Search

Low-productive open landscapes, once prevalent in Western Europe, have significantly declined due to land reclamation and afforestation. Despite protection under the European Union Habitats Directive, remaining heathlands face degradation from various factors, including nitrogen deposition, climate change, and altered land use. Using laboratory and field experiments we examined the habitat requirements and causes of decline for two large heathland bush-crickets, Ephippiger diurnus Dufour, 1841 and Gampsocleis glabra (Herbst,1786), focusing on the availability of bare mineral soil for egg-deposition. Our study revealed a strong preference for bare sand over moss-covered soil for oviposition for both species. Eggs deposited in bare sand showed higher survival rates, better development, and increased hatching success compared to those in moss-covered soil. The decline of these bush-cricket species is linked to the reduction of bare soil due to moss encroachment, exacerbated by nitrogen deposition. Implications for insect conservation: Our results show that loss of bare soil patches is an important bottleneck in the life cycle of large heathland bush-crickets. Conservation efforts therefore must prioritize maintaining bare soil patches through anthropogenic disturbances and reducing nitrogen deposition to support bush-cricket reproduction and sustain their populations in Northwestern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthoptera species are vulnerable to extinction on a global scale. Greece hosts 35% (380 species) of the European Orthoptera fauna with a high degree of endemic (37%) and threatened species (37%). We sampled 46 plots (100 m2) to investigate the distribution and ecological requirement of two Greek mountain endemic and red‐listed species: Parnassiana parnassica (Ramme, 1926; Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Critically Endangered [CR]) and Oropodisma parnassica (Scudder, 1897; Orthoptera: Caelifera; Endangered [EN]). Species had a restricted geographical range, with two isolated populations confined to high altitudes (1527–2320 m) of Mts. Parnassos and Elikonas. Species distribution models showed that slope affected their suitable habitat, together with the topographic position index and the annual temperature range (P. parnassica), and the amount of green vegetation and evapotranspiration (O. parnassica). Connectivity analysis showed that P. parnassica‐suitable habitat consisted of few larger and well‐connected patches (26 patches: effective mesh size of 1.57 km2) and that O. parnassica‐suitable habitat consisted of more but smaller and less connected patches (56 patches: effective mesh size of 0.3 km2). Generalised linear models showed that the population density of P. parnassica was negatively influenced by the height of herbaceous vegetation and that of O. parnassica was positively influenced by altitude. The species face three main imminent threats: land take, wildfires and global warming, whereas livestock grazing seems to have a positive impact and skiing a neutral impact on their populations. We assessed both species as EN after International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and a suite of conservation measures are suggested for their status improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geographic distribution and systematics of many groups of insects are still understudied across large geographic areas of the Iberian Peninsula. This lack of knowledge and the fact that many species have a complex evolutionary history due to the existence of "refugia within refugia" have hindered the taxonomic description of the true biodiversity in the Iberian Peninsula. Here, we discuss the evolutionary history of a flightless Iberian bush-cricket Antaxius spinibrachius (Fischer, 1853) using 1 nuclear and 2 mitochondrial markers. We applied species distribution modeling to design sampling strategies in climatically favorable areas and to detect missing isolated populations or unknown lineages. Following the species distribution modeled using all of the presence records available, we discovered 4 new isolated populations in Sierra Madrona, Serra de São Mamede, Sierra de Montánchez, and Sierra de la Demanda. Phylogenetic analyses recovered 2 major Pliocene lineages with a north–south geographic speciation pattern in the Iberian Peninsula. This north–south vicariant event split the common ancestor of these species on either side of the Tagus Valley, probably associated with the Pliocene climate change and the reorganization of paleobasins of the western Iberian Peninsula during the Miocene–Pliocene. We described the southern Iberian Plateau lineage of Antaxius as a new species of bush-cricket based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence, Antaxius oretanus sp. nov. We assessed the conservation status of the new species as "VU B2ab(iii,v)" under the IUCN criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite DNA repeats are repetitive DNA sequences found in eukaryotic genomes, typically consisting of short DNA motifs repeated in tandem arrays. Despite the vast body of literature on satellite DNA repeats in other taxa, investigations specifically targeting Tettigoniidae remain conspicuously absent. Our study aims to fill a critical gap in our understanding of satellitome evolutionary processes shaping Tettigoniidae genomes. Repeatome analysis revealed that the Meconema thalassinum genome comprises 92%, and Phryganogryllacris superangulata had the lowest value of 34%, with an average of 67% in other Tettigoniidae species. The analysis reveals significant variation in the number of satellite DNA repeats across species of the Tettigoniidae family, with M. thalassinum exhibiting the highest count, 246, reported in insects to date and the lowest count, 10, in Pholidoptera griseoptera. Ruspolia dubia and Ruspolia yunnana, which are congeneric species, showcase distinct counts of 104 and 84 families, respectively. Satellite DNA repeats in R. dubia exhibit the highest abundance, constituting 17.2% of the total genome, while the lowest abundance was reported in P. griseoptera, at 5.65%. The genome size correlates weakly with the satellite DNA family count (rs = 0.42, p = 0.29), but a strong correlation exists between satellite abundance and family number (rs = 0.73, p = 0.03). Moreover, the analysis of satellite DNA gain and loss patterns provides insights into the amplification and homogenization of satellite DNA families within the genome, with species-specific repeats exhibiting a positive trend toward amplification. The chromosomal distribution in M. thalassinum displayed that the highest accumulation was observed on Chr12, Chr01, and Chr04, constituting 17.79%, 17.4%, and 17.22% of the total chromosome size, respectively. The chromosome-specific propagation of satellite DNA families was evident, with MthSat01 solely on chromosome 1 and MthSat170 on chromosome 2, sharing 1.64% and 2.33%. The observed conservation and variations in satellite DNA number and abundances, along with distinct patterns of gain and loss, indicate the influence of potentially diverse evolutionary processes shaping the genomic landscape of these insects, which requires further investigation. Furthermore, the differential accumulation of satellite DNA on specific chromosomes implies that potential chromosome-specific functions or structural features influence the retention and proliferation of satellite sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rewilding aims to restore 'self-willed' ecosystems involving the creation of habitats subject to stochastic disturbance connected by favorable corridors for dispersal of animals, including insects. Reversion of arable land to grassland and scrub