Isophya modestior Brunner

Dragan P. Chobanov, Beata Grzywacz, Ionuţ Ş. Iorgu, Battal Cιplak, Maya B. Ilieva & Elżbieta Warchałowska-Śliwa, 2013, Review of the Balkan Isophya (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae) with particular emphasis on the Isophya modesta group and remarks on the systematics of the genus based on morphological and acoustic data, Zootaxa 3658 (1), pp. 1-81 : 40

Isophya modestior Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1882

( Figs 19 , 48, 72 , 97 , 122 , 182, 183 , 194 )

Isophya modestior Brunner von Wattenwyl: Brunner von Wattenwyl 1882 (sp.n.). Isophya fusconotata Brunner von Wattenwyl: Brunner von Wattenwyl 1882 (sp.n.).

Morphological description: Brunner von Wattenwyl 1882; Bey-Bienko 1954; Harz 1969; Heller et al. 2004; Orci et al. 2005. Karyotype: Warchałowska-Śliwa et al. 2008. Bioacoustics: Heller 1988; Fontana et al. 2002; Nagy et al. 2003; Heller et al. 2004; Orci et al. 2005; Ingrisch and Paviċeviċ 2010, 2012.

Variation: Few geographically delimited populations exhibit differences in morphology (number of stridulatory teeth, Heller et al. 2004), song (see below), the type of X-chromosome (acro- or subacrocentric) (Warchałowska-Śliwa et al. 2008), and sequences of some genes (own unpublished information).

Bioacoustics: Three populations have been studied bioacoustically.

The Bulgarian population from Vitosha Mt. is characterised by a song ( Fig. 182 ) of groups of two syllables separated by intervals of 2.5–10 s (mean 4.8±2.3; n=12). The first syllable in a group is usually shorter than the second one due to shorter average impulse period (about 0.4 ms) (the number of impulses is the same). At 26–27°С the syllables lasted 255–320 ms (mean 287±17; n=26) and included 88–97 impulses (mean 92±3; n=26). The impulse period lasted 2–7 ms (average 3 ms), being shortest around the middle of the first half of the syllable and longest at its end. The population from Western Stara Planina Mts showed a song (at 27.5°С) of many loosely following each other syllables separated by intervals of 10–20 s or more. The syllables showed similar characteristics as that described above.

The Serbian population from the region of Novi Sad (Fruska Gora, 280 m, 45.1870º N, 19.8130º E; outside the borders of the Balkan Peninsula but shown here for comparison) showed a song ( Fig. 183 ) of groups of few syllables (usually 3–5) separated by intervals of 2–5 s. The syllable consisted of main part of 150–250 ms and afterclicks; its total duration is 280–350 ms. The impulses in the main part are denser than in the Bulgarian population.

Karyology (Warchałowska-Śliwa et al. 2008 and unpublished data): the Bulgarian population (specimens studied from the surroundings of Tran) showed 2A type of X-chromosome with telomeric C-bands (heterochromatin) on both arms; the Serbian population differed in possessing 1A type of X-chromosome.

Morphology: All studied populations did not exhibit morphological differences. The stridulatory file had respectively 182 (W Stara Planina Mts), 200 (Vitosha Mt.), and 211 (Novi Sad) stridulatory teeth, which coincides with the data known for the southern range of this species (see e.g. Heller et al. 2004).

Distribution ( Fig. 194 ) and phenology: The species is known from the Northwestern Balkan Peninsula and the neighbouring parts of Central Europe (SW Romania, NW Bulgaria, N Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina (new for this country), Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, NE Italy, Austria, Hungary and possibly Slovakia after Heller et al. 2004; Szövényi and Puskás 2012). The species inhabits mesophyte scrub and grass vegetation to open meadows (at the upper limit of distribution) between 100 (in the northern part of its range) or 500 (in Bulgaria) to 1800–1900 m alt. (Ossogovska Planina Mt. in Bulgaria). Nymphs—IV–VI(–VII), imago—VI–VIII.

Notes to the literature distribution data: Buresch and Peshev (1958) reported I. modestior from Assenovgrad and Chepelare. It is still not clear which species may be concerned in this case but most probably this is I. rhodopensis . The localities in Rila (Parangalitsa Reserve, 18.06.1984, 1 Ƥ, HMB) and Pirin (Pirin Peak, 20.08.1986, 1 Ƥ, HMB) as labelled by Andreeva are doubtful and may concern mistake. Thus, they are not mapped or included in the list of material. The data by Peshev (1974b) for Vratsa (23.06.1964) and Stakevtsi Village (12.08.1966) are referred to I. miksici on the basis of the revised material (see Appendix). Köhler (1988) recorded I. modestior from Northwestern Pirin Mts but this record may concern one of the species that occur in this region and may be misidentified with I. modestior : I. andreevae , I. rhodopensis leonorae or I. bureschi .

Figures

FIGURE 194. Distribution of I. modestior, I. dobrogensis, I. zubowskii, I. aff. camptoxypha, I. gulae, and I. obtusa on the Balkan Peninsula.

FIGURES 19 – 30. General appearance of some Balkan Isophya; 19 — I. modestior (male); 20, 21 — I. dobrogensis (20 — male, 21 — female); 22, 23 — I. zubowskii (22 — male, 23 — female); 24, 25 — I. camptoxypha (24 — male, 25 — female); 26, 27 — I. gulae (26 — male, 27 — female); 28, 29 — I. obtusa (dark— 28, and green— 29 colour forms; males); 30 — I. speciosa (malebelow, and female—above).

