior of G. assimilis; this information may encourage additional biological research, laboratory rearing, and integrated management of this pest.

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Research Article Fri, 29 May 2020 05:11:47 +0300
Acridid ecology in the sugarcane agro-ecosystem in the Zululand region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa https://jor.pensoft.net/article/34626/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 29(1): 9-16

DOI: 10.3897/jor.29.34626

Authors: Adrian Bam, Pia Addison, Desmond Conlong

Abstract: Grasshoppers and locusts are well known crop and pasture pests throughout the world. Periodically they cause extensive damage to large areas of crops and grazing lands, which often exacerbate food shortage issues in many countries. In South Africa, acridid outbreaks rarely reach economic proportions, but in sugarcane plantations, localized outbreaks of native acridid species have been reported for the last eight years with increasing frequency and intensity in certain areas. This study was undertaken from May 2012 to May 2013 to identify the economically important acridid species in the sugarcane agroecosystem in these outbreak areas, to monitor seasonal activity patterns, to assess sampling methods, and to determine the pest status of the major species through damage ratings. Five acridid species of particular importance were identified: Nomadacris septemfasciata (Serville), Petamella prosternalis (Karny), Ornithacris cyanea (Stoll), Cataloipus zuluensis Sjötedt, and Cyrtacanthacris aeruginosa (Stoll). All species are univoltine. Petamella prosternalis was the most abundant species and exhibited a winter egg diapause, while N. septemfasciata, the second most abundant species, exhibited a winter reproductive diapause. Petamella prosternalis and N. septemfasciata were significantly correlated with the damage-rating index, suggesting that these two species were responsible for most of the feeding damage found on sugarcane. This study, for the first time, identified the acridid species complex causing damage to sugarcane in the Zululand area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and documented their population characteristics and related damage. These data are important information on which to base sound integrated pest management strategies.

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Research Article Fri, 10 Jan 2020 18:40:49 +0200
First natural history observations of the canyon pygmy mole cricket, Ellipes monticolus (Orthoptera: Tridactylidae) https://jor.pensoft.net/article/33413/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 29(1): 1-7

DOI: 10.3897/jor.29.33413

Authors: Brandon Woo

Abstract: The first live photos of the canyon pygmy mole cricket, Ellipes monticolus Günther, are presented, with preliminary observations on the habitat and behavior of populations in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona. The species was previously known solely from the original description in 1977, which included only drawings of the structure of the genitalia and almost no natural history information. This paper provides the first look at this species’ biology and provides a framework for future studies on Tridactylidae of the southwestern United States.

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Research Article Fri, 10 Jan 2020 02:02:58 +0200
Assemblages of orthopteroid insects along environmental gradients in central and southern Madagascar https://jor.pensoft.net/article/34055/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 28(2): 155-166

DOI: 10.3897/jor.28.34055

Authors: Anton Krištín, Klaus-Gerhard Heller, Milan Zemko, Jacques Rakotondranary, Benjamín Jarčuška

Abstract: Madagascar is one of the world hotspots for endemics, and its rapidly changing habitats accelerate the need for their study and conservation. Orthopterans, mantids, phasmids, and cockroaches were sampled in five main habitats (savanna and shrubland, semiarid spiny forest, rainforest, mountain grass- and shrubland, and cultivated habitats) in central and southern Madagascar (41 sites, 0–2250 m a.s.l.) with the aim of getting the first data on their diversity and distribution along environmental gradients shortly after the rainy period. Samples were collected primarily by sweeping herb and shrub vegetation along transects 100 m long and 1–2 m wide (5–8 transects/site) and supplemented using other techniques. Altogether 117 species of orthopteroid insects were found (94 Orthoptera, 7 Mantodea, 4 Phasmida, and 12 Blattodea), among them two katydid species which had been recently described as new to science (Mimoscudderia longicaudata Heller & Krištín, 2019, Parapyrrhicia leuca Hemp & Heller, 2019). High species diversity was documented: altogether 63 species (53.8%) were present at only one site, 14 (12%) at two sites, and 5 species (4.2%) at three sites. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis on species composition did not clearly separate the assemblages of the sampled sites. Species assemblages from four habitats overlapped due to their similarity. Only assemblages from the rainforest sites were partially separated from the other sites. Cultivated habitats were characterized by the most frequent (F > 50%) and abundant grasshopper species, such as Acorypha decisa, Aiolopus thalassinus rodericensis, Oedaleus virgula, Gelastorrhinus edax, Gymnobothrus spp,. and Acrotylus spp. We found a significant association between habitat management and species rareness, where the number of rare species was higher in natural/unmanaged habitats. However, we found no association between habitat management and the number of endemic species. For several species we provide the first detailed data on their localities and habitat.

