@article {58027, title = {Diversity of acoustic tracheal system and its role for directional hearing in crickets}, year = {2013}, abstract = {

Background: Sound localization in small insects can be a challenging task due to physical constraints in deriving sufficiently large interaural intensity differences (IIDs) between both ears. In crickets, sound source localization is achieved by a complex type of pressure difference receiver consisting of four potential sound inputs. Sound acts on the external side of two tympana but additionally reaches the internal tympanal surface via two external sound entrances. Conduction of internal sound is realized by the anatomical arrangement of connecting trachea. A key structure is a trachea coupling both ears which is characterized by an enlarged part in its midline (i.e., the acoustic vesicle) accompanied with a thin membrane (septum). This facilitates directional sensitivity despite an unfavorable relationship between wavelength of sound and body size. Here we studied the morphological differences of the acoustic tracheal system in 40 cricket species (Gryllidae, Mogoplistidae) and species of outgroup taxa (Gryllotalpidae, Rhaphidophoridae, Gryllacrididae) of the suborder Ensifera comprising hearing and non hearing species.

Results: We found a surprisingly high variation of acoustic tracheal systems and almost all investigated species using intraspecific acoustic communication were characterized by an acoustic vesicle associated with a medial septum. The relative size of the acoustic vesicle - a structure most crucial for deriving high IIDs - implies an important role for sound localization. Most remarkable in this respect was the size difference of the acoustic vesicle between species; those with a more unfavorable ratio of body size to sound wavelength tend to exhibit a larger acoustic vesicle. On the other hand, secondary loss of acoustic signaling was nearly exclusively associated with the absence of both acoustic vesicle and septum.

Conclusion: The high diversity of acoustic tracheal morphology observed between species might reflect different steps in the evolution of the pressure difference receiver; with a precursor structure already present in ancestral non-hearing species. In addition, morphological transitions of the acoustic vesicle suggest a possible adaptive role for the generation of binaural directional cues.

}, keywords = {Acoustic tracheal system, cricket, directional hearing, Interaural intensity difference (IID), Pressure difference receiver, Sound localization}, doi = {10.1186/1742-9994-10-61}, url = {http://frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1742-9994-10-61}, author = {Schmidt, Arne KD and R{\"o}mer, Heiner} } @article {58010, title = {A Tympanal Insect Ear Exploits a Critical Oscillator for Active Amplification and Tuning}, journal = {Current Biology}, volume = {23}, year = {2013}, month = {Jan-10-2013}, pages = {1952 - 1957}, abstract = {

A dominant theme of acoustic communication is the partitioning of acoustic space into exclusive, species-specific niches to enable efficient information transfer. In insects, acoustic niche partitioning is achieved through auditory frequency filtering, brought about by the mechanical properties of their ears [1]. The tuning of the antennal ears of mosquitoes [2] and flies [3], however, arises from active amplification, a process similar to that at work in the mammalian cochlea [4]. Yet, the presence of active amplification in the other type of insect ears\—tympanal ears\—has remained uncertain [5]. Here we demonstrate the presence of active amplification and adaptive tuning in the tympanal ear of a phylogenetically basal insect, a tree cricket. We also show that the tree cricket exploits critical oscillator-like mechanics, enabling high auditory sensitivity and tuning to conspecific songs. These findings imply that sophisticated auditory mechanisms may have appeared even earlier in the evolution of hearing and acoustic communication than currently appreciated. Our findings also raise the possibility that frequency discrimination and directional hearing in tympanal systems may rely on physiological nonlinearities, in addition to mechanical properties, effectively lifting some of the physical constraints placed on insects by their small size [6] and prompting an extensive reexamination of invertebrate audition.

}, issn = {09609822}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2013.08.028}, url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0960982213010348https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0960982213010348?httpAccept=text/xmlhttps://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0960982213010348?httpAccept=text/plain}, author = {Mhatre, Natasha and Daniel Robert} } @article {57941, title = {Review of the Balkan Isophya (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae) with particular emphasis on the Isophya modesta group and remarks on the systematics of the genus based on morphological and acoustic data}, year = {2013}, abstract = {

