Conocephalus (C.) conocephalus (Linnaeus, 1767)

Naskrecki, Piotr & Guta, Ricardo, 2019, Katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) of Gorongosa National Park and Central Mozambique, Zootaxa 4682 (1), pp. 1-119 : 18

Conocephalus (C.) conocephalus (Linnaeus, 1767)

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:16846

( Figs. 3D , 7C, D )

Differential diagnosis. C. conocephalus is recognizable by the shape of the male cercus, armed with one blunt and one sharp inner tooth ( Fig. 7C ), and a noticeably elevated fastigium of vertex. This species is also distinctly more slender than its Gorongosa congeners. Only a green, macropterous form occurs in the region ( Fig. 7D ).

Distribution and natural history. This species occurs in SE Palearctic ( Naskrecki & Ünal 1995) and across the entire African continent ( Hemp 2013a). In Mozambique it was first reported from Nova Chupanga (Sofala)( Chopard 1935).

In Gorongosa adults are present predominantly during the wetter months, albeit adult individuals may be occasionally seen in humid habitats during the dry season. Of the three Conocephalus species recorded from the area, this one requires the highest amount of humidity and is rarely encountered far from bodies of water.

Measurements (3 males, 3 females). —body w/wings: male 25–29 (27.32.1), female 31–33 (321); tegmen: male 19–25 (213.5), female 21–27 (253.5); hind femur: male 14–15 (14.7.6), female 14–17 (15.31.5); ovipositor: 10–11 (10.7.6) mm.

Material examined (27 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 , elev . 216 m (-18.564, 34.872), 14–25.iv.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female, 1 male; Gorongosa , Massiabosa, Swanepoel Concession ( CMM) , elev. 240 m (-18.55157, 35.03004), 10–14.iv.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female; GNP, Bela Vista ranger outpost, elev . 26 m (-18.69470, 34.20853), 5–12.v.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female; GNP, Chitengo , E.O. Wilson Laboratory, elev . 48 m (-18.977722, 34.351333), 15–30.ix.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female; GNP, Picada 2, past 6, elev . 28 m (-18.94467, 34.44177), 5.iv.2016, coll. J. Guyton— 1 female ( EOWL) ; Gorongosa Dist., Archway Gorge, campsite, elev. 63 m (-18.95336, 34.61089), 22–29.iv.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki (Site 2)— 1 male; Claud’s Waterfall campsite ( Site 3), elev . 94 m (-19.03011, 34.67592), 1– 6.v.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki (Site 3)— 4 females, 1 male; GNP, Chitengo , elev . 29 m (-18.98194, 34.35122), 9.v.– 29.vi.2012, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female; same locality, 6–31.v.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female, 1 male ( MCZ) ; GNP, Dingue-Dingue (miombo region), elev. 159 m (-19.03186, 34.72556), 28.v.2012, coll. P. Naskrecki— 3 females ( EOWL, MCZ) ; GNP, eastern part, bottom of a limestone gorge, elev. 93 m (-18.68906, 34.75306), 15.v.2012, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male; GNP, fever tree forest, elev. 22 m (-18.90442, 34.40408), 10.v.–25.vi.2012, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 females; Nhagutua , bottom of the gorge, elev . 133 m (-18.63239, 34.80725), 11–14.vi.2012, coll. P. Naskrecki— 4 females ( MCZ) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Mating behavior in Mozambican Tettigoniidae: A. Parapyrrhicia guytonae; B. Enyaliopsis iaculator; C. Conocephalus maculatus; D. Conocephalus conocephalus; E. Ovonotus abreuae, female with a spermatophylax.

FIGURE 7. Mozambican Conocephalinae: A. Conocephalus iris, male cerci; B. ditto, male habitus; C. Conocephalus conocephalus, male cerci; D. ditto, male habitus; E. Conocephalus maculatus, male cerci; F. ditto, male habitus; G. Pseudorhynchus hastifer, female face; H. ditto, female habitus; I. Pseudorhynchus pungens, face, green morph; J. ditto, face, pale morph; K. ditto, female habitus, green morph; L. ditto, head and pronotum lateral, pale morph.