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Research Article Tue, 3 Sep 2019 15:31:55 +0300
A new species and morphometric analysis of Cladonotella (Tetrigidae: Cladonotinae) https://jor.pensoft.net/article/32464/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 28(2): 129-135

DOI: 10.3897/jor.28.32464

Authors: Ming Kai Tan, Josef Tumbrinck, Jessica B. Baroga-Barbecho, Sheryl A. Yap

Abstract: The genus Cladonotella (Tetrigidae: Cladonotinae) consists of four species of pygmy grasshoppers from Java and New Guinea. A new species of Cladonotella is described from Siargao Island, Philippines: Cladonotella spinulosa sp. nov. This represents the first record of Cladonotella in the Philippines. To quantify differences between species of Cladonotella, we used morphological characters to construct a neighbor-joining tree, and recovered our new species as distinct from congeners. To address the lack of natural history information on Cladonotella, we described habitat and other ecological observations made in Siargao Island on our new species.

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Research Article Fri, 23 Aug 2019 14:12:51 +0300
The tide is high, but it’s holding on: response of the grey bush-cricket, Platycleis albopunctata, to a storm surge https://jor.pensoft.net/article/34092/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 28(2): 125-128

DOI: 10.3897/jor.28.34092

Authors: Tim Gardiner, Bob Seago

Abstract: Coastal insects may be highly susceptible to population loss due to catastrophic inundation events. At two locations on the east coast of the UK (nature reserve and naturists’ beach), the response of the Nationally Scarce grey bush-cricket, Platycleis albopunctata, to the December 2013 storm surge was determined from long-term transect monitoring of stridulating males. In the post-surge seasons, males were more frequent on the back dunes, which would have been largely unsubmerged during the tidal event. Lower numbers of P. albopunctata were recorded on the fore dunes after 2013, probably due to submergence during the surge tide and extensive shingle deposition on its marram-grass, Ammophila arenaria, and open ground habitats smothering overwintering eggs. The heterogeneity of the dune habitat with slacks and ridges may render this species resilient to storm surges.

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Short Communication Mon, 12 Aug 2019 14:15:20 +0300
The floriphilic katydid, Phaneroptera brevis, is a frequent flower visitor of non-native, flowering forbs https://jor.pensoft.net/article/33063/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 28(1): 21-26

DOI: 10.3897/jor.28.33063

Authors: Ming Kai Tan, Hui Lee, Hugh Tiang Wah Tan

Abstract: Distribution of consumers in a patch of vegetation can be predicted by resource availability and explained by the resource-concentration and optimal-foraging hypotheses. These hypotheses have not been explored for flower-visiting Orthoptera because they are deemed less economically or ecologically important. Some flower-visiting orthopterans can provide pollination services, which warrants more attention. We studied a Singaporean, floriphilic katydid, Phaneroptera brevis, to investigate the following questions: 1) how frequently does P. brevis visit flowers compared to other flower visitors and 2) what factors predict the abundance of P. brevis? We collected abundance data for P. brevis and other flower-visiting arthropods and quantified seven environmental parameters, including flower abundance and host-plant species richness. We found that P. brevis frequents flowers significantly more often than some common and expected flower visitors such as hoverflies. In line with the prediction of the resource-concentration hypothesis, the abundance of P. brevis was positively correlated with a higher flower abundance. Owing to the limited information on unexpected wild flower visitors and pollinators, especially from the understudied tropics of Southeast Asia, we propose that P. brevis can be a model organism for future studies to answer fundamental questions on flower visitation.