habitats adjacent to Arger Fen nature reserve in Suffolk (southeast England) through non-intervention allowed succession to occur largely unmanaged on fields with differing topography, from flat terrain to slopes. Monitoring of Orthoptera revealed statistical evidence that species diversity and richness was greater on the steeper slopes (gradient > 10%), while species varied in their topographic preferences from flat terrain (e.g., long-winged conehead Conocephalus fuscus Fabricius, 1793) to slopes (e.g., field grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus Thunberg, 1815). Lagomorph grazing by the wild brown hare Lepus europaeus (Pallas, 1778) and the rabbit Oryctoloagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758) appeared to be critical in maintaining exposed soil for hillside species such as C. brunneus, which may require the egg-laying and basking habitat. A mosaic of scrub and grassland on a wooded hillside affected by ash dieback Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (Baral et al. 2014) was also important for Orthoptera. We postulate that rewilding schemes on arable land may be particularly effective when there are topographic undulations incorporating flat and hillside areas to promote the greatest diversity of Orthoptera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has been used extensively to investigate phylogenetic relationships at various taxonomic levels. Insect mitochondrial genomes are important for understanding insect evolution and relationships. We performed complete mitogenome sequencing and annotation for nine Meconematinae species and combined the data with data from previously assembled mitochondrial genomes in the family Tettigoniidae to conduct a phylogenetic analysis. The monophyly of Xizicus, Xiphidiopsis, and Phlugiolopsis was not well supported in our findings. Currently, the subfamily Meconematinae encompasses 1029 species, but whole-mitochondrial-genome assemblies have only been made available for 13. In this study, the whole mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of nine additional species in the subfamily Meconematinae were sequenced. The size ranged from 15,627 bp to 17,461 bp, indicating double-stranded circular structures. The length of the control region was the main cause of the difference in mitochondrial genome length among the nine species. All the mitogenomes including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) and a control region (CR). The majority strand encoded 23 genes, and the minority strand encoded 14 genes. A phylogenetic analysis reaffirmed the monophyletic status of each subfamily, but the monophysitism of Xizicus, Xiphidiopsis and Phlugiolopsis was not supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stridulation is used by male katydids to produce sound via the rubbing together of their specialised forewings, either by sustained or interrupted sweeps of the file producing different tones and call structures. There are many species of Orthoptera that remain undescribed and their acoustic signals are unknown. This study aims to measure and quantify the mechanics of wing vibration, sound production and acoustic properties of the hearing system in a new genus of Pseudophyllinae with taxonomic descriptions of two new species. The calling behaviour and wing mechanics of males were measured using micro-scanning laser Doppler vibrometry, microscopy, and ultrasound sensitive equipment. The resonant properties of the acoustic pinnae of the ears were obtained via μ-CT scanning and 3D printed experimentation, and numerical modelling was used to validate the results. Analysis of sound recordings and wing vibrations revealed that the stridulatory areas of the right tegmen exhibit relatively narrow frequency responses and produce narrowband calls between 12 and 20 kHz. As in most Pseudophyllinae, only the right mirror is activated for sound production. The acoustic pinnae of all species were found to provide a broadband increased acoustic gain from ~40–120 kHz by up to 25 dB, peaking at almost 90 kHz which coincides with the echolocation frequency of sympatric bats. The new genus, named Satizabalus n. gen., is here derived as a new polytypic genus from the existing genus Gnathoclita, based on morphological and acoustic evidence from one described (S. sodalis n. comb.) and two new species (S. jorgevargasi n. sp. and S. hauca n. sp.). Unlike most Tettigoniidae, Satizabalus exhibits a particular form of sexual dimorphism whereby the heads and mandibles of the males are greatly enlarged compared to the females. We suggest that Satizabalus is related to the genus Trichotettix, also found in cloud forests in Colombia, and not to Gnathoclita. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible grasshopper, Ruspolia ruspolia, has nutritional and cherished cultural and economic importance to people from diverse cultures, particularly in over 20 African countries. It is consumed at home or commercially traded as sautéed, deep-fried, or boiled products. However, there is limited information on the hygiene practices of the vendors and the implications on the microbial safety of the final product. This research aimed at assessing the food safety knowledge, handling practices and shelf life of edible long-horned grasshopper products among vendors and the microbial safety of ready-to-eat products sold in 12 different markets in Uganda. Samples of raw, deep-fried and boiled grasshoppers were randomly collected from 74 vendors (62% street and 38% market vendors) and subjected to microbial analysis. Over 85% of the vendors surveyed had no public health food handler's certificate and >95% had limited post-harvest handling knowledge. Total aerobic bacteria (7.30-10.49 Log10 cfu/g), Enterobacteriaceae (5.53-8.56 Log10 cfu/g), yeasts andmolds (4.96-6.01 Log10 cfu/g) total counts were significantly high and above the acceptable Codex Alimentarius Commission and Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) limits for ready-to-eat food products. Eight key pathogenic bacteria responsible for foodborne diseases were detected and these isolates were characterized as Bacillus cereus, Hafnia alvei, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, S. xylosus, S. scuiri, S. haemolyticus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Findings from this study highlight the urgent need to create local and national food safety policies for the edible grasshopper "nsenene" subsector to regulate and guide street and market vending along the value chain, to prevent the transmission of foodborne diseases to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at improving the nutrient composition and protein quality of biscuits made from sorghum and wheat through fortification with Longhorn Ruspolia differens powder (RDP) for use as a supplementary food targeting children vulnerable to protein–energy malnutrition (PEM). Ten biscuit formulations were prepared by replacing a part of wheat and sorghum–wheat flours with 5, 15, 20, and 40% RDP. To establish the nutrient content of biscuits, proximate and mineral compositions were determined. The amino acid composition, reactive lysine and in vitro protein digestibility were determined for protein quality. Compositing wheat or wheat–sorghum biscuits with RDP increased the protein, fat, ash, and crude fiber by percentages as high as 118, 37, 133, and 573%, respectively. Mineral content increased with, iron, zinc, and potassium as high as 161, 219, and 169%, respectively. The lysine, reactive lysine and in vitro protein digestibility of the fortified biscuits increased significantly, relative to the 100% cereal biscuits. Fortification with RDP significantly improved the amino acid content of the biscuits but had