Chunxiang Liu

Acoustic Communication in Phaneropterinae (Tettigonioidea) - A Global Review with Some New Data

Abstract Phaneropterinae is the largest subfamily within the bush-crickets/ katydids (Tettigonioidea), with about 2451 species, and with a world-wide distribution. Its acoustic communication differs from all other tettigonioid groups in that females primarily and typically respond to the male calling song with their own acoustic reply, a behaviour referred to as duetting. This type of response seems to have been lost only in a few species with wingless females. According to our literature review, information about the song patterns of about 330 species of Phaneropterinae have been published world-wide. Included in this number are ca 170 species of Barbitistini, a flightless West Palearctic tribe, which are treated separately. In the present study we summarize information from the above 330 species. We examine the morphology of stridulatory and hearing organs, and analyze the acoustic signals for frequency, number of syllables and number of interval types. We also have examined if and how responding by sound may have influenced other aspects of the acoustic communication system, especially the structure of the male calling song. Overall, the songs of male Phaneropterinae are similar to those of other tettigonioids. However, some Phaneropterinae species with very long and complex songs are found on all continents, exceeding in these characters nearly all other Ensifera species. These songs contain several different types of syllables and intervals of various duration. Because of this high interspecific variability (reaching from very simple to extremely complex), male phaneropterine songs are by far more variable than those of other tettigonioid families. However, since there are so few data on the behaviour of most Phaneropterinae species, and especially for females, we still are limited in our understanding of the reasons behind the song variability. Sexual selection by females choosing to respond preferentially to certain song types could be an important evolutionary force, but probably only in combination with some unknown ecological and behavioural factors.

Taxonomic review of Tapiena (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae: Phaneropterinae), with key to species and new species from Thailand.

The genus Tapiena (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae: Phaneropterinae), consisting of species from around Asia and Africa, is reviewed. Henningian species concept was applied and morphology was used to estimate species boundaries. From Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, Thailand, two new species are described: Tapiena sakaerat Tan, Liu, Artchawakom sp. n. and Tapiena denticulata Tan, Liu, Artchawakom sp. n. This represents the first record of the genus Tapiena in Thailand. A key to the species of Tapiena (for males only) is also provided.

Molpa : A newly recorded genus (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae) from China

The genus Molpa Walker was previously considered to be disjunctly distributed in broad-leaf rain forests in India and Malaysia. Here we report one new species Molpa dulongensis sp. nov. from subtropic broad-leaf rain forests in southwestern Yunnan Province in China. This is a part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot area. So we can infer that Molpa is continuously distributed in broad-leaf rain forests found in Oriental Region. Redescription of the genus Molpa and description of the new species Molpa dulongensis sp. nov. are provided. The types are deposited in Insect Collection of Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (IZCAS).

Description of two new species of the genus Atlanticus from Southern China and their songs (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Tettigoniinae)

Two new species Atlanticus (Sinpacificus) jiangyei sp. n. and Atlanticus (Sinpacificus) helleri sp. n. are described, based on morphology and male calling songs. Based on the morphological characters, the closest relative of Atlanticus (Sinpacificus) jiangyei sp. n. and that of Atlanticus (Sinpacificus) helleri sp. n. are separately assumed to be Atlanticus (Sinpacificus) hangfui Liu, and Atlanticus (Sinpacificus) kiangsui Tinkham. Discussion about characteristics of Atlanticus species is also provided.

A new species of Mongolodectes (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from Alashan Plateau in China

The genus Mongolodectes is endemic to vast Mongolian Plateau and has two recorded species in the Mongolian Peoples Republic and one species in Chinas Inner Mongolia. Here we describe one new species Mongolodectes huangi sp. n. from Chinas Inner Mongolia. Further investigations are needed for precise identification and complete understanding on the fauna of the Mongolian Plateau.

New species from the genera Kansua and Anatlanticus (Orhtoptera: Tettigoniidae) in China

The genus Kansua Uvarov was only known in East Asian, and is considered to approach Tettigonia Linnaeus or Glyphonotus Redtenbacher. After comparing male and female specimens of Kansua with other genera of the subfamily Tettigoniinae, we find that Kansua is very similar to Anatlanticus Bei-Bienko and Mongolodectes Bei-Bienko in pronotum, legs, and tegmen rather than Tettigonia and Glyphonotus. Description of one new species Kansua diebua Liu sp. n., of two new species of one newly recorded genus Anatlanticus from China, and first description of male of Mongolodectes alashanicus are presented.