Austrosalomona Rentz, 1988

Rentz, Dcf & Su, You Ning, 2019, Studies in Australian Tettigoniidae: Three New Species of Agraeciini From North-eastern Australia Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Conocephalinae; Agraeciini, Zootaxa 4623 (2), pp. 283-305 : 284-295

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4623.2.4
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9E8BCE12-CF6B-4B9B-B6DA-049CEE05D2D7
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039687D4-FFDE-8B42-53F1-FAF67417F86D
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Austrosalomona Rentz
status

Treatment

Austrosalomona Rentz View in CoL

Type species: Austrosalomona personafrons Rentz , by original designation.

Austrosalomona is presently known in the literature from three described species. The type species, A. personafrons , was described from Norfolk Island, South Pacific; A. zentae Rentz is from Lord Howe Island and A. falcata (Redtenbacher) from wet forest localities along the New South Wales coast from Batemans Bay to southern Queensland. In addition, we have in the Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra 13 species from coastal New South Wales and Queensland from Batemans Bay to Cooktown, Qld. Several additional species occur on coastal islands along the east coast of Australia. We intend to revise the genus in the future. All species are nocturnal in their habits. The three new species are easily distinguished from other members in the tribe by the following combination of characters: head dorso-ventrally elongate, frons relatively flat, usually punctate; fastigium of vertex short, conical, attaining about the middle of the antennal scape, surface smooth, without trace of a sulcus.

Generic description. Body robust, head prominent, jaws massive. Occiput gently produced, surface smooth; eyes positioned high on head, prominent, ovoid but weakly indented near antennal sockets; antennae with scape and pedicel elongate, often distinctively marked depending upon the species, flagellum thin, as long or slightly longer than body, not generally annulate. Pronotum saddle-shaped, the metanotum extending well beyond the lateral lobes; surface smooth and shining, without distinct sulci but with a weak, shallow depression on each side near the middle; lateral lobes indented posteriorly, extending ventrally about half the length of the pronotum, slightly ascending cephalad; cephalic margin of disk straight, caudal margin elongate, apex strongly convex. All legs robust, well-armed. Fore femur slightly laterally compressed, ventral surface armed on each margin with a few stout teeth, dorsal surface unarmed; tibia cylindrical, armed on both margins of ventral surface with many elongate spines, dorsal surface unarmed; tibial auditory opening narrow, slit-like. Fore coxa with a prominent, spike directed anteriorly. Middle femur weakly laterally compressed, ventral surface armed only on anterior margin with a few stout teeth, posterior margin unarmed; tibia laterally compressed, armed on both sides of ventral margin with moderately elongate spines; dorsal surface unarmed. Middle tibia unarmed dorsally, ventral surface bearing 8 small spines on anterior margin, mostly concentrated in distal one-third, poster margin bearing 6 small spines similarly positioned. Hind femur elongate, outer surface with a shallow longitudinal sulcus; ventral surface armed on external margin with a number of small, short teeth, internal surface unarmed. All genicular lobes armed on both sides. Prosternum armed with a pair of elongate spikes. Meso- and metanota with prominent plates, the caudal margins of which bear a short acute process. Tegmina and wings well developed, extending slightly beyond apex of abdomen, opened effectively when threatened; individuals fully capable of flight; stridulatory veins concealed beneath caudal portion of pronotum; stridulatory file elongate with teeth mostly lamellar. Abdomen elongate, without tubercles or prominences; apex of tenth tergite of males with shallow, poorly defined median area, mostly membranous; titillators prominent, flangelike; subgenital plate elongate, narrowed apically with a pair of elongate styles; cercus of males prominent, species distinctive in shape, of females, robust, conical. Females with terminal abdominal segments often with tubercles; subgenital plate massive, distinctly shaped, with median incision and digitiform lateral processes; adjacent ventral segments often distinctively developed. Ovipositor falcate, about half to three quarters the length of hind femur, unarmed laterally but with a pair of minute teeth at the base, juxtaposed to subgenital plate.

Overall colour green or grey. Frons, antennal scrobes, pronotum and abdominal intersegmental membrane distinctly coloured and marked; eye colour distinctive when alive but changing shortly after death; tegmen often with a series of small, black spots.