a marginal effect on improvement of the lysine score and did not meet the reference pattern for children aged 3–10 years. The Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) of wheat–sorghum and wheat biscuits improved by 6% to 47% and 2% to 33%, respectively, compared to the control biscuits. The fortified biscuits were liked by the consumers. The RDP‐fortified biscuits have the potential to alleviate PME in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For animals that produce species‐specific audible sounds, environmental recordings combined with automated acoustic monitoring software (passive acoustic monitoring [PAM]) may be an effective monitoring tool because it allows audio data from many, widely distributed autonomous recording units (ARUs) to be processed in a relatively short period of time. Males of many insect species produce loud, species‐specific mating songs, yet acoustic insects have received less attention from PAM relative to vertebrates.We evaluated the use of PAM to monitor, Roeseliana roeselii (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae), an acoustic insect that has expanded its range to Alberta, Canada, far outside its naturalized North American range. We analysed environmental recordings from ARUs: (1) at two control sites known to be occupied by R. roeselii and (2) across Alberta established by the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI) to search for new populations.PAM successfully detected R. roeselii at the two control sites, but not at any of the 73 ABMI sites that we analysed. Despite the failure to detect new locations of R. roeselii, our analysis of ABMI environmental recordings detected several other species of acoustic insects, including Orchelimum gladiator, Gryllus sp. and Allonemobius spp.Our results add to the growing body of work showing the feasibility of using PAM for acoustic insects. We make suggestions for how to maximize the effectiveness of this monitoring tool for the conservation and management of singing insects in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In previous taxonomic studies, identification of Atlanticus species was mainly based on male morphological features, such as cercus, tenth abdominal tergum and subgenital plate. In this study, we systematically revise eight Atlanticus species (61 individuals) in East China. We sequence COI genes of all samples for identification, and compare morphologies and male calling songs. The classification based on male cerci, calling songs, and COI genes is consistent. In contrast, the morphologies of male tenth abdominal tergum and subgenital plate varied among species. In addition, we regard A. jiangyei Liu, Wang & Cheng, 2016 as a junior synonym of A. pieli Tinkham, 1941, and A. helleri Liu, Wang & Cheng, 2016 as a junior synonym of A. kiangsu Ramme, 1939. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eupholidoptera kekrops sp. nov. belonging to the E. prasina group, is described from mainland Greece. The new species is the first known member of this group from mainland Greece and mainland Europe. Differentiating morphological characteristics, mainly of the subgenital plate and titilator, are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the drivers of microgeographic speciation (i.e. speciation over small, local geographic scales) is key to understand the origin of speciose groups. Here, we use genomic data to infer the demographic processes underlying diversification in Poecilimon luschani (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), a species complex belonging to the most diverse genus of bush crickets from the Mediterranean region (>170 taxa) that comprises three recognized subspecies with small allopatric distributions in the topographically complex Teke Peninsula, southwestern Anatolia. Phylogenomic reconstructions that include all other taxa within the species group confirmed that subspecies of P. luschani originated from a common ancestor during the Pleistocene, supporting recent (<1 Ma) diversification within a small geographical area (ca. 120 × 80 km). Genetic clustering analyses corroborated the distinctiveness of each subspecies and the cohesiveness of their respective populations, with abrupt genetic discontinuities coinciding with contemporary range boundaries. Indeed, our analyses uncovered the presence of two sympatric cryptic sister lineages that diverged <300 ka ago and do not admix despite being co-distributed. Collectively, these results support that all lineages within the complex represent independently evolving entities corresponding to full-fledged species. Statistical evaluation of alternative models of speciation strongly supports a scenario of divergence in isolation followed by a period of limited gene flow during the last glacial period, when all lineages experienced marked expansions according to demographic reconstructions. Our study exemplifies how localized allopatric divergence and fast evolution of reproductive isolation can promote microgeographic speciation and explain the high rates of endemism characterizing biodiversity hotspots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports five new species of Phlugiolopsis Zeuner, 1940 from Sichuan, Yunnan and Guangxi in China, i.e., Phlugiolopsis luojishanensis sp. nov., Phlugiolopsis lata sp. nov., Phlugiolopsis rongshuiensis sp. nov., Phlugiolopsis acuta sp. nov. and Phlugiolopsis daweishanensis sp. nov. We present a redescription of the male of Phlugiolopsis punctata Wang, Li & Liu, 2012, describe the female of Phlugiolopsis punctata Wang, Li & Liu, 2012 and the male of Phlugiolopsis pentagonis Bian, Shi & Chang, 2013 for the first time. In addition, images illustrating the morphology of these species and seven previously described species are provided. The distribution map of the genus Phlugiolopsis from China is also provided.

Natural selection, through eavesdropping predators, plays a crucial role in shaping katydid behavior. Predators use the conspicuous katydid calls for prey localization. While commonly deployed defenses are known for many katydids, the possible effects of habitat and sex are not explored. We studied predator evasion among six sympatric katydid species from two habitats namely, grasslands (Conocephalus maculatus, Euconocephalus pallidus, Euconocephalus helleri) and forest understorey (Ducetia assamica, Ducetia rohinii and Mecopoda elongata). We observed passive defense strategy (perch height, habitat choice and crypsis) of katydids in the field. We tested avoidance behavior through two sets of treatment: (a) physical disturbance, where individuals were exposed to increasing intensity of perch disturbance, and (b) acoustic playback, in which individuals were exposed to social and foraging calls of a sympatric bat species. We tested the null hypothesis that predator avoidance is similar between species in different habitats and between sexes. Only grassland species, C. maculatus and E. pallidus exhibited significant differences in passive defense between sexes. There were no significant differences in avoidance behavior between sexes in any species for predatory cues. GLM models depicted a significant effect of sex on the choice of perching height in three of the four species. Body size had a significant effect on passive defenses in all four species tested for physical disturbance. For the largest species, M. elongata body size affected both the passive and active defenses. When compared between ecosystems, the grassland-dwelling species (E. helleri) was more sensitive to physical disturbance, while understorey species (D. assamica) was found to be more sensitive to the acoustic cues. We propose that habitat plays a determining role in the evolution of avoidance behavior.

