Plangia satiscaerulea Hemp, 2015

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:470445

(Figs. 44 A–E, 53J–L)

Diagnostic remarks. Similar to P. graminea but the male cerci strongly bent inwards in the apical half and not narrowly tapered (Fig. 44A). Males frequently have a dark brown spot on the stridulatory area of the left tegmen (Fig. 44C). Both green and yellow forms of this species are known, the latter sometimes with brown, irregular spots on the dorsal (posterior) half of the tegmina (Fig. 44B).

Bioacoustics. The call of P. satiscaerulea is very similar to that of P. graminea and consists of 2–3 syllabic echemes produced every 6–9s; mean syllable duration is 0.043 s (SD=0.0113, n=19); the peak frequency of the call is 9.3–12.3 kHz (Figs. 53 J–L). The call is audible from a distance of a few meters.

Distribution and natural history. P. satiscaerulea was recently described from Tanzania but this species appears to have a much wider distribution. In Mozambique it has so far been only recorded in Gorongosa, where adults can be found throughout the year.

Females have a wide, relatively long ovipositor with a broadly rounded apex (Fig. 44D), adapted to laying eggs between the layers of the leaf epidermis (Fig. 44E).

Measurements (3 males, 2 females). body w/wings: male 43.3–43.8 (43.5.3), female 44.2–44.8 (44.5.4); body w/o wings: male 21.4–23.8 (22.21.4), female 27.2–29.7 (28.51.8); pronotum: male 6.5–6.6 (6.5.1), female 6.8–7 (6.9.1); tegmen: male 33.5–35.4 (34.51), female 37–38.4 (37.71); hind femur: male 14.9–17.1 (15.91.1), female 16.8–17.4 (17.1.4); ovipositor: 6.8–7.6 (7.2.6) mm.

Material examined (7 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 ; Gorongosa, GNP, Chitengo, Wilson Laboratory, elev. 48 m (-18.977722, 34.351333), 1–15.v.2018, coll. P. Naskrecki & N. Vicente— 1 male (EOWL) ; Gorongosa Dist., Center for Environmental Conservation, elev. 119 m (-18.95472, 34.1775), 16.iii.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki—1 nymph ; GNP, Chitengo, elev. 38 m (-18.982867, 34.35185), 1–18.ix.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male (MCZ) ; Wilson Laboratory, GNP, Chitengo, (-18.97775, 34.351333), 1–30.ix.2014, coll. R. Guta & T. Massad— 1 male ; same locality, 21.vii.–8.viii.2015, coll. B. Woo— 1 male; same locality, 19–28.ii.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female (EOWL) .