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Research Article Fri, 17 May 2019 18:59:02 +0300
Morphometric variation among males of Orphulella punctata (De Geer, 1773) (Acrididae: Gomphocerinae) from different biomes in Brazil https://jor.pensoft.net/article/21203/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 27(2): 163-171

DOI: 10.3897/jor.27.21203

Authors: Ana Catia Santos da Silva, Lorena Andrade Nunes, Wanessa de Lima Batista, Marcos Gonçalves Lhano

Abstract: The objective of the present study was to examine variation in the shape and size of pronotum, hind femur, and head in the males of Orphulella punctata (De Geer, 1773) from three different Brazilian biomes: the Cerrado, the Atlantic Forest, and the Pantanal. A total of 150 specimens were analyzed from three populations. The results of MANOVA indicated significant differences (p<0.01) in the shape of the analyzed structures of O. punctata from the different biomes. The results of ANOVA demonstrated significant differences (p<0.05) in the size of all analyzed structures. Pearson’s correlation analyses among the different structures and the environmental variables revealed that the shape of pronotum, hind femur, and head (dorsal view), as well as the size of pronotum and head (dorsal and lateral views) varied with the geographic longitude, while the shape of hind femur and head (dorsal view) showed a significant negative correlation with size. Results indicated that the shape and size of the analyzed structures, in general, were influenced by the geographical variables.

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Research Article Wed, 5 Dec 2018 23:04:38 +0200
Microhabitat segregation among three co-existing species of grasshoppers on a rural meadow near Seoul, South Korea https://jor.pensoft.net/article/28402/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 27(2): 173-175

DOI: 10.3897/jor.27.28402

Authors: Yongjun Jung, Minjung Baek, Sang-im Lee, Piotr G. Jablonski

Abstract: Microhabitat segregation among grasshopper species in Asia has not been well studied. We determined the differences in the use of substrates by three common North East Asian grasshopper species co-existing on a natural meadow near Seoul, South Korea. While many Oedaleus infernalis individuals were found on the ground, Acrida cinerea and Atractomorpha lata were usually observed on plants. Acrida cinerea was mostly observed on the grass Zoysia japonica (Poaceae) and Atractomorpha lata was mostly found on plants from the family Asteraceae. This is the first study to provide quantitative information about microhabitat differences among some common grasshoppers in rural habitats of continental North East Asia. Future studies should focus on determining the mechanisms that produce such ecological segregation.

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Short Communication Wed, 5 Dec 2018 20:46:01 +0200
Introduced Japanese burrowing cricket (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Velarifictorus (Velarifictorus) micado) range continues to expand in North America https://jor.pensoft.net/article/29067/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 27(2): 177-181

DOI: 10.3897/jor.27.29067

Authors: David E. Bowles

Abstract: Japanese burrowing cricket, Velarifictorus (Velarifictorus) micado (Saussure, 1877), was introduced into the eastern United States in 1959 and has since increased its distributional range to include the eastern Great Plains and the northern United States. Although generally thought of as an urban species associated with human habitation, some specimens are now being captured in more remote areas, which is attributed to this species sometimes being macropterous and dispersing through flight. Public data sources such as BugGuide and iNaturalist were found to be sound, passive tools for identifying the expanding range of this species in the Americas. Collection and observation in atypical habitats suggest that potential ecological impacts may be occurring.