A new material on the Indo-Malayan genus Сalopsyra Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1891 from the tribe Holochlorini is reviewed. This genus is divided into three subgenera: Calopsyra s. str., Parapsyra Carl, 1914, stat. n. (previously considered as a distinct genus) and Rhodopsyra subgen. n. Eight new combinations are proposed: C. (P.) notabilis (Carl, 1914), comb. n., C. (P.) nigrovittata (Xia et Liu, 1992), comb. n., C. (P.) midcarina (Liu et Kang, 2006), comb. n., C. (P.) nigrocornis (Liu et Kang, 2006), comb. n., C. (P.) fuscomarginalis (Liu et Kang, 2006), comb. n., C. (P.) brevicauda (Liu, 2011), comb. n., С. (Rh.) muricetincta (Karny, 1926), comb. n., C. (Rh.) laticauda (Karny, 1926), comb. n. Two new species from Borneo and Sumatra are described: C. (C.) sexmaculata sp. n. and C. (Rh.) roseoalata sp. n. The neotype for C. (C.) octomaculata (Westwood, 1848) is designated, and this species is redescribed in accordance with new data.

Satellite DNA repeats are repetitive DNA sequences found in eukaryotic genomes, typically consisting of short DNA motifs repeated in tandem arrays. Despite the vast body of literature on satellite DNA repeats in other taxa, investigations specifically targeting Tettigoniidae remain conspicuously absent. Our study aims to fill a critical gap in our understanding of satellitome evolutionary processes shaping Tettigoniidae genomes. Repeatome analysis revealed that the Meconema thalassinum genome comprises 92%, and Phryganogryllacris superangulata had the lowest value of 34%, with an average of 67% in other Tettigoniidae species. The analysis reveals significant variation in the number of satellite DNA repeats across species of the Tettigoniidae family, with M. thalassinum exhibiting the highest count, 246, reported in insects to date and the lowest count, 10, in Pholidoptera griseoptera. Ruspolia dubia and Ruspolia yunnana, which are congeneric species, showcase distinct counts of 104 and 84 families, respectively. Satellite DNA repeats in R. dubia exhibit the highest abundance, constituting 17.2% of the total genome, while the lowest abundance was reported in P. griseoptera, at 5.65%. The genome size correlates weakly with the satellite DNA family count (rs = 0.42, p = 0.29), but a strong correlation exists between satellite abundance and family number (rs = 0.73, p = 0.03). Moreover, the analysis of satellite DNA gain and loss patterns provides insights into the amplification and homogenization of satellite DNA families within the genome, with species-specific repeats exhibiting a positive trend toward amplification. The chromosomal distribution in M. thalassinum displayed that the highest accumulation was observed on Chr12, Chr01, and Chr04, constituting 17.79%, 17.4%, and 17.22% of the total chromosome size, respectively. The chromosome-specific propagation of satellite DNA families was evident, with MthSat01 solely on chromosome 1 and MthSat170 on chromosome 2, sharing 1.64% and 2.33%. The observed conservation and variations in satellite DNA number and abundances, along with distinct patterns of gain and loss, indicate the influence of potentially diverse evolutionary processes shaping the genomic landscape of these insects, which requires further investigation. Furthermore, the differential accumulation of satellite DNA on specific chromosomes implies that potential chromosome-specific functions or structural features influence the retention and proliferation of satellite sequences.

Simple Summary: Habitat destruction is one of the main reasons for the decline and extinction of species. Even if patches of habitat suitable for a certain species persist, the populations of this species may go extinct if the patches are too far apart for individuals to migrate. This is called habitat fragmentation and may also affect species with good migrating abilities if distances are too long. The heath bushcricket Gampsocleis glabra is such a species: it is a specialist of steppe-like habitats that are very rare and fragmented across Europe today. We used genetic data to investigate if the remnant populations in Germany are entirely isolated or if individuals are still able to migrate between locations. Our results indicate that all studied populations are isolated to some degree, but a certain degree of gene flow may persist or may have persisted until the recent past. Even today, gene flow appears to persist, possibly with human assistance. This indicates that, aside from the importance of protecting surviving populations in larger habitat fragments, the preservation and restoration of small and isolated patches of steppe-like habitats may be helpful for the conservation of this rare and threatened species. Habitat destruction and fragmentation are among the major current threats to global biodiversity. Fragmentation may also affect species with good dispersal abilities. We study the heath bushcricket Gampsocleis glabra, a specialist of steppe-like habitats across Europe that are highly fragmented, investigating if these isolated populations can be distinguished using population genomics and if there are any traces of admixture or dispersal among them. We try to answer these questions using genome-wide SNP data generated with ddRAD sequencing. We calculated F-statistics and visualized differentiation using STRUCTURE plots. While limited by the difficulty of sampling this threatened species, our results show that all populations except one that was represented by a singleton were clearly distinct, with pairwise FST values between 0.010 and 0.181. STRUCTURE indicated limited but visible admixture across most populations and probably also an exchange of individuals between populations of Germany and The Netherlands. We conclude that in G. glabra, a certain amount of gene flow has persisted, at least in the past, also among populations that are isolated today. We also detect a possibly more recent dispersal event between a population in The Netherlands and one in Germany, which may be human aided. We suggest that the conservation of larger populations should be maintained, that efforts should be taken to restore abandoned habitat, that the preservation even of small habitat fragments may be beneficial for the conservation of this species, and that these habitats should be regularly monitored for possible (re-)colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats are voracious predators of insects, and many insects have ears sensitive to the high-frequency echolocation calls of bats. Eared insects show a variety of defences when they detect bat echolocation calls. Professor Brock Fenton was an early contributor to the field of bat–insect interactions, inspiring many students to pursue investigations that have advanced our understanding of the relationship between predators and prey. Reflecting on the integrative nature of Dr. Fenton's research, this review highlights research on the evolutionary arms race between gleaning insectivorous bats and katydid prey. Studies on this system have enhanced the field of sensory ecology by illuminating how animal auditory systems can encode and distinguish between signals that overlap in their acoustic properties but have very different consequences for the listener (sex or death). These studies also inform us about the ecological and evolutionary selection pressures on signalers and receivers that can shape mate attraction and predator avoidance behaviour. In particular, many Neotropical katydids rely on preventative instead of reactive defences against gleaning bats, likely due to the regular presence of echolocation calls from non-gleaning bats that reduce the information content of predator cues. We conclude with suggestions for future research on