A critical review of the taxonomy and systematics of the genus Isophya from the Balkan Peninsula, together with a revision of the I. modesta group, including its representatives outside the Balkans, has been made using morphological, bioacoustic and karyological data. As a result, the following taxonomic considerations have been proposed: (1) the status of two taxa has been reconsidered: Isophya rhodopensis leonorae Kaltenbach, stat.n., I. rhodopensis petkovi Peshev, stat.n.; (2) five synonymies have been established: I. hospodar (Saussure) = I. hospodar medimontana Nedelkov, syn.n.; I. plevnensis Peshev, sensu novo = I. pravdini pravdini Peshev, syn.n.; I. rhodopensis leonorae Kaltenbach = I. kisi Peshev, syn.n.; I. obtusa = I. pravdini bazyluki Peshev, syn.n.; I. modesta Frivaldszky = I. modesta intermedia Kis syn.n. The descriptions of the taxa under consideration are supplemented with unpublished morphological and/or bioacoustic data. An updated list of the taxa occurring on the Balkans includes 24 taxa (21 species, including the doubtful data on I. camptoxypha). A dichotomic and tabulated key for recognition and maps of distribution of the established taxa are presented.

}, keywords = {Anatolia, Barbitistini, Bush-crickets, distribution, evolution, grouping, keys, Southeastern Europe}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.3658.110.11646/zootaxa.3658.1.1}, url = {http://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/issue/view/zootaxa.3658.1}, author = {Dragan Petrov Chobanov and Grzywacz, Beata and Ionut Stefan Iorgu and Battal Ciplak and ILIEVA, MAYA B. and Warcha{\l}owska-{\'S}liwa, El{\.z}bieta} } @article {57643, title = {Low-pass filters and differential tympanal tuning in a paleotropical bushcricket with an unusually low frequency call}, year = {2013}, abstract = {

Low-frequency sounds are advantageous for long-range acoustic signal transmission, but for small animals they constitute a challenge for signal detection and localization. The efficient detection of sound in insects is enhanced by mechanical resonance either in the tracheal or tympanal system before subsequent neuronal amplification. Making small structures resonant at low sound frequencies poses challenges for insects and has not been adequately studied. Similarly, detecting the direction of long-wavelength sound using interaural signal amplitude and/or phase differences is difficult for small animals. Pseudophylline bushcrickets predominantly call at high, often ultrasonic frequencies, but a few paleotropical species use lower frequencies. We investigated the mechanical frequency tuning of the tympana of one such species, Onomarchus uninotatus, a large bushcricket that produces a narrow bandwidth call at an unusually low carrier frequency of 3.2 kHz. Onomarchus uninotatus, like most bushcrickets, has two large tympanal membranes on each fore-tibia. We found that both these membranes vibrate like hinged flaps anchored at the dorsal wall and do not show higher modes of vibration in the frequency range investigated (1.5\–20 kHz). The anterior tympanal membrane acts as a low-pass filter, attenuating sounds at frequencies above 3.5 kHz, in contrast to the high-pass filter characteristic of other bushcricket tympana. Responses to higher frequencies are partitioned to the posterior tympanal membrane, which shows maximal sensitivity at several broad frequency ranges, peaking at 3.1, 7.4 and 14.4 kHz. This partitioning between the two tympanal membranes constitutes an unusual feature of peripheral auditory processing in insects. The complex tracheal shape of O. uninotatus also deviates from the known tube or horn shapes associated with simple band-pass or high-pass amplification of tracheal input to the tympana. Interestingly, while the anterior tympanal membrane shows directional sensitivity at conspecific call frequencies, the posterior tympanal membrane is not directional at conspecific frequencies and instead shows directionality at higher frequencies.

}, keywords = {auditory, katydid, laser vibrometry, Onomarchus uninotatus, Orthoptera, pseudophylline, tettigoniid, trachea, tympanum}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.078352}, url = {http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/doi/10.1242/jeb.078352https://syndication.highwire.org/content/doi/10.1242/jeb.078352}, author = {Rajaraman, K. and Mhatre, N. and Jain, M. and Postles, M. and Rohini Balakrishnan and Daniel Robert} } @article {52680, title = {The spider-like katydid Arachnoscelis (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Listroscelidinae): anatomical study of the genus}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {3666}, year = {2013}, month = {Apr-06-2013}, pages = {591}, abstract = {

This paper provides some observations on the anatomy of the neotropical katydid Arachnoscelis arachnoides Karny (In- secta: Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). Arachnoscelis is a genus of predaceous katydids that comprise species that resemble spi- ders in their general body appearance. The type species, A. arachnoids, was described in 1891 from a single male collected in Colombia. Following the original description, these creatures were never found again, and were thought to have gone extinct or mistakenly assigned to the type locality. But between 1891 and 2012 four more species were described and in- correctly assigned to Arachnoscelis based on a similarity of body form. In this paper we present an anatomical comparai- son of Arachnoscelis and its relatives, and propose that Arachnoscelis should be treated as a monotypic genus. This implies that other species previously described in Arachnoscelis, should be placed in different genera.

