Sex-specific spectral tuning for the partner's song in the duetting bushcricket Ancistrura nigrovittata (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae)

The song of the male bushcricket Ancistrura nigrovittata consists of a sequence of verses. Each verse comprises a syllable group, plus, after about 400 ms a single syllable serving as a trigger for the female response song. The carrier frequency of the male song spectrum peaks at around 15 kHz, while the female song peaks at around 27 kHz. The thresholds of female responses to models of male songs are lowest for song frequencies between 12 and 16 kHz and therefore correspond to the male song spectrum. The threshold curve of the female response to the trigger syllable at different frequencies has the same shape as the tuning for the syllable group. Phonotactic thresholds of male Ancistrura nigrovittata to synthetic female responses at different frequencies are lowest between 24 and 28 kHz and thereby correspond to the female song spectrum and clearly differ from female response thresholds. Activity of the tympanic fibre bundle of both sexes is most sensitive between 15 and 35 kHz and therefore not specifically tuned to the partner's song. Individual behavioural thresholds have their minimum within 10 dB of the values of tympanic thresholds.     

Calling behavior in bushcrickets of the genusPoecilimon with differing communication systems (Orthoptera: Tettigonioidea,Phaneropteridae)

In bushcricket communication systems males have to signal acoustically to attract females. The calling activity, however, not only may increase mating success, but also may result in costs in terms of energy and predation risks. In this study the calling activity of males and its timing during the day were analyzed for several species of the genus Poecilimon,representing two different communication systems. In species with mute females that approach the males phonotactically, calling was restricted to darkness and syllable rates were high. In species where females respond acoustically to male song and thus can induce the male to approach them phonotactically, males called during both day and night or during the day only, and syllable rates were low. After mating, male acoustic activity dropped to a very low level but was restored during the following 2 to 3 days, a time period longer than the minimal male mating interval. The results are discussed with regard to possible energetic limitations, the risk of attracting predators and parasitoids, and the spermatophore production of males.     

Morphological and physiological differences of the auditory system in three related bushcrickets (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae, Poecilimon)

Abstract. The auditory system of three closely related bushcrickets was investigated with respect to morphological and physiological differences. The size of the acoustic vesicle in the prothorax cavity and the size of the acoustic spiracle were compared to differences in auditory tuning of the tympanic nerve and differences in the directionality. The results indicate that a small auditory vesicle and auditory spiracle provide reduced sensitivity in the high frequency range (above 10—15 kHz), but increase sensitivity at low frequencies (below 10 kHz). The directionality of the hearing system deteriorates at frequencies between 10 and 25 kHz in species with a small spiracle and trachea. The evolutionary implications of these differences of the auditory systems are discussed. They are considered to be influenced more by ecological factors than bioacoustical ones.     

Condition-dependent spermatophore size is correlated with male's age in a bushcricket (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae)

During mating, male bushcrickets transfer a spermatophore that consists of a sperm-containing ampulla and a product of the accessory glands, the spermatophylax, which females directly ingest. In the present study, we demonstrate male spermatophore allocation in the bushcricket Poecilimon zimmeri . Males of this species show condition-dependent spermatophore investment. This investment depended upon the age at first mating of males, with older individuals transferring larger spermatophores than younger ones of the same body mass. Independently of age, heavier males transfer larger spermatophores, but the size of males (as measured by femur length) was not a good predictor. Heavier males allocate a lower proportion of their mass to spermatophores and reach their maximal investment point earlier than less heavy males. Spermatophylax production levelled off to a species specific maximum earlier than that of sperm investment (measured as ampulla mass), suggesting that males face high levels of sperm competition.  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 96 , 354–360.     

中国奇螽属的分类研究（直翅目：露螽科）

本文对中国奇螽属的种类进行了研究,并记述2新种, 即双刺奇螽Mirollia bispina sp. nov.和多齿奇螽Mirollia multidentus sp.nov.。模式标本保存于河北大学博物馆。     

中国掩耳螽属二新种记述(直翅目：螽总科,露螽科)

记述中国露螽科Phaneropteridae二新种：长裂掩耳螽Elimaea longifissa sp. Nov.,采自江西;短板掩耳螽E. brevilamina sp. Nov., 采自福建。模式标本保存于山东大学生物系。     

中国掩耳螽属二新种记述 (直翅目：螽总科,露螽科)

 记述中国露螽科Phaneropteridae二新种：长裂掩耳螽Elima ea longifissa sp. Nov.,采自江西;短板掩耳螽E.brevilamina sp. Nov., 采自 福建。模式标本保存于山东大学生物系。     

条螽属和桑螽属雌性发声刺的比较观察

报道了对尖翅条螽Ducetia attenuata Xia et Liu、日本条螽D. japonica (Thunberg)、施氏条螽D. strelkovi Gorochov et Storozhenko和中华桑螽Kuwayamaea chinensis (Brunner)、长翅桑螽K. longipennis Shi et Zheng、札幌桑螽K. sapporensis Mats.et Shir.的雌性发声刺的观察结果。这6个种的雌性发声刺在数量与形态上具较明显的差异。     