these fascinating animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many morphological and histological studies in the world to investigate the structure of the external and internal organs of insects. These studies not only serve to illuminate the biology of insect species, but also to reveal taxonomic relationships. For this purpose, the detailed structure of the testis and accessory glands that are the main organs of the male reproductive system of Bolua turkiyae Ünal, 1999 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) was searched with a light microscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope techniques in 2019-2020 in Gazi University, Prof. Dr. Zekiye Suludere Electron Microscope Center in this study. B. turkiyae is an endemic species distributed around Bolu province in Turkey. The reproductive system of male B. turkiyae is comprised of testis, vas deferens, and accessory glands. When the cross-sections of the oval and yellow testis were examined, it was observed that they contain many follicles. There are cysts in these follicles that have the developmental stages of the sperm. From the distal ends of the follicles to the proximal ends, the germarium, growth zone, maturation zone, and transformation zone are located respectively. In these stages, spermatogonium, spermatocyte, spermatids, and finally spermatozoa are formed. Accessory glands are hollow tubular structures of two different sizes and diameters. Single-layered cubic or pyramidal cells surround the lumen in both groups of accessory glands. It is hoped that these new data will contribute to our understanding of the structure of the male reproductive system of B. turkiyae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stabilized and the trailing edge glacial relicts are candidate model organisms to be used to link taxonomy to phylogeography. We attempted to establish such a link by considering the taxonomy and phylogeography of the genus Anterastes, consisting of glacial relict taxa/populations. Species delimitation tests indicated 13–22 candidate species in the genus. Analyses suggested inversely related genetic and phenotypic divergence. By integrating these results, we reached the following conclusions. (i) The plausible taxonomical composition is recognizing 16 species in the genus; of these three are new, A. kizkayasiensis sp. n., A. muratdagensis sp. n., and A. boreoanatoliensis sp. n., and the last two are cryptic. (ii) Generic radiation corresponds to three stages as Pliocene, Pleistocene prior to mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT), and post-MPT. The ultimate ancestor of two species, corresponds to the first and of other 14 to the second and proximate ancestor of all species to the third period. These ages suggest that the pre-MPT ancestors are stabilized edge while those of post-MPT are trailing edge populations. (iii) Since members of the genus demand cold habitats, the isolated relict ancestors on highlands evolved under similar selection pressures, and this led to a conserved phenotype, consequently to cryptic or morphologically poorly diverged species, as genetic data indicate each constitutes a reproductively isolated distinct phylogenetic unit. (iv) Although morphological diagnosability is poor, each species fulfills criteria of several species concepts and can be differentiated by clear allopatric range, providing one of five criteria assumed by Darwin for species delimitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To investigate the mitochondrial genome of Microconema clavata (Meconematinae, Tettigoniidae, Orthoptera), and thereby enhance the Meconematinae's mitochondrial genome database to facilitate mitochondrial genome comparisons and phylogenetic research on this group. [Methods] We measured, assembled, annotated and analyzed, the mitochondrial genome of M. clavate, in order to determine the phylogenetic relationships of this species within the Meconematinae. We used next-generation sequencing technology to sequence the genome of M. clavate, assembled the complete mitochondrial genome sequence, then annotated and analyzed it in detail. The mitochondrial genome sequences of 12 species of the Meconematinae, including M. clavate, were selected to construct a phylogenetic tree based on differences in 13 protein coding genes and two rRNA genes. [Results] The total length of the mitochondrial genome sequence of M. clavate was 15 618 bp, which contained 13 protein coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes and one control region. The genes were arranged compactly and had the same sequence as ancestral species. The A+T of the mitochondrial genome of M. clavate accounted for 70.7% of the total bases, and there was an obvious AT bias. With the exception of ND1 which began with TTG, the remainder of the 13 protein coding genes began with ATN. All genes have TAG or TAA as the termination signal, except COX1, ND5 and ND4, which have an incomplete termination codon T. All other tRNAs have a typical clover structure except tRNASer(AGN). [Conclusion] The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of M. clavate was obtained. A Bayesian phylogenetic tree indicates that M. clavata is most closely related to Xiphidiopsis gurneyi, Xizicus maculatus and Xizicus fascipes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The genus Sparasion, endoparasitoids of Tettigoniidae, occur in the Nearctic, Palearctic, Afrotropical and Oriental regions. It is absent in the Neotropics and Australasia. Of the thirteen species found in the Oriental region only a single species is from India. Results: Two new species groups - Sparasion bilahari species group and Sparasion manavati species group - are proposed for species from the Oriental region. Thirty-six species are described and illustrated of which twenty-four are new: Sparasion albopilosellus Cameron, 1906 (Pakistan); S. bhairavi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. bhupali Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. bihagi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. bilahari Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. cellularis Strand, 1913 (Taiwan); S. coconcus Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S. coeruleus Kieffer, 1905 (Sumatra); S. cullaris Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S. darbari Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. deepaki Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. domes Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S. elbakyanae Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. formosus Kieffer, 1910 (Taiwan); S. hindoli Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. kalyani Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. kanakangi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. karivadana Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. lividus Johnson, Masner & Musetti, 2008 (Philippines); S. manavati Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. meghmalhari Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. micromerus Kozlov and Lê, 2000 (Vietnam); S. pahadi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. philippinensis Kieffer, 1913 (Philippines); S. ratnangi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. rupavati Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. salagami Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. shulini Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. sinensis Walker, 1852 (China); S. sivaranjini Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. syamalangi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. todi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. travancoricus Mani and Sharma, 1981 (India); S. vanaspati