Isophya zubowskii Bey-Bienko, 1954

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 : 41-43

Isophya zubowskii Bey-Bienko, 1954

( Figs 22, 23 , 50, 74 , 99 , 124 , 175 , 185 , 194 )

Isophya zubowskii Bey-Bienko : Bey-Bienko 1954 (sp.n.).

Morphological description: Bey-Bienko 1954. Bioacoustics: Iorgu and Iorgu 2012.

The species was characterised well in the above mentioned sources.

Supplement to the description and diagnosis: Fastigium verticis is narrower than 1/2 of the scapus width. Male tegmina are about the same length as pronotum, reaching the posterior end of first abdominal tergite. CuA is slightly shorter than the posterior margin of pronotum; anal tegminal angle is obtuse. The Costo-Medial area is distinctly reduced, short ( Fig. 50). Stridulatory file ( Fig. 175 A) is 3.2–3.4 mm long and bears 181–227 teeth. Male cercus ( Fig. 99 ) is gradually incurved in the last 1/4, with a distinct terminal tooth. Female tegmen is about 1/3 of the pronotum length ( Fig. 74 ). Female stridulatory apparatus is shown in Fig. 175 C. Ovipositor ( Fig. 124 ) is long and slender (12–14 mm). Body colouration in both sexes is green, sometimes with reddish antennae and tibiae. Tegminal disc is brownish or reddish, rarely green, with darker CuA and CuP. The lateral parts of tegmina are yellow banded and the apical area is green. Male calling song ( Fig. 185 ) consists of series of syllables (sequences).

Bioacoustics: Male calling song consists of a temporally variable series of syllables, lasting from a few seconds to more than 4 minutes, the syllables repeated at a rate of about 60–80 per minute. The structural and temporal parameters of the syllables vary in different populations: the individuals from Dobrogea produced syllables of 70–100 impulses lasting 180–250 ms (at 24ºC). The interval between the successive syllables also largely varied between 400 and 1200 ms. The after-click was often noticed, following the main impulse series at 110–180 ms. The song frequencies in four studied populations varied without significance, the main impulse series ranging between 10–40 kHz, with highest peak at about 22 kHz.

Distribution ( Fig. 194 ) and phenology: Isophya zubowskii occurs in Romania, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. It prefers sunny mesophytic grasslands, forest ecotone and clearings between 50 m and 300–400 m alt. Nymphs—IV–V, imago—V–VI.

6. Isophya pyrenaea species group

Warchałowska-Śliwa et al. (2008) outlined the I. pyrenaea group for the taxa I. altaica , I. camptoxypha , I. obtusa and I. gulae . However, here a high number of similar taxa occurring north of the Central Balkans may be concerned. Though these taxa are similar in morphology, there are some karyological and bioacoustic differences relating some species close to I. modesta group or to I. kraussii group, yet, placing the border is difficult until more data are accumulated and thus we consider them in one group. The main characteristics of the group are as follows. The disc of male pronotum is considerably widened and uplifted in metazone and may be saddle shaped (constricted in the middle and widened and raised in pro- and metazone). Male tegmina have a tendency of bulging, while at the same time CuA and CuP remain distinctly separated (but not as strong as in I. rectipennis group). Both veins are slightly bulged above the surface of pronotum (not as strong as in I. kraussii and I. costata groups). The pit between gonangulum and lamella is widely opened; the lamella lacks excision. Female tegmen has moderately to strongly truncate apical part and reticulate venation. Body colouration may be uniformly green (except tegmina) to dark, violet green with dark greenish pattern, or light bands. In some species a tendency of variation and developing of melanism (especially in males) appear. The lateral margins of pronotum in metazone have reddish stripe above the light band (in I. taurica this may be masked by black pattern). Male tegmina (or at least their disc) are darker than body, usually being brownish, brownish-violet or variable (green with brown, yellow, violet and red) without additional darkening of the stridulatory area. The group is considered having 16 species (see below).

Two complexes may be distinguished within the group (yet not clear whether they are phylogenetically natural).