Austrosalomona destructorI Rentz & Su, sp. nov.

( Figs 1–5 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 , 13A View FIGURE 13 , 14A View FIGURE 14 ; Map 1, Table 1 View TABLE 1 )

ANIC Number: Austrosalomona sp. 10

Description. Holotype male. Labels 1. 16.48 ’ S 145.38 ’E (GPS) QLD. Kuranda 335m (Top of the Range) 19 Butler Dr 16–31 DECEMBER 2018 DCF Rentz. 2. “ANIC database #14008694. Holotype deposited in Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra.

Differential diagnosis. Overall body shape and colour similar to others in the genus. Most common colour morph is richly green ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 , 2A View FIGURE 2 ) with tegmen bearing a few small black spots ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ). Eyes often purple or lavender in life. Ventral surface of abdomen and thorax bright yellow; intersegmental membrane with small, irregular purple markings ( Fig. 4D View FIGURE 4 ). Rarely, in less than 10% of population (speculative) a golden or yellow morph is encountered, ( Fig. 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ) the markings on the ventral surface of the Gold Morph are as described above. Scape, pedicel and flagellum of antenna uniformly green ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ). Male cercus species distinctive ( Figs 5A, B View FIGURE 5 ); titillators distinctive with tips usually hooked ( Fig. 4F View FIGURE 4 ). Females have distinctive subgenital plate and the ovipositor is half the length or less than the hind femur, strongly falcate, the margins unarmed ( Fig. 4E View FIGURE 4 ).

Head. Head produced well in front of pronotum, frons relatively flat, not punctate ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ). Frontal fastigium absent; fastigium of vertex short, stout, extending only to middle of scape, surface smooth, not sulcate ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ). Eye prominent, positioned high on head, round. Median ocellus small, irregular; lateral ocelli absent. Antenna with scape relatively short, produced on internal margin; pedicel about 1/3 length of scape; flagellum 1.5–2.0x body length.

Thorax. Pronotum with surface shining, appearing smooth but minutely punctate or with minute irregular indentations; pro- and mesozona slightly depressed relative to metazona; surface without distinct carinae, lateral margins of metazona broadly bent; lateral lobes broad, shallow, margins irregular, surface with a median U-shaped sulcus. Thoracic auditory spiracle elongate, wholly concealed by pronotum, the latter of which is slightly modified over the opening. Meso- and metathorax wholly concealed by tegmina.

1 Named with reference to the feeding habits of the species.

Legs. Not especially short, moderately robust ( Figs 1A View FIGURE 1 , 3A View FIGURE 3 ). Fore coxa armed with a robust spine. Foreleg with femur rather slender, laterally compressed, surface smooth, shining; ventral surface armed on anterior margin with 3 short spines positioned in middle 1/3, posterior margin with 1–2 low, blunt teeth; tibia unarmed dorsally, ventral surface with 6 spines on each margin ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ). Midleg slightly laterally compressed, with posterior surface feeble concave; dorsal surface without spines, ventral surface armed on anterior margin with 6 spines, posterior margin unarmed; tibia with 6 spines on both margins, posterior margin with a few short, blunt teeth proximally. Hind leg with femur extending slightly beyond apex of abdomen at rest; ventral surface with 6–8 short, blunt teeth on outer margin of ventral surface, internal surface unarmed. Genicular lobes of all femora armed on both sides with a single spine.

Wings. Tegmen elongate, of nearly equal width throughout, apex obtuse. Tegminal venation ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ) with costal area well defined, costa absent; stridulatory area rather small, stridulatory vein poorly defined in dorsal view, mirror roughly quadrate, without internal venation ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ); stridulatory file ( Fig. 5C View FIGURE 5 ) with teeth lamellar. Wing very well developed, capable of flight ( Figs 1A View FIGURE 1 , 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ).

Abdomen. Tenth tergite with shallow, membranous median incision. Cercus ( Figs 5A, B View FIGURE 5 ) with internal tooth concealed in dorsal view, apex subacute, internal margin undulating; internal surface revealing a short, stout tooth, outer margin weakly indented. Phallic complex ( Fig. 4F View FIGURE 4 ) with arms flattened, with a subapical hook on internal surface; base minutely stippled. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 4D View FIGURE 4 ) short, broad, with deep V-shaped median incision; styles very elongate, length of median incision.