Veenakumari, sp. n. (India); S. visvambari Veenakumari, sp. n. (India) and S. zeelafi Veenakumari, sp. n. (India). Keys to Oriental species of Sparasion are furnished. Intrasexual colour morphs among females of Sparasion is reported. Lectotype is designated for Sparasion cellularis Strand. Conclusions: Twenty-four new species are added to the Indian fauna of Sparasion. Previously described species of Oriental Sparasion are redescribed and illustrated. Keys are furnished for all Oriental species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diurnal bees, lepidopterans, and other pollinators are among the most studied flower‐visiting insect taxa. They mostly play distinct functions in temperate grasslands and ecotones of grassland‐forest mosaics (such as in forest steppes). Although orthopterans are widely distributed in these habitats, however, their flower visitation is nearly unknown, especially in the temperate zone. During the development of traps with chemical lures to catch Lepidoptera pests, large numbers of Orthoptera were caught that provide a chance for studying the flower visitation and odor and indirectly the host plant preference of seven temperate zone Tettigoniidae species. Data on the attractivity of isoamyl alcohol‐based semisynthetic lures for Meconema thalassinum and efficiency of phenylacetaldehyde‐based lures on Leptophyes albovittata and Phaneroptera falcata were reported for the first time. Additionally, analysis of nature photos collected from internet sources, as part of a passive citizen science also supports the revealed preference of these species. Based on photos, the studied orthopterans mainly visit Asteraceae species including the most preferred Tanacetum vulgare, Pulicaria dysenterica, Achillea millefolium, Solidago canadensis, and Centaurea scabiosa. Based on catches of volatile traps, the first data were recorded on the attractivity of phenylacetaldehyde‐ and isoamyl alcohol‐based lures on three temperate zone Orthoptera species. Results of a passive citizen science study strengthen these results that may increase the knowledge on the host plant and habitat preference of Orthoptera species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new species of Sichuana Shen & Yin, 2020 are described based on morphological comparison and molecular analysis: S. planicercata sp. nov., S. curvicercata sp. nov., S. longilamina sp. nov. and S. magnicerca sp. nov. Specimens showed some intraspecific variation of male tegmina and subgenital plates. The genes COI and 16S were used to analyze the genetic distance between species and COI was used to analyze the phylogenetic relationship of Sichuana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mormon cricket, Anabrus simplex , is a flightless katydid, one of the major devastating rangeland pests in several states of the western United States. During the past few years, their sudden and periodic outbreaks into massive migratory bands caused significant economic losses to the rangeland forage and agricultural crops, particularly grain crops. Current population management methods rely heavily on broad-spectrum chemical insecticides, which could be toxic to nontargets, and even the targeted species might develop resistance in the long run. Therefore, we assessed the potential of RNA interference (RNAi)-based alternative management strategies that could supplement the current methods. In insects, RNAi efficiency varies with the method of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) delivery. We tested 2 different methods of dsRNA delivery: injection and oral feeding of dsRNA. The results showed that Mormon crickets are sensitive to injection of dsRNA in a dose-dependent manner, but refractory to the oral feeding of dsRNA. Further, we confirmed the high nuclease activity in the insect midgut. In order to protect the dsRNA from the dsRNase activity and facilitate its uptake in the midgut, we encapsulated dsRNA inside poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles and studied its release kinetics and RNAi efficiency by oral feeding. The release kinetics clearly suggested that the PLGA nanoparticle permeates from the insect digestive system to the hemolymph; however, it failed to induce an efficient RNAi response of the targeted genes. In conclusion, our findings suggest the different responses to dsRNA delivery methods in Mormon crickets, and further investigations involving dsRNA stability and its uptake mechanism are required to use RNAi as an alternative Mormon cricket population management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Intropica is the property of Revista Intropica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Animals adopt circadian rhythms and diel calling patterns to ensure successful breeding, avoid predators, and reduce intra- and inter-species competition. We determine the diel calling behaviour of the bush cricket, Acanthoplus discoidalis, across different vegetation types in the southern Kalahari, and whether any variation in calling behaviour exists across the different regions of the landscape. We identify potential environmental drivers impacting its calling behaviour, as well as any impact temperature and wind may have on the species' calling behaviour. Acanthoplus discoidalis was recorded singing in all vegetation types, calling starts around 10h00 and ceases at 00h00, with a peak from 15h00 to 23h00, a longer peak than expected based on previous studies. This pattern was consistent across all vegetation types, although calling intensity was less in mountainous, rocky, and windy areas. A likely explanation for the expanded diel pattern is that sampling occurred during a mass emergence of the species, and so a wider temporal niche could be a response to reduce intraspecies competition for females. Furthermore, this diel calling pattern may reduce encounters with predators, which are typically either strictly nocturnal or diurnal, yet it is likely this species relies on physical defences over acoustic adaptations to avoid predation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruspolia differens Serville (Orthoptera: Tettigonidae) is a highly nutritious and luxurious insect delicacy that is consumed as a food source in many African countries. However, the nutrient profile of R. differens in different geographical regions have received limited research interest. Here, we provide comprehensive evidence of geographical impact on the nutrient profile of R. differens and its potential to meet the recommended dietary intake of the population. Our results demonstrated that proximate composition, fatty acids, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and flavonoid contents of R. differens collected from five districts in Uganda varied considerably. The crude protein (28–45%), crude fat (41–54%), and energy (582–644 Kj/100 g) contents of R. differens exceed that reported from animal origins. The highest crude protein, crude fat, and carbohydrate contents of R. differens were recorded in Kabale, Masaka, and Kampala, respectively. A total of 37 fatty acids were identified with linoleic acid (omega‐6 fatty acid) being the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acid in R. differens from Kabale, Masaka, and Mbarara. All essential amino acids were recorded in R. differens, particularly histidine with values exceeding the daily requirement for adults. Mineral and vitamin content differed significantly across the five districts. The highest quantity of flavonoids was recorded in R. differens from Hoima (484 mg/100 g). Our findings revealed that R. differens could be considered as functional food ingredients capable of supplying essential macro‐ and micronutrients that are critical in curbing