The Isophya taurica complex is characterised by large to very large, massive body. Hind femur is 16–23 mm long (usually 18–21). The width of fastigium verticis is 1/2 to almost equal to that of scapus. Male tegmina are equal or longer than pronotum, strongly bulged to very wide, uplifted, in I. obtusa remaining these of the I. speciosa group (see below). CuP is slightly to strongly widened and moderately long—about 2/3 to 3/4 of the width of metazone. CuP and CuA are distinctly approximated but not almost touching as in I. costata and I. kraussii groups (only in I. taurica similar position is observed); both veins are almost equally moderately bulged above the surface of disc of tegmen. The stridulatory file has 100–180 wide, dense teeth. The lower keels (at least the internal ones) of the hind femur have one to few spines (the outer ones may lack spines). The song consists of single or groups of slowly decrescending syllables with or without additional part of after-clicks and lasting 100– 500 ms up to 2.5 s with the after-clicks. The X-chromosome is subacrocentric (type 2A according to Warchałowska-Śliwa et al. 2008). The complex includes 3 species— I. gulae , I. obtusa and I. taurica Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878, each having peculiar isolated distribution in the East Balkans ( Bulgaria, E Serbia) and the Crimean Peninsula ( Ukraine).

The Isophya pyrenaea complex is characterised by moderately large, slender or compact body. Hind femur is 14–21 mm long (usually 15–18). The width of fastigium verticis is 1/2 or less of the width of scapus. Male tegmina are usually equal or shorter (in I. altaica , I. beybienkoi and I. pyrenaea slightly longer) than pronotum, distinctly bulged, but narrower than the hind edge of metazone. CuP is narrow (about as wide as or narrower than the 3rd antennal limb), short or moderately long—about 1/2–2/3 of the width of metazone. The stridulatory file has 40–130 sparse teeth (usually 50–80; higher number in I. altaica ). The lower keels of the hind femur usually lack spines and rarely the internal ones have a single spine (e.g. in I. harzi and I. brunneri ). The ovipositor is short— 6.5–10 mm, up to 13.5 mm in I. beybienkoi and I. brunneri . The song consists of long homogenous or complex sequence of syllables; the syllables are short—0.5–120 ms, frequently followed by an after-click (in the case of I. brunneri the after-clicks are divided by long interval and thus the whole syllable lasts almost 1 s). The X-chromosome is submetacentric (type 3 according to Warchałowska-Śliwa et al. 2008). The complex as here regarded includes 13 species— I. altaica Bey-Bienko, 1926 , I. beybienkoi Mařan, 1958 , I. brunneri Retowski, 1888 , I. camptoxypha (Fieber, 1853) , I. ciucasi Iorgu et Iorgu, 2010 , I. dochia Iorgu, 2012 , I. doneciana Bey-Bienko, 1954 , I. fatrensis Chládek, 2007 , I. harzi Kis, 1960 , I. nagyi Szövényi, Puskás et Orci, 2012 , I. posthumoidalis Bazyluk, 1971 , I. pyrenaea (Serville, 1838) , I. sicula Orci, Szövényi et Nagy, 2010 , distributed from the Pyrenees to Crimea and the Donetsk region, and isolated in Altai, with a centre of distribution and (possibly) origin the Carpathian Basin. Yet, further subdivision of the complex is possible, for example the so-called I. camptoxypha group ( I. camptoxypha , I. ciucasi , I. dochia , I. nagyi , I. posthumoidalis , I. sicula ) consisting of morphologically very similar species.

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 174 – 181. SEM of taxonomically important structures of Isophya: 174 — I. dobrogensis (RO: Popina Island); 175 — I. zubowskii (RO: Babadag, NMB); 176 — I. camptoxypha (RO: “ Bucec b. Sinaia, 13 – 1800 m, 25.8. 41, Ramme ”, NMB); 177 — I. gulae (BG: Elhovo, Dolna Topchiya Resrve); 178, 179 — I. obtusa (178 — BG: Lyulin Mt.; 179 — Pleven Lodge); 180 — I. amplipennis (TR: near Sogut); 181 — I. speciosa (BG: Kovach Locality). A—male stridulatory file (174 – 179 — scale 200 μm; 180, 181 — scale 100 μm); B—ventral / ventro-apical view of apex of male cerci (scale 100 μm); C—female stridulatory apparatus (scale 100 μm; for 175 C— 200 μm).

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.