Conocephalus (Anisoptera) iris (Serville, 1839)

Hemp, Claudia, 2013, Annotated list of Ensifera (Orthoptera) and further records on Caelifera (Orthoptera) of Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Zootaxa 3613 (4), pp. 301-342 : 312-313

Conocephalus (Anisoptera) iris (Serville, 1839)

Distribution. Zanzibar, Gabon, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rodriquez (Redtenbacher 1891); Tanzania, Mt Meru, Tanga, Mombo (Sjöstedt 1909); Indian Ocean, E and W Africa, Madagascar (Eades & Otte 2012), Madagascar, Zanzibar, Mauritius, Gabon (Saussure 1899); Southern and Eastern Africa (Chopard & Kevan 1954).

Recorded for Kilimanjaro by Sjöstedt (1909).

Ecology and biology. Nymphal development in the savanna usually with the onset of the long rains in April. Adults move up-slope to elevations of about 1400 m during the warm period of the year (December–March). During “el nino” events also from January onwards.

Habitat. At 0 m asl, grassland near Msala, Rufiji Delta, Tanzania (Kevan & Knipper 1961). On Mt Kilimanjaro common species in savanna grasslands during the long rains from May to about July and in lush vegetation along roads.

Song. Continuous sequence of syllables, faintly audible with the unaided ear. Altitudinal range at Mt Kilimanjaro: 900-1000- 1400 m. Records: 47