}, keywords = {bushcricket, Colombia, predator, stridulation, ultrasound}, issn = {1175-5326}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.3666.410.11646/zootaxa.3666.4.11}, url = {http://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/issue/view/zootaxa.3666.4}, author = {Montealegre-Z, Fernando and Cadena-Castaneda, Oscar J. and Benedict D. Chivers} } @mastersthesis {50740, title = {Investigating an adaptive radiation in temperate Neoconocephalus}, year = {2013}, school = {University of Missouri{\textendash}Columbia}, type = {phd}, author = {Frederick, Katherine H} } @article {47758, title = {The bush-cricket Isophya kraussii (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae): bioacoustics, distribution and description of a new subspecies from Romania}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {3640}, year = {2013}, month = {May-04-2014}, pages = {258}, issn = {1175-5326}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.3640.210.11646/zootaxa.3640.2.8}, url = {http://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/issue/view/zootaxa.3640.2}, author = {Ionut Stefan Iorgu and Klaus-Gerhard Heller} } @article {47616, title = {Maintaining acoustic communication at a cocktail party: heterospecific masking noise improves signal detection through frequency separation}, journal = {Journal of Experimental Biology}, volume = {216}, year = {2013}, month = {Oct-24-20132050}, pages = {4655 - 4665}, abstract = {

We examined acoustic masking in a chirping katydid species of the Mecopoda elongata complex due to interference with a sympatric Mecopoda species where males produce continuous trills at high amplitudes. Frequency spectra of both calling songs range from 1 to 80 kHz; the chirper species has more energy in a narrow frequency band at 2 kHz and above 40 kHz. Behaviourally, chirper males successfully phase-locked their chirps to playbacks of conspecific chirps under masking conditions at signal-to- noise ratios (SNRs) of \−8 dB. After the 2 kHz band in the chirp had been equalised to the level in the masking trill, the breakdown of phase-locked synchrony occurred at a SNR of +7 dB. The remarkable receiver performance is partially mirrored in the selective response of a first-order auditory interneuron (TN1) to conspecific chirps under these masking conditions. However, the selective response is only maintained for a stimulus including the 2 kHz component, although this frequency band has no influence on the unmasked TN1 response. Remarkably, the addition of masking noise at 65 dB sound pressure level (SPL) to threshold response levels of TN1 for pure tones of 2 kHz enhanced the sensitivity of the response by 10 dB. Thus, the spectral dissimilarity between masker and signal at a rather low frequency appears to be of crucial importance for the ability of the chirping species to communicate under strong masking by the trilling species. We discuss the possible properties underlying the cellular/synaptic mechanisms of the \‘novelty detector\’.

}, keywords = {ambient noise, auditory interneuron, insects, katydid, novelty detection, selective encoding}, issn = {0022-0949}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.089888}, url = {http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/doi/10.1242/jeb.089888https://syndication.highwire.org/content/doi/10.1242/jeb.089888}, author = {Siegert, M. E. and Heiner R{\"o}mer and Hartbauer, M.} } @article {47347, title = {Comments on the Malaysian Katydid Ancylecha fenestrata (Fabricius, 1793) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)}, journal = {Entomologie heute}, volume = {25}, year = {2013}, pages = {57-75}, chapter = {57}, abstract = {

Ancylecha fenestrata is a rather large phaneropterine tettigoniid from Malaysia with leaf-like tegmina that are characterized by two crescent-like markings. This species is often raised in captivity, but publications about its biology are rare. Searching the internet we found several plants accepted for oviposition, but not for feeding. These plants have relatively fl eshy and leathery leaves and contain various substances (e. g. saponins, oxalic acid, speci fi c glucosides etc.) often harmful at least to verte- brates. Only a few plants appear to be used for both, egg deposition and feeding. Whether this is a strategy pursued by A. fenestrata in the wild, is unkown. Females oserved by us inserted up to 13 large kidney-shaped eggs (per leaf) in the leaf parenchyma of the Spotted Dracaena Dracaena surculosa often used for breeding. The chorion of the egg is composed of a thin, delicate outer layer that apparently forms a close association with the walls of the parenchyma cells of the leaf, followed by a broader spongy layer, a relatively thick and solid layer with dilatations (air spaces) connected by fi ne pore canals that also open out in the large spaces of the spongy layer, and a very thin basal layer. At temperatures of 22 to 25 \°C and relatively high humidities, nymphs hatch within 70 days on average. The fi rst nym- phal instars are strikingly multicoloured. In the resting position, in which the forelegs are extended forwards, the hind legs backwards, and the long antennae are hidden under the abdomen, they resem- ble spiders. Males and females of A. fenestrata produce sounds by tegminal stridulation. Stridulatory organs are sexually dimorphic. As typical for many tettigoniids, males possess a strongly sclerotized fi le with \“teeth\” ( pars stridens ) on the underside of the left tegmen base and on the upper surface a scraper ( plectrum ) near to the so-called mirror. Females lack a mirror possessing several small fi les with laterally cuspidate teeth on the upper surface of the right tegmen, whereas the underside of the left tegmen is not conspicuously modi fi ed. When disturbed, both sexes produce alarm or defence sounds.