Female. Differs from male in following characters. Size larger, form slightly more robust. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 4F View FIGURE 4 ) with V-shaped median incision, lateral portions strongly acute. Ovipositor ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ) falcate, strongly upcurved, about length of hind femur, unarmed.

Coloration. Overall colour richly green; tegmina with small black spots ( Figs 1A View FIGURE 1 , 2A View FIGURE 2 ). Ventral surface of insect bright yellow, intersegmental membrane with purple markings, these colours fading on pinned specimens that are not preserved properly. Rarely a golden morph is encountered ( Figs 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ).

Song. The calling song ( Fig. 14A View FIGURE 14 ) consists of 4 loud chirps separated roughly by 5–6 seconds and repeated constantly after dark unless disturbed. Each chirp comprises 3–4 pulses. The calling song of this species strongly contrasts with that of A. poecila ( Fig. 14B View FIGURE 14 ).

Cytology. Rentz et al. (2012) reported on the cytology of other agraeciines. Hewitt (1979) briefly discusses karyotypes of tettigoniids to that date. Other species of Austrosalomona have also been reported. A. personafrons Rentz (Norfolk Is.) was shown to have 2n male = 29 (2 metacentrics, 26 telocentrics where the X is metacentric ( Rentz, 1988).

A. destructor , ( Fig. 13A View FIGURE 13 ), label identification, see below, Cytol. Prep. 81–246 (Shiptons Flat), 2N male= 29 (2m + 26t +Xm) Specimens examined. Paratypes. 16.48’S 145.38’E ( GPS) QLD. Kuranda 335m (Top of the Range) 19 Butler Dr from the following dates: 15–31.vii.2003, 1 female; 15–30 ix.2003 1 female; 1–5.x.2003 1 male; 15–31.x.2003 1 male; 1–15.xii.2003 1 male; 15–30.xii.2003 3 males, 9 females; 1–15.xi.2003 1 male (gold morph), 2 females; 15–30.xi.2003 1 male; 1–15.i.2004 7 males, 8 females; 1–15.ii.2004 9 males, 8 females (some gold morphs); 15–29.ii.2004 2 males, 1 female; 1–15.x.2004 1 female; 15–30.iv.2004 1 female; 1–15.vi.2004 3 females; 15– 31.viii.2004 1 male 2 females; 15–30.x.2004 1 male; 1–15.xi.2004 1 male; 25–30.xi.2004 4 females; 15–31.i.2005 5 males, 8 females; 1–15.i.2005 9 males, 4 females; 1–15.ii.2005 2 males, 8 females; 15–31.iii.2005 1 male, 2 females; 16–31.x.2005 1 female; 1–15.xi.2005 1 female; 1–15.xii.2005 4 males, 1 female; 16–31.xii.2005 1 male, 4 females; 1–15.i.2006 5 males; 1–15.ii.2006 1 male, 1 female; 16–26.x.2006 1 male; 25–30.xi.2006 3 males, 3 females; 1– 15.xii.2006 2 males (1 gold morph), 2 females; 1–15.i.2007 1 female; 1–15.ii.2007 1 male, 1 female; 16–28.ii.2007 1 female; 16–31.v.2007 1 male; 1–15.xii.2007 3 females; 1–15.xii.2007, 2 males, Cytol. Preps. 2007-7,-8, 2 females; 1–15.i.2008 2 males; 16–31.i.2008 1 male; 1–15.ii.2008 1 male (gold morph) 1 female; 16–28.ii.2009 2 males; 16–31.v.2009 1 male; 12–31.viii.2009 1 female; 16–30.xi.2009 1 female; 1–15.xii.2009 1 male; 16–31.xii.2009 2 males, 1 female; 1–15.i.2008 1 female; 15–30.xi.2008 1 male; 1–15.xii.2008 1 male, 1 female; 16–30.xi.2008 1 male, 2 females; 1–15.ii.2009 1 male (gold morph); 1–15.i.2010 2 males, 6 females; 16–31.i.2010 4 males (1 gold morph), 5 females; 1–15.ii.2010 1 male, 3 females; 16–28.ii.2010 2 males, 1 female; 1–15.iii.2010 1 male, 1 female; 16–31.iii.2010 1 male; 1–15.v.2010 1 male (gold morph); 18–31.v.2010 1 male, 2 females; 16–31.viii.2010 1 male (gold morph); 1–15.ii.2011 1 male; 16–31.v.2011 1 female; 1–15.xii.2011 