FIGURES 56 – 79. Morphology of female head, pronotum and tegmina of the Balkan Isophya and I. yaraligozi (localities as in Figs 31 – 55 unless specifically given): 56 — I. hospodar; 57 — I. rectipennis; 58 — I. pavelii (paratype of I. rammei Peshev); 59 — I. thracica; 60 — I. bureschi; 61 — I. yaraligozi; 62 — I. tosevski; 63 — I. andreevae (paratype); 64 — I. clara; 65 — I. miksici (paratype); 66 — I. plevnensis (paratype); 67 — I. longicaudata adamovici (paratype, BG: Sliven, 1000 m, NMNHS); 68 — I. l. longicaudata; 69 — I. rhodopensis leonorae (BG: “ Alibotush, 1500 m ”, 13.07. 1959, NMNHS); 70 — I. rh. rhodopensis (as in Fig. 46 but 17.07.1956); 71 — I. rh. petkovi; 72 — I. modestior; 73 — I. dobrogensis; 74 — I. zubowskii; 75 — I. aff. camptoxypha (MK: Bistra Mt., 2.08. 2004, CC); 76 — I. gulae (paratype, BG: Dolna Topchiya, 10.07. 1974, NMNHS); 77 — I. obtusa (BG: Vezhen Peak, 15.07. 1969, NMNHS); 78 — I. amplipennis (TR: “ Turkey | 1960 | Sureya Bey ”, NHM); 79 — I. speciosa (BG: Sakar Mt., 14.06. 1952, NMNHS). Scale (if present; black line right of the specimen) = 10 mm.

FIGURES 80 – 104. Male abdominal terminalia of the Balkan Isophya and I. yaraligozi (localities as in Figs 31 – 55): 80 — I. hospodar; 81 — I. rectipennis; 82 — I. pavelii; 83 — I. thracica; 84 — I. bureschi; 85 — I. yaraligozi; 86 — I. tosevski; 87 — I. andreevae; 88 — I. clara; 89 — I. miksici; 90 — I. plevnensis; 91 — I. longicaudata adamovici; 92 — I. l. longicaudata; 93 — I. m. modesta (= intermedia); 94 — I. rhodopensis leonorae; 95 — I. rh. rhodopensis; 96 — I. rh. petkovi; 97 — I. modestior; 98 — I. dobrogensis; 99 — I. zubowskii; 100 — I. aff. camptoxypha; 101 — I. gulae; 102 — I. obtusa; 103 — I. amplipennis; 104 — I. speciosa. Scale (if present) = 2 mm.

FIGURES 105 – 129. Female abdominal terminalia of the Balkan Isophya and I. yaraligozi (localities as in Figs 31 – 55 unless specifically given); figures of the whole ovipositor are followed by enlarged figure of the ovipositor base: 105 — I. hospodar (BG: Dolni Glavanak, 25.04. 2005, CC); 106 — I. rectipennis (BG: Byala Vill., 27.06. 2002, CC); 107 — I. pavelii (BG: Chernogorovo, 29.05. 2006, CC); 108 — I. thracica; 109 — I. bureschi (BG: Bansko, 8.08. 2006, CC); 110 — I. yaraligozi; 111 — I. tosevski; 112 — I. andreevae (BG: Kresnensko Hanche, 19.04. 2006, CC); 113 — I. clara; 114 — I. miksici (BG: Gorski Dom Lodge, 24.06. 2006, CC); 115 — I. plevnensis (BG: Levishte, 14.07. 2009, CC); 116 — I. longicaudata adamovici (BG: Karandila, 24.06. 2008, CC); 117 — I. l. longicaudata (BG: Sofia University Botanical garden, 26.06. – 1.07.2004, CC); 118 — I. m. modesta (= intermedia); 119 — I. rhodopensis leonorae (BG: Livade, 9.08. 2006, CC); 120 — I. rh. rhodopensis (BG: Bachkovo, 600 m, 23.05. 2004, CC); 121 — I. rh. petkovi (BG: Gluhite Kamani, 23.06. 2008, CC); 122 — I. modestior (BG: Bankya, 24.05. 2006, CC); 123 — I. dobrogensis; 124 — I. zubowskii; 125 — I. aff. camptoxypha (data as in Fig. 75); 126 — I. gulae; 127 — I. obtusa (BG: Ravnets Ridge, 14.07. 2009, CC); 128 — I. amplipennis (as in Fig. 78); 129 — I. speciosa (BG: Bankya, 24.05. 2006, CC). Indications on Fig. 127 show, respectively: G—gonangulum; L—lamella; P—lateral pit between lamella and gonangulum. Scale (if present) = 5 mm.

FIGURES 182 – 189. Male calling song at two different speeds (air temperature at recording shown; time scale below): 182, 183 — I. modestior (182 — BG: Vitosha Mt.; 183 — Serbia: Novi Sad); 184 — I. dobrogensis (RO: Popina Island); 185 — I. zubowskii (RO: Dobrogea, Niculiţel); 186 — I. camptoxypha (RO: Ciucaş Mt.); 187 — I. gulae (BG: Elhovo, Dolna Topchiya Reserve); 188, 189 — I. obtusa (188 — Middle Stara Planina Mts, Pleven Lodge; 189 — BG: Vitosha Mt.). Arrow and a “ Ƥ ” symbol on fig. 187 indicate the response of a female I. gulae.