}, keywords = {Ancylecha fenestrata, aposematism, chorion structure, reproduction, site of oviposition, stridulatory apparatus}, author = {Hartmut Greven and Sabrina Braatz and Dieter Schulten} } @article {47335, title = {The genus Aerotegmina (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Hexacentrinae): chromosomes, morphological relations, phylogeographical patterns and description of a new species}, journal = {Organisms Diversity \& Evolution}, volume = {13}, year = {2013}, month = {Jan-12-2013}, pages = {521 - 530}, abstract = {

The genus Aerotegmina Hemp is common on East African mountains. Two species are known and a third, A. taitensis n. sp., is described in this paper. A. kilimandjarica Hemp is widespread while A. shengenae Hemp is endemic to the South Pare Mountains and A. taitensis n. sp. is known only from the Taita Hills. Morphologically, and from their song, A. shengenae and A. taitensis n. sp. are closely related. In chromosome number A. kilimandjarica (2n\ =\ 33) differs clearly from A. shengenae (2n\ =\ 27). Data presented on other flightless Orthoptera suggest that the South Pare Mountains and the Taita Hills, both belonging to the geologically old mountain chain of the Eastern Arc, show a faunistic similarity not shared by any other mountain range in the area. The mechanisms that led to this phylogeographic pattern in flightless Orthoptera in the Eastern Arc Mountains of northern Tanzania and southern Kenya and the inland volcanoes are discussed. A key to the three Aerotegmina species is presented, as well as bioacoustical data of all species compared to the phaneropterine species Euryastes jagoi.

}, keywords = {Aerotegmina, bioacoustics, chromosomes, East Africa, Eastern Arc Mountains, Euryastes, Hexacentrinae, morphology, new species, Orthoptera, phylogeography, Taita Hills}, issn = {1439-6092}, doi = {10.1007/s13127-013-0133-7}, url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13127-013-0133-7}, author = {Claudia Hemp and Klaus-Gerhard Heller and Warchalowska-Sliwa, Elzbieta and Hemp, Andreas} } @article {47334, title = {Biogeography, ecology, acoustics and chromosomes of East African Eurycorypha St{\r a}l species (Orthoptera, Phaneropterinae) with the description of new species}, journal = {Organisms Diversity \& Evolution}, volume = {13}, year = {2013}, month = {Jan-09-2013}, pages = {373 - 395}, abstract = {

Although Eurycorypha is the most species-rich Phaneropterinae genus in Africa, little is known about the distribution and the ecology of the species. In this study data on distribution, ecology, song and on chromosomes of some East African species are provided. The nymphs of some species are shown, famous for their ant-like appearance and behaviour. The male of E. punctipennis Chopard and three species of Eurycorypha are newly described. These are E. resonans n. sp. and E. combretoides n. sp. occurring in different habitats on Mount Kilimanjaro, and E. conclusa n. sp from forest habitats along the Tanzanian coast. Bioacoustically, the four recorded species are unusually divers, presenting non-resonant and resonant songs. As four Eurycorypha species occur syntopically on geological young Mount Kilimanjaro, the biogeographical pattern and possible speciation mechanisms in the genus Eurycorypha are discussed in context of the climatical history of eastern Africa.

}, keywords = {bioacoustics, Biogeography, chromosomes, ecology, Mount Kilimanjaro, new species, Orthoptera, Phaneropterinae, speciation, Tanzania}, issn = {1439-6092}, doi = {10.1007/s13127-012-0123-1}, url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13127-012-0123-1}, author = {Claudia Hemp and Klaus-Gerhard Heller and Warcha{\l}owska-{\'S}liwa, El{\.z}bieta and Grzywacz, Beata and Hemp, Andreas} } @article {47333, title = {Integrated systematics of the Poecilimon luschani species group (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae): radiation as a chain of populations in a small heterogeneous area}, journal = {Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society}, volume = {169}, year = {2013}, month = {Jan-09-2013}, pages = {43 - 69}, abstract = {