1 female; 16–31.xii.2011; 1 male; 1–15.xi.2011 1male (gold morph), Song recorded S-1119; 1–15.i.2012 1 female; 16–31.i.2012 2 females; 22.v.2012 1 female (gold morph); 10.vi.2012 1 female; 1–15.xii.2012 1 male (gold morph); 16–31.xii.2012 2 males (1 gold morph); 16–31.i.2012 2 males (1 gold morph); 16–29.ii.2012 2 males; 16–30.xi.2012 1 female; 1–15.xii.2012 1 male, 1 female; 1–15.iii.2013 1 female; 16–31.xii.2013 1 female (gold morph); 1–15.xi.2014 1 male (gold morph); 16–31.xii.2018 1 male; 1–15.i.2019 1 female; 1–15.ii.2019 1 male, 1 female all collected by DCF Rentz . 16 O 40’S 145 O 38’E 2 km N. of Kuranda , 21.xi.1981 (J. Balderson, 1 male, Cytol. Prep. 82-2, 1 female). Kuranda, 23.i.1982 ( WNB Quick, 1 female.) 16 O 49’S 145 O 37’E. ( GPS) Kuranda, 2 km NW on Kennedy Hwy, “Arona, 15.xii.2004 ( DCF Rentz, J. van Pelt, 1 female; same locality and collectors 1–15.ii.2004 2 males, 3 females) . 16 O 54’S 145 O 37’E 9 km SSW Kuranda , 17.v.1993 AME Roach, following specimens collected as nymphs: 1 female collected as nymph, matured 17.viii.1993); same locality 3.viii.1993 1 female collected as nymph, matured 28.viii.1993, 1 female matured 10.viii.1993, 1 female matured 12.vii.1993, 1 male matured 24.vii.1993 1 male matured 28.vi.1993, 1 male matured 12.vii.1993. Kuranda , 9.i.1979 (G. Wood, 1 female) . 16 O 03’S 145 O 28’ E Russett Pk, 5 km WNW of Kuranda, 20.ii.1988 DCF Rentz Stop A-20, 3 females collected as nymphs matured 24.iii.1988 1 male Cytol. Prep , 88-173, Song recorded S-593) . 16 O 45’S 145 O 36’ E Black Mtn Rd, 11.4 km from Kennedy Hwy , 29.ii.1988 ( DCF Rentz, stop A-27, 1 female, collected as nymph, matured 27.vii.1988) . 16 O 49’S 145 O 40’E Smithfield, Upper Stanton Rd 104 m 5.ii.2012 ( DCF Rentz, B Richardson Stop 12-7, 2 males, 2 females) . 16 O 46’S 145 O 27’E nr Lake Mitchell on Toll Rd. (Southhedge Lakes Rd) 412m 14.xii.2011 ( DCF Rentz, B Richardson, 1 female, Stop 42) . 16 O 47’S 145 O 40’S Cairns , Redlynch , Crystal Cascades 17.vi.2004 ( DCF Rentz, B Foster, A McKinnon, 1 male) . 16 O 50’S 145 O 28’E Bilwon , Bilwon Rd (nr Biboura 476 m, 27.xi.2011 ( DCF Rentz, B. Richardson, M Upton, stop 38, 1 male, on car, probably from Kuranda . 16 O 51’S 145 O 39’ E Barron River Gorge, 14 km NW by W of Cairns, 19.ii.1988 ( DCF Rentz, Stop A-24, 1 male Cytol. Prep. 88–184, Song recorded S-603; 1 male collected as nymph, matured 22.vii.1988 ( DCF Rentz, Cytol prep. 88–266); same locality 11.ii.2019 ( DCF Rentz, Strop 4, 1 female). Pine Ck , 16.xi.1964 ( JA Woods, 1 female, QMUS) . 17 O 19.680 ’S 145 O 37.318 ’E Peeramon, 132 Anderson Rd 770m 12.i.2017 ( DCF Rentz, YN Su, 1 male) . 17 O 17’S 145 O 27’ E Carrington Rd, Block 160, 4 km S. of Atherton, 770m, 26.xii.2005 DCF Rentz, A. McKinnon, 1 male) . 17 O 00’S 145 O 50’ E Pine Ck (nr CSIRO tower), 11 km SE by S of Cairns, 8.iii.1988 ( DCF Rentz, Stop A-18, 2 females, one ovipositing in dead wood) 17 O 35’S 145 O 43’E 9 km W. Crawford’s Lookout , Palmerston Hwy, 11.ii.1988 ( DCF Rentz, Stop A-16, 1 female, collected as nymph, matured 15.vi.1988). Same locality , 17 O 37’S 145 O 46’E 4 km W Crawford’s Lookout, 17.ii.1988 ( DCF Rentz, Stop A 16a, 4 males collected as nymphs, matured 17.ii.1988, Cytol. prep. 88-237; matured 23.ii.1988 Cytol. Prep. 88–240, Song recorded S-638; 3 females collected as nymphs, matured 6.v.1988, 28.iv.1988, 17.iii.1988) . 17 O 20.483 ’S 145 O 52.170 ’E 17 O 28’ S The Boulders, nr Babinda 52 m, 23.x.2017, 23.i.2019 ( DCF Rentz, M. Connors, Stop 3, 2 males). 