Catoptropteryx aurita Huxley, 1970

http://lsid.speciesfile.org/urn:lsid: Orthoptera .speciesfile.org:TaxonName:12669

(Figs. 33 E–G, 53D–F)

Diagnostic remarks. A medium-sized, non-descript green katydid, with hind wings slightly surpassing the tegmina (Fig. 33G). The pronotum is bordered with a thin yellow line and the lateral carinae are also yellow. The male cerci are simple, incurved, ending in a small spine (Fig. 33F). The ovipositor is strongly reduced, barely surpassing the tips of the female cerci (Fig. 33E). The tympana on the front tibia are usually bilaterally open although in some individuals the inner side of the tympanum may have a visible auricle. Among central Mozambican katydids this species can be confused with Materuana eriki Hemp, 2017, from which it differs in much shorter cerci.

Bioacoustics. The call of C. aurita consists of short 3-syllable echemes; mean syllable duration is 0.0263 s (SD=0.00236, n=10); the peak frequency of the call is 12.9–15.8 kHz (Figs. 53 D–F).

Distribution and natural history. C. aurita is widely distributed in East and southern Africa, having been recoded from Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa (Huxley 1970). It is a canopy inhabitant associated primarily with the miombo woodland. In Gorongosa adults can be seen all year round.

Measurements (3 males, 3 females). body w/wings: male 46–49 (47.71.5), female 49–52 (50.31.5); body w/o wings: male 22–25 (23.71.5), female 22–27 (252.6); pronotum: male 7, female 6–7 (6.7.6); tegmen: male 35–39 (36.32.3), female 35–40 (37.32.5); hind femur: male 23–25 (241), female 25–26 (25.5.7); ovipositor: 4 mm.

Material examined (50 specimens). Mozambique: Manica, Sussundenga, Moribane Forest, Ndzou Camp, elev. 593 m (-19.734695, 33.336130), 2–8.xii.2018, coll. P. Naskrecki & M. Tomás— 1 female, 1 male ; Nhahomba Rang- er Station, Mussapa, elev. 606 m (-19.585799, 33.084969), 26.xi.–2.xii.2018, coll. P. Naskrecki & M. Tomás— 2 females, 1 male ; Sofala, Coutada 12, Nyago hunting camp, elev. 70 m (-18.660767, 35.455603), 8–16.iv.2016, coll. P. Naskrecki & J. Guyton— 1 female ; Cheringoma, nr. Codzo (Khodzue), cave and nearby, elev. 216 m (-18.564, 34.872222), 14–25.iv.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female ; Gorongosa, Massiabosa, Swanepoel Concession, elev. 240 m (-18.55157, 35.03004), 10–14.iv.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male (EOWL) ; GNP, Bela Vista ranger outpost, elev. 26 m (-18.69470, 34.20853), 5–12.v.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 females, 2 males (EOWL, MCZ) ; GNP, Chitengo, E.O. Wilson Laboratory, elev. 48 m (-18.977722, 34.351333), 12–20.iv.2015, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female (MCZ) ; same locality, 25–31.xii.2016, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male; same locality, 15–30.ix.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female (EOWL); Gorongosa Dist., Archway Gorge, campsite, elev. 63 m (-18.95336, 34.61089), 22–29.iv.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 3 females, 1 male (MCZ) ; GNP, Chitengo, elev. 38 m (-18.982867, 34.35185), 1–18.ix.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 male ); same locality, 5–9.v.2014, coll. R. Guta— 1 male (EOWL); Claud’s Waterfall campsite (Site 3), elev. 94 m (-19.03011, 34.67592), 1–6.v.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 6 females, 4 males (MCZ) ; Wilson Laboratory, GNP, Chitengo, (-18.97775, 34.351333), 19.iii.–2.iv.2014, coll. P. Naskrecki & R. Guta— 1 female (UEMM) ; same locality, 1–31.viii.2014, coll. R. Guta— 1 female; same locality, 1–30.ix.2014, coll. R. Guta & T. Massad— 1 female; same locality, 19–28.ii.2017, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female, 2 males; GNP, Community Education Center, elev. 129 m (-18.953639, 34.177111), 18–22.vi.2014, coll. G. Daniel, I. Nganhane & R. Guta— 2 males (EOWL) ; GNP, Chitengo, elev. 29 m (-18.98194, 34.35122), 9.v.–29.vi.2012, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female ; same locality, 17.iii.–5.iv.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 2 females, 1 male; same locality, 6–31.v.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female; GNP, on Rd. 11, elev. 22 m (-19.00469, 34.41064), 4.vi.–25.vii.2012, coll. P. Naskrecki—1 nymph male ; Nhagutua, elev. 221 m (-18.64339, 34.81425), 16–20.iv.2013, coll. P. Naskrecki— 1 female ; Nhagutua, bottom of the gorge, elev. 133 m (-18.63239, 34.80725), 11–14.vi.2012, coll. P. Naskrecki—1 nymph female (MCZ) ; Sofala Prov., CEC_GRP, elev. 114–134 m (-18.953767, 34.178283), 30.vii.–3.viii.2015, coll. Bioinformatics Workshop Participants— 2 females; Gorongosa Distr., GRP, E.O. Wilson Lab Chitengo, (-18.9783, 34.3514), 10.vi.2015, coll. J. Guyton— 1 female (EOWL) .