条螽属和桑螽属雌性发声刺的比较观察

 报道了对尖翅条螽Ducetia attenuata Xia et Liu、日本条 螽D. japonica(Thunberg)、施氏条螽D. strelkovi Gorochov et Storozhenk o和中华桑螽K uwayamaea chinensis(Brunner)、长翅桑螽K. longipennis Shi et Zheng、札 幌桑螽K.sap porensis Mats.et Shir.的雌性发声刺的观察结果。这6个种的雌性发声刺在数量与 形态上具较明显的差异。     

Male and female genitalia in some Libyan species of Acrididae (Orthoptera: Acridoidea)

A comparative study of male and female genitalia was carried out in thirty‐seven Libyan species representing twenty genera of the family Acrididae. An attempt has been made to describe and illustrate the different structures, namely, epiphallus, aedeagus, subgenital plate, supra‐anal plate and cerci of the male, and spermatheca, ovipositor, subgenital plate, supra‐anal plate and cerci of the female, in Acridids, with an aim to discover their significance in order to make the identification of genera and species, together with other generic characters, more perfect and convenient. Distinct family characters are shield or bridge‐shaped condition of epiphallus; presence or absence of dorso‐lateral appendices, oval sclerites and lophi on epiphallus; divided, undivided or flexured condition of aedeagus; presence or absence of gonopore process on aedeagus; condition of apical and pre‐apical diverticula of spermatheca; presence or absence of glandular pouches of Cornstock and Kellog on female subgenital plate; and rudimentary or well developed condition of egg‐guide. Stable characters for separating the subfamilies are taken to be presence or absence of ancorae on epiphallus, long or short condition of aedeagal sclerites; elongate, slender or short and broad condition of ovipositor valves: presence or absence of Jannone's organs and setae on posterior margin of female subgenital plate; and shape of diverticula of spermatheca. Useful generic characters are shape of male subgenital plate, supra‐anal plate and cerci, broad or narrow condition of bridge, presence or absence of branch of bridge connecting lophi with bridge of epiphallus; mono‐, bi‐ or tri‐lobate condition of lophi of epiphallus, length and upcurved or downcurved condition of apical valve of aedeagus, shape of posterior margin of female subgenital plate, presence of setae on the whole posterior margin or confined to lateral margins only; and toothed, tuberculate or smooth condition of ovipositor valves, length of the lateral apodeme in relation to the dorsal valves. Specific characters are shape of egg‐guide of female subgenital plate, shape of ovipositor valves and apical tips, shape of male supra‐anal plate and cerci, size of anterior and posterior lobes of lophi of epiphallus, size and shape of ancorae, shape of apical valves of aedeagus; and size of apical and pre‐apical diverticula and presence of protuberance on pre‐apical diverticulum.     

Songs and the Function of Song Elements in Four Duetting Bushcricket Species (Ensifera, Phaneropteridae, Barbitistes)

The structure of male songs and the timing of female replies with respect to the male songs are described for four species of the palaearctic bushcricket genus Barbitistes (B. constrictus, B. ocskayi, B. serricauda, B. yersini). In a male song, 3 to 16 syllables form a chirp followed by a trigger syllable after a longer interval. The trigger syllable releases a female reply with a latency of 30 to 50 ms in all four species. In B. serricauda songs, there is no clearly separated trigger syllable. Instead, the first syllable of a chirp functions as a trigger syllable. Some B. serricauda males may produce a short female-type syllable just at the moment, when a female would reply. The possible function of such a syllable is acoustical mimicry. When comparing at least two song parameters, each species occupies a specific combination of values. According to the overlap of parameters a close phylogenetic relationship between B. constrictus and B. serricauda and between B. ocskayi and B. yersini is assumed. This interpretation is compared with a hypothesis based on morphological investigations.     

The complete mitogenome of the Chinese bush cricket, Gampsocleis gratiosa （Orthoptera： Tettigonioidea）

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Gampsocleis gratiosa was determined. The 15, 929 bp in the size of G. gratiosa mitogenome contains a typical gene content, base composition, and codon usage found in metazoan. All 13 protein coding genes (PCGs) of the G. gratiosa mitogenome start with a typical ATN codon. The usual termination codons (TAA and TAG) were found from 10 PCGs. However, the atp6, nad4, and nad5 had incomplete termination codon (T). The anticodons of all tRNAs are identical to those observed in Drosophila yakuba and Locusta migratoria, and can be folded in the form of a typical clover leaf structure except for trnS (AGN). The secondary structure of trnS (AGN) was drawn according with the Steinberg-Cedergren tertiary structure. The A T content (67.4%) of the A T-rich region is relatively lower among the mitogenome regions, in contrast, it usually contains the highest A T content for most insects. Two isolated sequence repeat regions (202 bp) were found in the A T-rich region with mapping and secondary structure information.     