146 O 00’ E Garradunga, Polly Ck, nr Innisfail, 8.i.1986 (J. Hasenpusch, 1 male feeding on Canthium blossom) . 17 O 53’S 146 O 09’ E Dunk Is, (nr settlement) 13–19 iv 1990 ( DCF Rentz, A Lo, stop 17, 1 females) . 17 O 02’S 145 O 37’ E Davies Ck, 15 km in from Kennedy Hwy, 1.iii.1988 ( DCF Rentz, Stop A-28, 1 male (gold morph) matured 10.vi.1988 Cytol. Prep. 88–246) . 17 O 17’S 145 O 39’ E Lake Eacham , 2.ii.1988 ( DCF Rentz, Stop A-1, 1 females) . 17 O 15’S 145 O 38’ E Lake Barrine , 18.iii.1988 ( DCF Rentz, stop A-8, 3 males, collected as nymphs, matured 1.vii.1988, Cytol. Prep. 88–255, Song recorded S- 64, Cytol. Prep. 88–226, 88–111, Song recorded S-526b; 2 females (1 gold morph) collected as nymphs, matured 19.iii. 1988) . 17 O 16.570 ’S 143 O 37.555 ’E. 25 McClean Rd, twixt Lake Eacham & Lk Barrine, 745 m, 19.v.2015 ( DCF Rentz, B. Richardson Stop 18, 1 male collected as nymph, matured 15.xi.2015) . 17 O 06’S 145 O 37’ E Mt Haig, Mt Haig, 11 km NE Tinaroo Dam wall, 5.ii.1988 ( DCF Rentz, Stop 88-15, 1 female, collected as nymph, matured 17.v.1988) . 17 O 05’S 145 O 23’ E Mt Aunt, 10 km SSW Mareeba, 3.iii.1988 ( DCF Rentz, Stop 31, 2 females collected as nymphs, matured 3.v.1988, 28.vi.1988). Josephine Falls , Babinda 8.xii.1994 (L. Ring, 1 male, Cytol. Prep. 95- 4, Song recorded S-891) . 17 O 23.136 ’S 145 O 59.596 ’E off Bramston Bch Rd, Powerlines Rd, under powerlines, 93m 5.i.2016 ( DCF Rentz, B. Richardson Stop 2) . 15 O 38’S 144 O 30’E Split Rock, 12 km S. of Laura , 21.ii.2007 ( DCF Rentz, J. Hasenpusch, Stop 14, 1 male) . 16 O 40’S 145 O 16’E Mt Molloy , Baker’s Rd, 8 km from Hwy 386m 14.i.2013 ( DCF Rentz, B Richardson Stop 3, 1 female) . 15 O 47’S 145 O 14’ E Shipton’s Flat, nr Cooktown, 9.x.1980 1 male collected as nymph, matured 20.xii.1980 ( TA Weir, RA Barrett, 3 males, Cytol. Prep. 81-234). Same locality 16-18.v.1981 ( DCF Rentz, 1 female collected as nymph, matured 26.viii.1981 ( DCF Rentz, Stop 38, 1 male Cytol. prep. 81-246, Song recorded S-101, 3 females) . 15 O 51’S 145 O 20’ E Gap Ck, 19.viii.1993 (J Balderson, Stop CY 38 , 1 male, collected as nymph, matured 6.ix.1993) . 15 O 50’S 145 O 20’ E Gap Creek , 5 km ESE Mt Finnigan, 12–16.v.1981 ( DCF Rentz, Stop 37, 2 males Cytol. Prep. 81-229, -313, Song recorded S-102, 1 female collected as nymphs matured 7.ix.1981) . 16 O 11’S 145 O 25’E 12 km NE by E of Daintree 22.xi.1981 (J. Balderson 1 female, collected as nymph, matured 14.xii.1981) . 16 O 06’S 145 O 27’E 4 km SSE Cape Tribulation 21–28.iii.1984 (A. Calder, TA Weir, 1 male, 3 females). Same locality 29.xii–8.i.1982 (G. Monteith, 1 female QMUS). Same locality Cooper’s Ck, 2.xi.1997 DCF Rentz, stop 65, 1 male collected as nymph, matured 20.xi.1997, Cytol. prep. 97-84, Song recorded S-1033) . 16 O 06’11.53”S 145 O 27’13.08 E James Cook Uni., Rainforest Crane site, 6–8.ii.2019 ( DCF Rentz, M. Connors, 1 male, 2 females) . 16 O 08’S 145 O 26’ E 2.5 km WSW Noah Rd , Cape Tribulation , Marrdja Boardwalk , 2.xi.1993 ( DCF Rentz, L. Lowe, 1 male, collected as nymph, matured 16.xii.1993) . 16 O 202’S 145 O 409’ E Daintree, Lync-Haven resort, 35m 8.xii.2012 ( DCF Rentz Stop 12-39, 1 male). Russell River , Bellenden Ker Landing, 24– 31.x.1981 (Earthwatch expedition, 1 male) . 17 O 52’S 146 O 04’E 4 km w of Mission Beach, 6.ii.1989 (G. Milledge, 1 male) . 16 O 16’34.72S 145 O 11’33.55 E Mt Spurgeon, 18 km W. Mossman,” Cooper’s Camp, 118 m 10–12.x.2009 ( DCF Rentz, P. Zborowski, 1 male).

