Acauloplax exigua Karsch 1891

Acauloplax exigua Karsch, 1891

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera.speciesfile.org:TaxonName:7406

(Figs. 5C, 23 A–D, 57A–C)

Diagnostic remarks. A medium-sized, pale green katydid that can be identified by the presence of distinct, narrowly parallel lateral carinae on the dorsal surface of the pronotum; the area between the carinae is marked with a brown stripe that continues over the occiput of the head and the dorsal surfaces of antennal basal segments (Fig. 23A). Tegmina often carry white and brown spots that effectively mimic necrotic damage seen on leaves. (Fig. 23B).

Bioacoustics. The call of A. exigua is a soft trill, audible from a far distance. The call is a train of short, nearly pure-tone echemes, each consisting of 4–5 syllables; mean syllable duration is 0.11327 s (SD=0.022119, n=84); the peak frequency of the call is 11.7–12.0 kHz (Figs. 57 A–C).

Distribution and natural history. A. exigua is found across East and southern Africa, from Kenya and Tanzania, through Zimbabwe (Hemp 2013a), Mozambique, and South Africa. It is a predominantly arboreal species that occurs in a variety of habitats, from closed canopy miombo woodland to village gardens to sub-montane savanna. Nymphs (Fig. 5C) have been seen feeding on leaves Grewia sp. (Tiliaceae) although adults can be found on many other broad-leaved tree species.

Measurements (3 males, 3 females). body w/wings: male 35–37 (361), female 44–48 (462); body w/o wings: male 22–25 (231.7), female 25–28 (26.31.5); pronotum: male 4, female 5–6 (5.3.6); tegmen: male 30–31 (30.3.6), female 38–41 (39.31.5); hind femur: male 9–12 (111.7), female 13–14 (13.7.6); ovipositor: 10–14 (122) mm.

Material examined (38 specimens). Mozambique: Cabo Delgado, Macomia, Quirimbas N.P., Muanona, elev. 124 m (-12.15117, 40.19542), 24–25.i.2014, coll. P. Naskrecki, H. Farooq, B. Nassongole— 1 female (MCZ); Manica, Sussundenga, Moribane Forest, swamp on Rio Tave, elev. 518 m (-19.74072, 33.32133), 2–8.xii.2018, coll. P. Naskrecki & M. Tomás— 2 males; Sofala, Coutada 12, Nyago hunting camp, elev. 70 m (-18.660767, 35.455603), 8–16.iv.2016, coll. P. Naskrecki & J. Guyton— 1 male (EOWL); Gorongosa, GNP, Bela Vista ranger outpost, elev. 26 m (-18.69470, 34.20853), 5–12.v.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female, 1 male, 1 nymph (EOWL, MCZ); GNP, Chitengo, E.O. Wilson Laboratory, elev. 48 m (-18.977722, 34.351333), 9.ii.–4.iii.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki and R. Guta— 1 male (EOWL); GNP, Murombodzi Waterfall, nr. Mt. Gorongosa, elev. 842 m (-18.483361, 34.042944), 21–22.v.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 males (EOWL, MCZ); Gorongosa Dist., Archway Gorge, campsite, elev. 63 m (-18.95336, 34.61089), 22–29.iv.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 3 females, 2 males, 2 nymph females, 1 nymph male (MCZ); GNP, Chitengo, elev. 38 m (-18.978808, 34.352606), 5–9.v.2014, coll. R. Guta— 1 male (EOWL); Claud’s Waterfall campsite, elev. 94 m (-19.03011, 34.67592), 1–6.v.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male; GNP, Chitengo, elev. 29 m (-18.98194, 34.35122), 9.v.–29.vi.2012, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female, 1 male (MCZ); same locality, 17.iii.– 5.iv.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 males (EOWL, MCZ); same locality, 6–31.v.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 males, 1 nymph female; same locality, 30.i.–13.ii.2014, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female (MCZ); Mt. Gorongosa, Gorongosa Nat. P., 21.vii.2015, coll. Calton Sengwaio— 1 male (EOWL); GNP, along Pungue Rd, nr. Vinho Rd., elev. 25 m (-18.99675, 34.365806), 11–16.vi.2014, coll. P. Naskrecki & R. Guta— 1 male (EUMM); Sofala Prov., Bela Vista Camp, (-18.695083, 34.209389), 6.v.2015, coll. T. Massad— 3 females, 1 male, 2 nymph females (EOWL); Bela Vista, machamba near Nharicenguere river, (-18.6963, 34.207467), 8–12.v.2015, coll. R. Guta— 1 male (MCZ).