Peringueyella macrocephala Schaum 1853

Peringueyella macrocephala (Schaum, 1853)

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera.speciesfile.org:TaxonName:4145

(Figs. 5J, 22 A–E, 50A–C)

Diagnostic remarks. One of the largest katydids in Mozambique, this slender insect can be identified by its elongate body, narrowly conical and hypognathous head, slender and spiny legs, and a distinct white line running along the sides of the body (Figs. 22A, D). Its coloration varies from light green to brown. From its relative Clonia wahlbergi Stål, 1855 it can be distinguished by the shortened, black and yellow-bordered hind wings (Fig. 22E), and the shape of the head (Fig. 22C) and cerci (Fig. 22B).

Bioacoustics. Males call at night from tall clumps of grass, producing a long, uninterrupted train of short syllables at the rate of 15–23 syllables/s (at 26°C), each syllable contains a short impulse created by the tegmina opening and a longer group of impulses produced by the tegmina closing; mean syllable duration is 0.05147 (SD=0.08954, n=89); the peak frequency of the call is 14.6–16.9 kHz (Figs. 50 A–C). The call is audible to the human ear from a few meters as a very soft buzz.

Distribution and natural history. P. macrocephala, originally described from an unknown location in Mozambique (Schaum 1853), has also been recorded from Zimbabwe, and Botswana (Kaltenbach 1971). In Mozambique its presence has been confirmed so far only in the Sofala Province.

This species occurs in savanna and open woodland habitats, where it can be found in tall clumps of grass and small bushes. It is a nocturnal species that specializes in hunting flying insects. The prey is caught with the first two pairs of legs while the katydid hangs upside down from grass stems or a branch, attached only with its hind legs. Despite their slender appearance these katydids are powerful hunters, capable of catching and overpowering such large, strong fliers as hawk moths (Sphingidae) and fruit-piercing moths (Sphingomorpha Guinée). In Gorongosa adults can be found only during the wet season, between December and early May.

Measurements (2 males, 3 females). body: male 81.5–88 (84.84.6), female 80–88 (83.34.2); pronotum: male 10.2–13.5 (11.92.3), female 12–13 (12.7.6); tegmen: male 14.5–15 (14.8.4), female 15–16 (15.7.6); hind femur: male 52–60 (565.7), female 50–54 (52.32.1); ovipositor: 24–28 (262) mm.

Material examined (44specimens). Mozambique: 1female (holotype)(ZMBH); Sofala, Mucheve,(-20.5769444, 33.8358333), 5–13.iv.1965, coll. G.V. Ferreira— 1 female (UEMM); GNP, Bunga Inselberg, W slope, (-18.598795, 34.341417), 28.xi.–6.xii.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki—1 nymph male (MCZ); Cheringoma, nr. Codzo (Khodzue), cave and nearby, elev. 216 m (-18.564, 34.872222), 14–25.iv.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 females (EOWL); Gorongosa, GNP, Bunga Inselberg, Camp 1, nr. Bunga ranger outpost, elev. 75 m (-18.59989, 34.33686), 21.iv.-5.v.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female; GNP, Chitengo, E.O. Wilson Laboratory, elev. 48 m (-18.977722, 34.351333), 17.v.2015, coll. B. Wursten— 1 female (MCZ); GNP, near Civeta outpost, elev. 85 m (-18.90551, 34.23275), 1.xi.2016, coll. P. Naskrecki—1 nymph; GNP, Picada 1, between 2 & 3, elev. 29 m (-18.95040, 34.37331), 16.xii.2016, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 females, 3 males, 1 nymph female; GNP, Picada 1, nr. Big pan, elev. 20 m (-18.95101, 34.37322), 16.xii.2016, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male; same locality, 20.xii.2016, coll. P. Naskrecki & R. Guta— 1 female, 7 males, 5 nymph females, 2 nymph males; same locality, 15.ii.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female; GNP, Picada 1, nr. Big seasonal pan between Picada 2 and 3, elev. 37 m (-18.95212, 34.37350), 15.xi.2016, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male; same locality, 1.xii.2016, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 males; same locality, 3.xii.2016, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female, 4 males, 2 nymph females, 1 nymph male; Swanapoel Concession, road to Codzo Caves, (-18.567487, 34.877679), 3.iii.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male (EOWL); Gorongosa Dist., Archway Gorge, campsite, elev. 63 m (-18.95336, 34.61089), 22–29.iv.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki (Site 2) — 1 female (MCZ).