Melidia brunneri Stål, 1876

Naskrecki, Piotr & Guta, Ricardo, 2019, Katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) of Gorongosa National Park and Central Mozambique, Zootaxa 4682 (1), pp. 1-119 : 67-68

Melidia brunneri Stål, 1876

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:12066

( Figs. 33 K–M, 53A–C)

Diagnostic remarks. Among Mozambican katydids Melidia brunneri can be recognized by the prominently brown coloration of the stridulatory area of the tegmina ( Fig. 33L ), the unique shape of the male cerci ( Fig. 33K ), and the subgenital plate in both sexes with two widely separated narrow lobes; the ovipositor is about as long as of hind femur and its upper valvula is covered with a dense granulation ( Fig. 33M ). This species can be confused with members of the genus Parapyrrhicia Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1891 but in those the male cercus is quite different, and the apex of the ovipositor is blunt and strongly serrated.

Bioacoustics. The call of M. brunneri consists of paired syllables produced at a few second intervals; mean syllable duration is 0.11103 s (SD=0.01495, n=11); the peak frequency of the call is 16.4–19.9 kHz ( Figs. 53 A–C). The call is audible from a few meters.

Distribution and natural history. M. brunneri is a chiefly southern African species, having been confirmed from Namibia ( Ragge 1968a), Zimbabwe ( Chopard 1955b), South Africa, and Mozambique (specimens at SAMC, TMSA, USEC). Additionally, Ragge (1968) reported a specimen of this species from Nigeria.

M. brunneri is associated with woodland savanna habitats, where it is found on acacias and other deciduous trees. It feeds mostly on flowers, flower buds, and possibly leaves. In both Mozambique and South Africa adults of this species are found only during the months of the rainy season, between December and April.

Measurements (3 males, 3 females). body w/wings: male 31, female 35–38 (371.7); body w/o wings: male 17–19 (181), female 15–20 (182.6); pronotum: male 4, female 5–6 (5.3.6); tegmen: male 22–24 (22.71.2), female 27–29 (281); hind femur: male 19–20 (19.3.6), female 19–21 (201); ovipositor: 6–7 (6.7.6) mm.

Material examined (22 specimens). Mozambique: Sofala, Cheringoma, Coutada 12, Chironde camp, elev. 156 m (-18.32780, 35.35799), 25.iii.–4.iv.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki, J. Guyton & M. Castene— 1 female, 1 male ; nr. Codzo (Khodzue), cave and nearby, elev. 216 m (-18.564, 34.872222), 14–25.iv.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female ( EOWL) ; Gorongosa , GNP, Chitengo, E.O. Wilson Laboratory, elev. 48 m (-18.977722, 34.351333), 9.ii.–4.iii.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki and R. Guta— 1 female, 4 males ( MCZ) ; same locality, 25–31.xii.2016, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male ( EOWL); same locality, 1–8.i.2019, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male ( EOWL) ; Gorongosa Dist. , Center for Environmental Conservation , elev. 119 m (-18.95472, 34.1775), 16.iii.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female ; same lo- cality, 16.iii.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female ( EOWL, MCZ); GNP, Chitengo, elev. 28 m (-18.98, 34.352639), 30.i.–12.ii.2014, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female ( EOWL); GNP, Chitengo , elev. 29 m (-18.98194, 34.35122), 17.iii.– 5.iv.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 3 males ( MCZ); same locality, 30.i.–13.ii.2014, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female, 1 male ( EOWL, MCZ); same locality, 11–25.ii.2014, coll. R. Guta & T. Castigo— 1 female ; Gorongosa Distr., Chitengo , (-18.981944, 34.351222), 13–31.i.2015, coll. R. Guta— 1 female ( EOWL) ; same locality, 2–28.ii.2015, coll. R. Guta— 1 male ( EOWL); GRP, E.O. Wilson Lab Chitengo, (-18.9783, 34.3514), 9.ii.–4.iii.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki & R. Guta— 1 female ( EOWL)

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Figures

FIGURE 33. Mozambican Phaneropterinae: A. Corymeta amplectens, male abdominal apex, dorsal view; B. ditto, male abdominal apex, lateral view; C. ditto, male lateral; D. ditto, ovipositor; E. Catoptropteryx aurita, ovipositor; F. ditto, male abdominal apex, latral view; G. ditto, male lateral; H. Materuana eriki, male abdominal apex, lateral view; I. ditto, male abdominal apex, dorsal view; J. ditto, male lateral; K. Melidia brunneri, male abdominal apex, dorsal view; L. ditto, male lateral; M. ditto, ovipositor.

FIGURE 53. Oscillograms and power spectra of Mozambican Phaneropterinae: A–C. Melidia brunneri; D–F. Catoptropteryx aurita; G–I. Plangia graminea; J–L. P. satiscaerulea.