Genus Ornebius Guérin-Méneville, 1844

Ornebius Guérin-Méneville, 1844: 331 .

Liphoplus Saussure, 1877: 483 .

Ornebius – Kirby 1906: 57. — Chopard 1968: 219. — Otte & Alexander 1983: 386, fig. 330. — Otte 1994: 91. — Rentz & Su 2019: 273.

Type species

Ornebius xanthopterus Guérin-Méneville, 1844 .

Diagnosis (after Otte & Alexander 1983)

Difficult to differentiate from other genera of scaly crickets; this is not a problem in New Zealand, where it is the only known genus in the family. Body length generally between 6.5 mm and 8 mm in both males and females. The last dorsal segment of the abdomen is never black between the cerci; paraprocts whitish to brown, never black. Posterior margin of forewing with a continuous dark band or three darkened areas, brown or black, never red. Tibia I and II banded. Front of mirror not hidden beneath pronotum.

Etymology

The meaning of the name Ornebius is unknown. Ornebius is male gender.

Measurements

See Table 8.

For a detailed description of Ornebius in the Australian region, see Otte & Alexander (1983: 386); Rentz & Su (2019: 273).

Habitat and ecology

Nocturnal crickets, arboreal; their melodious song is heard in the foliage of trees and shrubs.

Distribution

New Zealand: New Plymouth, Auckland, Northland and Coromandel; Kermadec Islands. The mainland populations are introduced from Australia. Also found in Australia and wider Pacific Region, tropical and subtropical Asia and Africa, South and Central America.