Acoustic communication in the trilling field cricket,Gryllus rubens (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

Male field crickets produce calling songs that are used for attracting conspecific females for mating. Acoustic communication was studied in the trilling field cricket, Gryllus rubens.A trilled calling song consists of a continuous train of sound pulses, each of which was repeated at a stereotyped rate. Singing males were recorded at different temperatures. The pulse period of the calling song decreased with increasing temperature; there was less effect of temperature on pulse duration. Female phonotaxis was studied on a noncompensating, spherical treadmill. In two-stimulus (choice) playback experiments, females preferred the conspecific trilled song over the chirped calling song of a sympatric species, Gryllus fultoni.This preference persisted even when the song of G. fultoniwas 6 dB louder. Females also discriminated between synthetic trills having different pulse periods; females chose trills with the conspecific pulse period over trills having lower and higher pulse periods.     

Selective phonotaxis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neoconocephalus nebrascensis</Emphasis> (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae): call recognition at two temporal scales

The calls of many Orthopteran species are comprised of a simple trill of pulses, the temporal pattern of which is important for call recognition. Male Neoconocephalus nebrascensis produce pulses with a temporal structure typical for the genus. However, they modify this pattern by grouping their pulses into verses, thereby creating a higher order temporal structure. The importance of the pulse pattern and verse structure for call recognition in N. nebrascensis was determined using a walking compensator. Females required the conspecific pulse pattern for call recognition, responding only when the intervals between pulses were short or absent. Females also required the verse structure for call recognition, and recognized the verse structure only when the amplitude modulation depth between verses and pauses exceeded 18 dB. We discuss that the verse recognition mechanism is a derived trait adapted for pre-mating isolation. We hypothesize that the unusually large amplitude modulation required for verse recognition forces males to synchronize their calls in order to preserve an attractive pattern. Call synchrony appears to be the outcome of cooperation, rather than competition, in this species.     

Grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) species diversity in the Pampas, Argentina

Abstract.  A study was conducted to describe the major features of geographical and temporal variation in the diversity of grassland grasshopper species (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) in different sites of the Pampas, Argentina. Species richness and relative abundance were assessed at 12 sites in eastern La Pampa and western Buenos Aires provinces, from 1994 through 1999. Mean species richness at the regional level was 10, and 34 grasshopper species were collected throughout of the study. Comparison with grasshopper species diversity from the Great Plains of North America is discussed. An evaluation of the proportions of species in each of the three distribution groups (broad, intermediate and narrow) revealed that, over all sites, broadly distributed species made up 14.7% of species composition and intermediately and narrowly distributed species made up 26.5% and 58.8%, respectively. The three top-ranked species in the studied sites were Dichroplus elongatus , D. pratensis and Staurorhectus longicornis . Results showed that, contrary to what was expected, one of the widely distributed species in the region (i.e. Baeacris punctulatus ) does not always constitute one of the most abundant species. Finally, the loss of one of the historically most common species in the Pampas, D. maculipennis , is also discussed.     

Recognition of a two-element song in the grasshopper Chorthippus dorsatus (Orthoptera: Gomphocerinae)

Summary Males of the grasshopper Chorthippus dorsatus produce songphrases which contain two differently structured elements — pulsed syllables in the first part (A) and ongoing noise in the second part (B). Females of Ch. dorsatus answer to artificial song models only if both elements A and B are present. Females strongly prefer song models in which the order of elements is A preceding B. Females discriminate between the two elements mainly by the existence of gaps within A-syllables. Pulses of 5–8 ms separated by gaps of 8–15 ms make most effective A-syllables, while syllable duration and syllable intervals are less critical parameters. Females respond to models which contain more than 3 A-syllables with high probability. Female model preferences lie well in the range of parameter values produced by singing males, except for B-parts which must be longer than those of any natural song to be most effective. In ancestors of Ch. dorsatus the two elements of the songs might have been directed towards females (part A) and males (part B).     

Mate recognition by female zebra finch: analysis of individuality in male call and first investigations on female decoding process

Zebra finches are monogamous birds living in large assemblies, which represent a source of confusion for recognition between mates. Because the members of a pair use distance calls to remain in contact, call-based mate recognition is highly probable in this species. Whereas it had been previously demonstrated in males [Vignal, C., Mathevon, N., Mottin, S., 2004. Audience drives male songbird response to mate's voice. Nature 430, 448-451], call-based mate recognition remained to be shown in females. By analysing the acoustic structure of male calls, we investigated the existence of an individual signature and identified the involved acoustic cues. We tested to see if females can identify their mates on the basis of their calls alone, and performed preliminary experiments using modified signals to investigate the acoustic basis of this recognition. Playback tests carried on six individuals showed that a female zebra finch is able to perform the call-based recognition of its mate. Our experiments suggested that the female uses both the energy spectrum and the frequency modulation of the male signal. More experiments are now needed to decipher precisely which acoustic cues are used by females for recognition.     

中国蚱科两新种记述（直翅目：蚱总科）

记述蚱科Tetrigidae 2新种,即黑背尖顶蚱Teredorus benotus ,sp.nov．及天目山台蚱Formosatettix tianmushanensis,sp.nov。模式标本保存于南开大学生物系昆虫标本室。