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Research Article Wed, 5 Dec 2018 08:03:44 +0200
Preliminary study on the diversity of Orthoptera from Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre, Brunei Darussalam, Borneo https://jor.pensoft.net/article/24152/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 27(2): 119-142

DOI: 10.3897/jor.27.24152

Authors: Ming Kai Tan, Rodzay bin Haji Abdul Wahab

Abstract: The Orthoptera, comprising grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids, is diverse and species rich in tropical Southeast Asia, including the island of Borneo. However, not every part of Southeast Asia is equally well sampled and studied. This includes Brunei Darussalam, specifically at the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC) within the Ulu Temburong National Park. We present here an annotated and illustrated checklist of Orthoptera from the primary dipterocarp forest around Kuala Belalong based on three field trips in 2016 and 2017. We provide notes on their taxonomy (including how each species was identified) and natural history of species. In total, 72 species were recorded, representing eight of the 16 monophyletic orthopteran superfamilies. In total, 73.6% of all species recorded were singletons and doubletons, indicating that many species are probably rare. The collection led to the discovery of ten species new to science already published separately, with more expected to be described from pending material and confirmation. More species, including undescribed ones (at least four new species), are expected with continued sampling effort. Despite the 21 day-long surveying efforts from three trips around KBFSC, we believe that the species list provided here is non-exhaustive and only a preliminary one.

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Checklist Fri, 29 Jun 2018 18:33:25 +0300
The effects of grazing and mowing on large marsh grasshopper, Stethophyma grossum (Orthoptera: Acrididae), populations in Western Europe: a review https://jor.pensoft.net/article/23835/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 27(1): 91-96

DOI: 10.3897/jor.27.23835

Authors: Jacqui Miller, Tim Gardiner

Abstract: The large marsh grasshopper, Stethophyma grossum L. (Orthoptera: Acrididae), has undergone a significant range contraction in the UK and is now restricted to the bogs and mires of the New Forest and Dorset Heaths. In other parts of Western Europe, the species makes use of a wider range of wetland habitat types. Traditionally, many of these habitats would be managed through low intensity grazing, mowing, or both, and these measures are now often employed in the conservation management of wet grassland habitats. This paper reviews the effects of mowing and grazing on S. grossum populations, through looking at the potential impacts (both positive and negative) on different life stages of the grasshopper. Both techniques are valuable in the maintenance of an open and varied vegetation structure which is known to benefit S. grossum in all its life stages. However, grazing on very wet sites or at high intensity can result in trampling of vegetation and S. grossum eggs, and mowing which is too frequent may negatively affect populations through repeated losses of nymphs. Recommendations are given regarding the suitability of mowing and grazing for different habitats and intensity of management to generate the required vegetation structure. Measures are also outlined, such as the provision of unmown or ungrazed refuge areas, which can help reduce negative effects.

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Review Article Tue, 12 Jun 2018 23:35:11 +0300
Grazing and Orthoptera: a review https://jor.pensoft.net/article/26327/ Journal of Orthoptera Research 27(1): 3-11

DOI: 10.3897/jor.27.26327

Authors: Tim Gardiner

Abstract: Orthoptera are an important biological component of grasslands as a crucial link in the food chain. Grazing, either by wild animals or livestock for human food production, exerts considerable influence on the Orthoptera of grasslands. For example, grazing prevents succession of open grasslands to scrub and forest, creates heterogeneity in sward height, and provides patches of bare earth through the action of livestock hooves breaking the vegetative cover. Grazing may also interact with other forms of grassland management such as burning to produce quite complex interactions which vary greatly between regions and Orthoptera species. Threats to grassland Orthoptera include overgrazing; conversely, abandonment of grazing can lead to the loss of open habitats vital to many species. It is important to have ungrazed areas to provide refuges for species negatively affected by grazing. Rotational management – moving domestic livestock between different pastures – will also allow a range of sward structures to develop over a landscape. The over-arching principle for grazing management should be to establish a heterogeneous sward with a range of sward heights and bare earth for oviposition/basking. In more extensive systems, patches of scrub can form habitat of woody vegetation for species such as bush crickets. The greatest diversity of habitats should provide the highest species richness.

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Review Article Tue, 12 Jun 2018 00:11:57 +0300