The Poecilimon luschani species group (Orthoptera, Tettigonioidea, Phaneropterinae), ranging along a narrow line in West Anatolia and the Balkan mountains, has been revised using integrated data from morphology, bioacoustics, and DNA sequences of two matrilineal markers. A taxonomic approach neutral with respect to existing species/subspecies was applied to the sampled populations. The male calling song showed poor variation amongst the populations. Of the morphological structures, only the male cerci and male subgenital plate offer diagnostic characters but they are secondary gains or losses in most cases. Phylogenetic analyses applied to a data matrix consisting of concatenated 1401 bp long sequences of 16S rDNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I produced from specimens of the group resulted in trees with similar topologies. Both genetic and phenotypic data confirmed the species status of the geographically discrete Izmir, Balkan, Ayd{\i}n, K\ütahya, and Bal{\i}kesir populations. However, 13 populations located in the southern part of the group\&$\#$39;s range in Antalya and Mu{\u g}la Provinces of Turkey present a complex phylogenetic and morphological pattern of three morphological units, but two phylogroups. By integrating song, morphology, and phylogenetic data the following conclusions were made. The species status of Poecilimon ledereri and Poecilimon orbelicus was confirmed. The Ayd{\i}n population was re-established as a valid species, P. tuncayi stat. rev. The K\ütahya population was elevated to species level as Poecilimon egrigozi \Ünal, 2005, stat. nov. The Bal{\i}kesir population is here described as a new species Poecilimon helleri sp. nov. The southern lineage of the species group exhibits characteristics of a chain species with three subspecies. Poecilimon luschani is retained as the species name by priority and the Poecilimon birandi is considered its subspecies as Poecilimon luschani birandistat. nov. A new subspecies Poecilimon luschani chobanovi ssp. nov. is described. The phylogenetic relationships amongst the proposed taxa are as follows: P. ledereri + (P. orbelicus + (P. tuncayi + (P. egrigozi + P. helleri) + (P. luschani luschani + P. luschani birandi + P. luschani chobanovi))).

}, keywords = {Anatolia, chain species, integrative taxonomy, Poecilimon luschani group}, doi = {10.1111/zoj.2013.169.issue-110.1111/zoj.12058}, url = {http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/zoj.2013.169.issue-1https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1111/zoj.12058https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111\%2Fzoj.12058}, author = {Boztepe, Zehra and Kaya, Sarp and {\c C}iplak, Battal} } @article {11176, title = {True Katydids (Pseudophyllinae) from Guadeloupe: Acoustic Signals and Functional Considerations of Song Production}, journal = {Journal of Insect Science}, volume = {13}, year = {2013}, month = {Jan-12-2013}, pages = {1 - 16}, abstract = {

Guadeloupe, the largest of the Leeward Islands, harbors three species of Pseudophyllinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) belonging to distinct tribes. This study examined the basic aspects of sound production and acousto-vibratory behavior of these species. As the songs of many Pseudophyllinae are complex and peak at high frequencies, they require high quality recordings. Wild specimens were therefore recorded ex situ. Collected specimens were used in structure-function experiments. Karukerana aguilari Bonfils (Pterophyllini) is a large species with a mirror in each tegmen and conspicuous folds over the mirror. It sings 4\–6 syllables, each comprising 10\–20 pulses, with several peaks in the frequency spectrum between 4 and 20 kHz. The song is among the loudest in Orthoptera (\> 125 dB SPL in 10 cm distance). The folds are protective and have no function in song production. Both mirrors may work independently in sound radiation. Nesonotus reticulatus (Fabricius) (Cocconotini) produces verses from two syllables at irregular intervals. The song peaks around 20 kHz. While singing, the males often produce a tremulation signal with the abdomen at about 8\–10 Hz. To our knowledge, it is the first record of simultaneous calling song and tremulation in Orthoptera. Other males reply to the tremulation with their own tremulation. Xerophyllopteryx fumosa (Brunner von Wattenwyl) (Pleminiini) is a large, bark-like species, producing a syllable of around 20 pulses. The syllables are produced with irregular rhythms (often two with shorter intervals). The song peaks around 2\–3 kHz and 10 kHz. The hind wings are relatively thick and are held between the half opened tegmina during singing. Removal of the hind wings reduces song intensity by about 5 dB, especially of the low frequency component, suggesting that the hind wings have a role in amplifying the song.

}, keywords = {bioacoustics, bush-cricket, stridulation}, issn = {1536-2442}, doi = {10.1673/031.013.15701}, url = {http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1673/031.013.15701}, author = {Stumpner, Andreas and Dann, Angela and Schink, Matthias and Gubert, Silvia and Hugel, Sylvain} }