Cymatomera denticollis Schaum 1853

Cymatomera denticollis Schaum, 1853

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera.speciesfile.org:TaxonName:4428

(Figs. 5D, 24 A–E)

Diagnostic remarks. This cryptically colored and shaped katydid can be identified among other Mozambican species by the combination of the pronotum armed with several blunt spines on its sides (Fig. 24E), strongly laterally compressed femora with wide lobes on their lower margins, and aposematically colored, red and yellow abdomen terga and red abdominal sterna (these are normally hidden under the wings) (Figs. 24C, D). From the closely related Cymatomerella spilophora it differs in having the second femur with two distinct lobes on its dorsal edge (Fig. 24B) and by the presence of two thin black stripes on the pronotum (these stripes may sometimes be indistinct but are always present) (Fig. 24A).

Bioacoustics. The call of C. denticollis is a long train of uninterrupted syllables, audible from several meters. Unfortunately, the call in the Mozambican population of this species has not been recorded.

Distribution and natural history. The distribution of C. denticollis covers East and southern Africa, including Tanzania (Hemp 2013b), Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa (Chopard 1955b), Botswana, and Namibia (specimens at SAMC and TMSA). This katydid is associated with open woodland savanna where it is often found on various species of Acacia. It is an exquisite bark and lichen mimic, virtually impossible to spot while it is resting pressed tightly against a branch or the trunk of a tree. When disturbed it fans out its wings, revealing brightly aposematic, yellow, black, and red abdomen. It also often produces droplets of hemolymph that carry a strong smell. It is likely that the hemolymph of this species contains secondary compounds that are either toxic or distasteful to predators, but this aspect of its biology has not yet been studied.

Measurements (2 males, 2 females). body w/wings: male 40, female 55–59 (572.8); body w/o wings: male 23, female 29; pronotum: male 4–5 (4.5.7), female 7–8 (7.5.7); tegmen: male 32, female 41–46 (43.53.5); hind femur: male 10–11 (10.5.7), female 14–15 (14.5.7); ovipositor: 12–13 (12.5.7) mm.

Material examined (23 specimens). Mozambique: coll. Peters— 3 females (incl. 3 syntypes) (ZMBH); Manica, Nhahomba Ranger Station, Mussapa, elev. 606 m (-19.585799, 33.084969), 26.xi.–2.xii.2018, coll. P. Naskrecki & M. Tomás— 1 male (EOWL); Maputo, Maputo (= Lourenco Marquess, Lorenzo Marquez), (-25.95, 32.583333), 2.iv.1949, coll. Sur. Cabral— 1 female (UEMM); Sofala, Gorongosa, Chitengo, (-18.977917, 34.351278), 2.x.2015, coll. I. Nganhane— 1 female; 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 female (EOWL); Gorongosa Dist., Wilson Laboratory, GNP, Chitengo, (-18.97775, 34.351333), 19.iii.–2.iv.2014, coll. P. Naskrecki & R. Guta— 3 females, 1 male (EOWL, UEMM); same locality, 1.vi.2014, coll. A. Marchington— 1 female (EOWL); same locality, 4.xi.2015, coll. I. Nganhane & R. Guta— 1 female (EOWL); GNP, Chitengo, elev. 29 m (-18.98194, 34.35122), 17.iii.–5.iv.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 females (MCZ); same locality, 30.i.–13.ii.2014, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male, 1 nymph female (MCZ); same locality, 11–25.ii.2014, coll. R. Guta & T. Castigo—1 nymph male (EOWL); GNP, Explore Gorongosa camp, elev. 23 m (-18.92092, 34.36575), 14.v.2012, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male (MCZ); Gorongosa Distr., GRP, E.O. Wilson Lab Chitengo, (-18.9783, 34.3514), 12–31.i.2015, coll. R. Guta—1 nymph female; same locality, 9.ii.–4.iii.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki & R. Guta— 2 females (EOWL); Tete, Cabora Bassa, r. Mouangadzi, iii.1973, coll. M.C. Ferreira & G.V. Ferreira— 1 female (UEMM).