the rising food insecurity and malnutrition in the regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tettigoniidae is the most diverse family within Orthoptera; its species inhabit forests all over the world, with the tropical and subtropical forests hosting the greatest number of species. Brazil is the country with the largest remnants of preserved forests, and is the country with the most recorded species of katydids. Even so, only two faunistic inventories have been carried out, both in the Atlantic Forest. The main objective of this work was to provide a faunistic inventory of Tettigoniidae in the Guartelá State Park, Paraná State, Southern Brazil, a park that preserves both the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes. In this contribution 57 species of Tettigoniidae were recorded, with Phaneropterinae being the most diverse subfamily, represented by 36 species; Conocephalinae was represented by 19 species, whereas Meconematinae and Pseudophyllinae had only one species each. Among these species, five are new and are herein described: Conocephalus (Anisoptera) guartela sp. nov. (Conocephalinae: Conocephalini), Anaulacomera (Cervicercora) melloi sp. nov., Anaulacomera (Anaulacomera) szinwelskii sp. nov. (Phaneropterinae: Phaneropterini), Anisophya hemanuelae sp. nov., and Xenicola nunoi sp. nov. (Phaneropterinae: Odonturini). The calling songs of three of the new species were also recorded and are herein described and discussed, as well as the sounds of all species of the subgenus Conocephalus (Anisoptera). The relationship of some katydid species to plants is also described and discussed, as well as the feeding habits and other aspects of natural history, and the presence of some species in the driest areas of the park, representing the Cerrado, the biome with the lowest number of tetigonids recorded so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the male calling songs of sixteen species belonging to the Tettigoniidae family distributed in Hakkari were recorded in the field studies and bioacoustic analyses were performed. The bioacoustic analysis of two genera (Kurdia and Novadrymadusa) documented first time with present study and in total six species (Bradyporus (Callimenus) latipes, Isophya hakkarica, Kurdia uvarovi, Novadrymadusa karabagi, Psorodonotus hakkari, and Squamiana supericola) were presented first time. The bioacoustic analyses of seven species (Conocephalus (Anisoptera) fuscus, Pezodrymadusa indivisa, Polysarcus zacharovi, Tettigonia armeniaca, Tettigonia caudata, Tettigonia viridissima, and Uvarovistia satunini) were examined for the first time from Hakkari populations. In addition, in this study, the bioacoustic analyses of three species (Apholidoptera kurda, Saga hakkarica, and Uvarovistia zebra) distributed in Hakkari were re-evaluated in this study on new individuals. As a result of the findings, it has been determined that the male calling song of sixteen species belonging to the Tettigoniidae family are species-specific, have a simple calling song type, and morphological species hypotheses are also supported by bioacoustic data (male calling song). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The auditory system of the katydid is an established model system for studies of hearing, predator-prey interactions, and cochlea dynamics. The components peripheral to the ear substantially influence the hearing threshold, with an internal auditory trachea tuned to the calling song of conspecifics, and external pinnae capable of enhancing ultrasounds for predator detection. The trade-off between such auditory pathways has been subject to multiple discussions, but received little experimental validation. In the most ultrasonic katydids (Pseudophyllinae and Meconematinae), it has been suggested that the external auditory pathway is of greater importance than the internal one, but the biophysical properties of the pinnae and tracheae in such groups have not been compared. Here, we describe the bioacoustics of a new species of pseudophylline katydid, Eubliastes viridicorpus. This species is found to produce a pure tone two-syllable song at 23.4 kHz, similar to other members of the genus. Using micro-CT scanning and finite element modelling, we describe the biophysical tuning of the internal auditory tracheae, and use 3D printed model experiments to investigate external auditory pinnae resonances. By modelling the natural resonant frequencies of the ear, we provide evidence that the acoustic trachea of E. viridicorpus female is tuned to the male song frequency. Experiments on 3D printed models of the pinnae demonstrate that E. viridicorpus has an external auditory pathway capable of broadband ultrasound amplification, providing pressure gains across an effective frequency range of 20–200 kHz, which could also provide enhanced reception of the male song. The importance of pinnae in ultrasonic rainforest katydids is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although outbreaks of rare species are unusual, several insect species have become emerging pests probably due to the ongoing environmental changes. Barbitistes vicetinus was first described in 1993 as an endemic bush‐cricket of north‐east Italy and was considered rare until 2008, when it became an established pest, causing severe damages to forests and crops. The possible role of temperature in changing its life cycle has still to be fully understood. Here, we explored the effect of summer temperature on egg diapause and the effect of winter temperature on egg survival. Field observations showed that the proportion of embryos that can complete development at the end of summer ranged from zero to nearly 90% depending on summer temperatures. A substantial shift in the rate of development from 20% to nearly 80% occurred in a thermal range of about 1 °C. On the contrary, overwinter egg survival was high and constant (90%) across a wide range of winter temperatures that go well beyond both the cold and warm thermal limits of the current species range. Overall, the results suggest a potential key role of summer temperature warming on the outbreak propensity of this species that is able to switch from a multiyear to an annual life cycle with just a 1–2 °C warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nothrotrombidium sadeghii Noei and Kohansal sp. nov. (Acari: Trombidiformes: Trombellidae) ectoparasitic on Erebidae, Noctuidae, Geometridae, Plutellidae (Lepidoptera) and Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera) in Hotel Kouhestan and Band-e dareh regions, Chahardeh, Chahkand, Chahkandan, Esfahrood, Giuk, Noferest, Rach and Razg villages, Birjand city, South Khorasan province, Iran, is described and illustrated. A key to world larval species of Nothrotrombidium is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT. This study is focused on the parasitic wasps Bephrata Cameron, 1884 (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae), a small and poorly represented genus in entomological collections. Herein we report new geographical records to Bephrata bahiae (Ashmead, 1904), B. bouceki Gates & Hanson, 2009, B. cultriformis (Ashmead, 1894), B. leptogaster Gates & Hanson, 2009, B. lorraineae Gates & Hanson, 2009, B. ruficollis Cameron 1884 and B. ticos Gates & Hanson, 2009. Except for B. bahiae, B. chica Gates & Hanson, 2009 and B. christeri Gates & Hanson, 2009, all other studied species were recorded for the first time to Brazil. Additionally, we provide maps with the geographical distribution of the studied species based on the new records and literature data, and an identification key for the species recorded in Brazil. With these new records there are currently nine species of Bephrata known in Brazil.

