Eulioptera reticulata subsp. leptomorpha Ragge 1956

Eulioptera reticulata leptomorpha Ragge, 1956

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera.speciesfile.org:TaxonName:12512

(Figs. 26 A–G, 51D–F)

Diagnostic remarks. A small, green katydid that can be easily confused with species of Phaneroptera. It differs from them by the clearly translucent areas between veins of the tegmen (Fig. 26G) and the shape of the cerci (Figs. 26 D–F), which are blunt apically rather than pointed. From other Eulioptera species it can be distinguished by the shape of the male cercus and the characteristics of the stridulatory file, which is 0.95 mm long, 0.05 mm wide, and has 119 closely spaced teeth (Fig. 26C).

Bioacoustics. E. reticulata leptomorpha has a two-part call that consists of a long, 5–8 syllable echemes, where each syllable is 0.07073 s (SD=0.00961, n=54), followed by a group of 5–15 very short, 0.002 s syllables; the peak frequency of the call is 18.1–25.2 kHz (Figs. 51 D–F).

Distribution and natural history. This subspecies has been recorded from most of sub-Saharan Africa, including Mozambique (Ragge 1956a) but little is known about its biology. In Gorongosa it has been observed throughout the year, in both the lowlands and sub-montane habitats.

Material examined (3 specimens). Mozambique: Manica, Sussundenga, Moribane Forest, Ndzou Camp, elev. 593 m (-19.734695, 33.336130), 2–8.xii.2018, coll. P. Naskrecki & M. Tomás— 1 male; Sofala, Gorongosa, GNP, Chitengo, E.O. Wilson Laboratory, elev. 48 m (-18.977722, 34.351333), 9.i.2018, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male; GNP, Murombodzi Waterfall, nr. Mt. Gorongosa, elev. 842 m (-18.483361, 34.042944), 8.vi.2018, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male (EOWL).