Arantia (Eurantia) fasciata Walker 1869

Arantia (Eurantia) fasciata (Walker, 1869)

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera.speciesfile.org:TaxonName:12756

(Figs. 30 A–E, 31A–F, 55A–C)

Diagnostic remarks. A large, green species, with broad tegmina and hind wings slightly surpassing the tegminal apices (Fig. 30E). A. fasciata can be distinguished from a similar A. tanzanica by the presence on the metazona of pronotum of a light, often white patch, bordered with a black band (Fig. 30C). The face of individuals of this species in the Central Mozambican population is contrastingly darker than the rest of the head (Fig. 30D). The male cercus is slightly sinusoidal when seen from the side (Fig. 31B) and its apex has a strongly sclerotized dark disc (Fig. 31C); styli of the subgenital plate are small but clearly visible (Fig. 31D).

Bioacoustics. Males call from treetops after dark and the call consists of short, 3–4 syllable echemes; mean syllable duration is 0.025 s (SD=0.0.0021, n=9); the peak frequency of the call is 15.2–16.9 kHz (Figs. 55 A–C). The call is loud and easily perceived by the human ear. In addition to the advertisement call, both males and females produce loud, broad frequency release calls if captured.

Distribution and natural history. A. fasciata is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, from Guinea and Ghana to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to Sudan and Somalia, and throughout East and southern Africa (Chopard 1952; Hemp & Massa 2017). In Mozambique specimens of this species have been collected so far in the provinces of Maputo, Manica, and Sofala but it likely occurs within the entire country. A. fasciata is common in wooded habitats, such as miombo and mopane woodlands. In Gorongosa adults can be seen throughout the year. It is a canopy species, rarely seen at the ground level.

Measurements (1 male, 3 females). body w/wings: male 78.7, female 78.5–83.3 (80.72.4); body w/o wings: male 36.8, female 35.5–37.3 (36.5.9); pronotum: male 8.4, female 8–8.3 (8.1.2); tegmen: male 61.5, female 65–67.1 (65.71.2); hind femur: male 39.3, female 38.6–40.5 (39.61); ovipositor: 4.4–6 (5.1.8) mm.

Material examined (20 specimens). Mozambique: R. Chinzina, coll. E.G. Sousa— 1 male; Maputo, Inhaca, xi.1957, coll. M.C. Ferreira & G.V. Ferreira— 1 female (UEMM); Inhaca Island, (-26.0277778, 32.9044444), 20–27.ix.1957, coll. G. von Son— 1 female (TMSA); same locality, 17–23.ii.1963, coll. M.J.D. White— 1 female (SANC); L. Marques [Maputo], (-25.9, 32.5), 26.ix.1958, coll. S. Manels— 1 female (UEMM); Manica, Sussundenga, Nhahomba Ranger Station, Mussapa, elev. 606 m (-19.585799, 33.084969), 26.xi.–2.xii.2018, coll. P. Naskrecki & M. Tomás— 1 female; Sofala, Gorongosa, GNP, Chitengo, elev. 38 m (-18.981067, 34.351983), 11–31.x.2014, coll. R. Guta— 1 male; GNP, CEC, elev. 126 m (-18.955139, 34.17725), 1.x.2015, coll. I. Nganhane— 1 female; same locality, 17–19.x.2015, coll. I. Nganhane— 1 female (EOWL); same locality, 20–30.x.2015, coll. I. Nganhane— 1 female; Gorongosa Dist., GNP, Chitengo, elev. 38 m (-18.982867, 34.35185), 1–18.ix.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male; GNP, Community Education Center, elev. 129 m (-18.953639, 34.177111), 18–22.vi.2014, coll. G. Daniel, I. Nganhane & R. Guta— 1 female (EOWL); GNP, Chitengo, elev. 29 m (-18.98194, 34.35122), 6–31.v.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female (MCZ); same locality, 1–19.ix.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female, 1 male; Vinho road close to Pungue river, elev. 30 m (-18.994983, 34.351), 10–13.viii.2015, coll. I. Nganhane— 2 females; Sofala prov, Gorongosa District, Cec to Civeta Post, elev. 96 m (-18.940333, 34.193472), 29–30.ix.2015, coll. I. Nganhane & R. Guta— 1 female; Sofala Prov., Gorongosa Dist., Bela Vista Camp, (-18.695083, 34.209389), 6.v.2015, coll. T. Massad—1 nymph female; Gorongosa Distr., CEC road After Nhambita deviation, leaving Chitengo, elev. 113 m (-18.968361, 34.170861), 18–19.xi.2014, coll. R. Guta— 1 female (EOWL).