Arantia (Eurantia) tanzanica Hemp & Massa 2017

Arantia (Eurantia) tanzanica Hemp & Massa, 2017

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera.speciesfile.org:TaxonName:500642

(Figs. 4 A–C, 30F–J, 31G–L, 55D–F)

Diagnostic remarks. A large, green katydid, similar to A. fasciata (Fig. 30J) but lacking the white markings on the metazona of the pronotum but instead having two small dark patches on the opposite sides of the metazona (Fig. 30H). The front margin of the tegmen is bordered with a narrow yellow strip and the face is pale, almost white. The male cercus is more slender than in A. fasciata (Fig. 31G) and is distinctly bent downwards when seen from the side (Fig. 31H); styli of the subgenital plate are extremely reduced, almost invisible (Fig. 31J).

Bioacoustics. The call of A. tanzanica is similar to that of A. fasciata and consists of short, 2–3 syllable echemes; each successive syllable in an echeme is successively louder than the previous one; mean syllable duration is 0.0723 s (SD=0.0137, n=11); the peak frequency of the call is 10.5–12.9 kHz (Figs. 55 D–F). 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. Recently described from Central Tanzania (Hemp & Massa 2017), A. tanzanica is widely distributed across southern Africa, having been collected from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, and Swaziland (see Material examined). It is a canopy dweller, associated primarily with miombo woodlands. In Gorongosa adults appear in February and can be seen until May.

A. tanzanica exhibits an interesting egg laying behavior, with a level of maternal care rare among katydids. The egg laying process begins by the female clearing a patch of bark on a tree trunk or a branch with her mandibles and moistening it with her saliva. After depositing a single egg, she then uses the previously removed fragments of bark, well masticated and mixed with her saliva, to carefully cover and conceal the egg (Figs. 4 A–C). The process is repeated for every egg and usually no more than 2–3 well-spaced eggs are deposited on the same branch. The purpose of this behavior is likely to decrease the chances of the eggs being discovered and parasitized by chalcidoid wasps, and to reduce the risk of desiccation. A similar behavior of eggs being protected by masticated bark has been seen in Gorongosa in Terpnistria zebrata (Serville, 1838). Also, Australian Polichne argentata (Brunner, 1879) covers its singly laid eggs with fine sand mixed with saliva (Rentz 1996).

Measurements (9 males, 6 females). body w/wings: male 63–72.5 (68.73.2), female 68–77 (72.43.2); body w/o wings: male 28–36 (32.42.6), female 36.5–40.5 (38.31.5); pronotum: male 7–9 (8.1.7), female 8–10 (8.9.7); tegmen: male 51.5–58.5 (54.72.5), female 57–65 (60.62.6); hind femur: male 27–34 (30.42.2), female 31.5–36 (33.71.9); ovipositor: 6.5–8.5 (7.3.7) mm.

Material examined (43 specimens). Mozambique: Sofala, Coutada 12, Inhamitanga Forest, Camp 1, elev. 210 m (-18.23835, 35.33015), 9–14.iv.2018, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female (EOWL); Cheringoma, Infinity Pools, bottom of Nhagutua Gorge, elev. 138 m (-18.63342, 34.81206), 17–20.iv.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki—1 nymph female (MCZ); nr. Codzo (Khodzue), cave and nearby, elev. 216 m (-18.564, 34.872222), 14–25.iv.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male; Gorongosa, Chitengo, E.O. Wilson Laboratory, elev. 42 m (-18.97775, 34.35130), 20–24.iii.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male; GNP, Bela Vista ranger outpost, elev. 26 m (-18.69470, 34.20853), 5–12.v.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 females (EOWL); 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), 12–20.iv.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female, 2 males (MCZ); Gorongosa Dist., GNP, Chitengo, elev. 38 m (-18.978808, 34.352606), 5–9.v.2014, coll. R. Guta— 1 female (UEMM); Claud’s Waterfall campsite, elev. 94 m (-19.03011, 34.67592), 1–6.v.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female, 1 male (MCZ); Wilson Laboratory, GNP, Chitengo, (-18.97775, 34.351333), 19.iii.–2.iv.2014, coll. P. Naskrecki & R. Guta— 1 female, 1 male (EOWL); GNP, Chitengo, elev. 29 m (-18.98194, 34.35122), 9.v.–29.vi.2012, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female; same locality, 17.iii.–5.iv.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 4 males; same locality, 6–31.v.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 females, 3 males (MCZ); same locality, 11–25.ii.2014, coll. R. Guta & T. Castigo—1 nymph (EOWL); GNP, humid woodland, elev. 30 m (-18.96414, 34.38644), 12.v.2012, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male (MCZ); GNP, nr. Nhascuvo outpost, (-19.062639, 34.232194), 24–28.vi.2014, coll. G. Daniel, I. Nganhane & R. Guta— 2 females; GNP, Urema Rd., first bridge, elev. 28 m (-18.993861, 34.383722), 15.vi.2014, coll. P. Naskrecki & R. Guta— 2 females (EOWL); Sofala Prov., Belavista, Ruinas, (-18.70630, 34.22664), 5–12.v.2015, coll. R. Guta— 1 female (EOWL); Republic of South Africa: Orpen, 1.iv.2000, coll. R. Toms— 1 female (TMSA); Limpopo, Marken, (-23.5, 29.5), 21.iii.2004, coll. G.D. Saayman— 1 male (SANC); Nylstroom, Nyl Retreat, elev. 78 m (-24.71806, 28.48667), 28.ii.2008, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male (MCZ); Nylsvley Nature Res., elev. 1095 m (-24.39, 28.42), iii.1978, coll. G. Ferreira— 1 male; Rankin’s Pas, Nelspruit, (-24.53333, 27.91667), 3.iii.1998, coll. A. Raats— 1 male (SANC); Lebowa, Bolobedu Dist., nr. Duiwelskloof, Modjadji Cycad Reserve, Camp African Ivory Route, elev. 855 m (-23.62708, 30.36997), 28.ii.–2.iii.2008, coll. B. Gcumisa, C. Bazelet & P. Naskrecki— 1 female, 2 males (MCZ); Mpumalanga, Nelspruit, (-25.46667, 30.98333), 26.ii.1991, coll. V.M. Uys— 1 female; Swaziland: Manzini, Hlane Reserve, (-26.43333, 31.36667), 11.iv.2004, coll. L.P. van Jaarsveld— 1 male (SANC); Zimbabwe: Wankie, 20.iv.1954, coll. A. J.T. Janse— 1 female (TMSA).