The pompilid genus Balboana Banks, 1944 is preoccupied by Uvarov, 1939. A new replacement name, Braunilla Wasbauer and Kimsey is proposed and a species checklist included.

The pompilid genus Balboana Banks, 1944 is preoccupied by Uvarov, 1939. A new replacement name, Braunilla Wasbauer and Kimsey is proposed and a species checklist included.

The egg parasitoid Centrodora italica Ferrière is reported for the first time from sentinel eggs of two species of Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera), Pachytrachis gracilis (Brunner von Wattenwyl) and Eupholidoptera schmidti (Fieber). In Italy, only two hosts of this parasitic wasp are known, one of which is a tettigoniid species. Exposure of sentinel eggs represented a useful method to detect new host associations of this parasitoid species that can search for their host's eggs in the ground. The parasitoids were identified by comparing our specimens with those of the type series, and the original description of C. italica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Onomarchus uninotatus (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae), one of the neotropical Pseudophyllinae is recorded on the jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) var. Vietnam Super Early at Thrissur, Kerala, India. This is a new distributional report of the species from Kerala and additional new documentation as a serious pest of jackfruit from India. The nymphs and adults are nocturnal in habit and feed on the leaves resulting in withering and drying of the leaves giving a burned up appearance to the canopy. The species exhibited colour polyphenism with green and brown morphs in the nymphal stages. A detailed description of the nature of damage caused by the pest is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being nocturnal, hiding in prickly bushes and shrubs during the day, Eupholidoptera species in Crete and its neighbouring islands are easily overlooked, and until now our knowledge about their distribution was based on some thirty sightings across 11 species. In this paper results are presented of a study of Eupholidoptera specimens collected between 1987 and 2020 by hand-catches and pitfall and fermenting traps on the Greek islands of Crete, Gavdos, Gavdopoula, and Andikithira. Diagnostic features of all known species are presented and illustrated with stacked images. An updated key to all species is provided. Eupholidoptera francisae Tilmans & Odé, sp. nov. from Andikithira and southwestern Crete and Eupholidoptera marietheresae Willemse & Kotitsa, sp. nov. from Mt. Dikti are described. Female E. cretica, E. gemellata, and E. mariannae are described, and the female of E. astyla is redescribed. Bioacoustics for E. francisae Tilmans & Odé, sp. nov., E. giuliae, and E. jacquelinae are presented for the first time. Eupholidoptera smyrnensis is reported for the first time from Crete. A substantial amount of new distribution data for Eupholidoptera species on Crete is presented. The current distribution pattern and first analyses of phylogeny based on molecular data of Eupholidoptera species on Crete are discussed in relation to paleogeographical events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study provides the first description of acoustic communities from a subtropical rainforest in Northeast India and a previously unexplored site from the Western Ghats. We describe call structures of 15 katydid species from the Indian subcontinent. The habitat and seasonal variations of the communities were investigated at both sites. Most species observed produced ultrasonic broadband calls (bandwidth: 11.07–42.5 kHz); only two Pseudophyllinae members produced pure tone calls. The study includes calls of two previously undescribed species of the genus Ducetia (subfamily: Phaneropterinae) from the subcontinent. We observed diverse acoustic communities at both sites represented by five major subfamilies: Conocephalinae, Hexacentriane, Mecopodinae, Phaneropterinae and Pseudophyllinae. The acoustic communities at each site exhibited seasonal variations and habitat preferences. The post-monsoon season had a richer community composition than the dry season. We compared differences in the community compositions between habitats using a presence–absence matrix based on 526 individuals from the two sites. Species composition was found to be different among habitats (stress =.06, dimension: 2), with ANOSIM indicating separation of species among understorey, shrubland and grassland habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isophya modestior (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) is a species distributed in central and south-eastern Europe, where its distribution is largely separated by two large rivers (Sava and Danube). Since previous studies on the song and morphology of the stridulatory file across its complete geographic range showed that the species is separated into two main groups, we decided to use phylogenetic and karyological analyses in order to evaluate the status of the previously analysed populations. Phylogenetic analyses showed the existence of two major clades within I. modestior with very high bootstrap values and posterior probabilities—Clade A: present on the Balkan Peninsula, Slovenia (Inner Carniola), Italy, Pannonian Serbia (Vršac Mts and Deronje) and Austria (Burgenland and Lower Austria); Clade B: present in Slovenia (Upper Carniola), Croatia and Austria (Carinthia), Pannonian Serbia (Fruška Gora Mt.) and Hungary. A comparison of chromosomes of 51 specimens revealed discrete differences between their karyotypes. The physical characteristics of the karyotypes included chromosome number (2n), sex chromosome (X) morphology and C-banding patterns. The standard chromosome complement of 50 specimens from different localities is characterized by 2 n  = 30 + X0 in males. In one male collected in Fruška Gora Mt. (Andrevlje), the chromosome number was reduced to 2 n  = 28 + neo-XY. Therefore, further cytogenetic studies involving larger samples, especially from Fruška Gora Mt. are needed in order to gain a more comprehensive view of the chromosome evolution in this group of Isophya species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]