Comments. A. destructor is known from the Innisfail district north to the Cooktown area of Queensland (Map 1). It also occurs in rainforests of the Atherton Tableland and the Kuranda Range. This species is common and readily observed after dark on leaf surfaces and around flowering plants. It can cause damage to prized plants and efforts must be made to exclude it from shade houses and glasshouses. It is also readily transported under the bonnets of vehicles or in the cracks and crevices around the windscreen. We have seen individuals wander onto the windscreen when driving. The record listed above from Bilwon seems to be of an individual that hitched a ride on a vehicle and turned up on adjacent vegetation. If this is the case, care should be taken when transporting nursery stock as these katydids could easily be taken to new habitats.

We have observed kleptoparasitism involving A. destructor . Owners of collections of Pitcher Plants, Nepenthes spp., often find holes at the base of the pitchers and the contents gone ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ). This can be caused by feeding katydids, the species of which depends on the locality of the plants. In the Kuranda region, A. destructor , is the most common culprit. After dark the katydids somehow determine that the contents of the pitcher are edible and they chew a hole at the base of the pitcher thereby dislodging the contents upon which they feed seemingly unaffected by the digestive juices of the plant. We have observed this elsewhere with other agraeciine katydids responsible. In the Jardine Swamp of the Cape York Peninisula we found that both adults and immatures of Nicsara bifasciata (Redtenbacher) performed the same behaviour on native Nepenthes spp. Similarly, Goodangarkia oedicephala Rentz, Su, Ueshima, Wilson was involved similar behaviour after dark on a patch of N. mirabilis in an exposed degraded pasture near Babinda, Qld ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ). Significantly, at this locality A. destructor was not found even in the adjacent rainforest.

Both A. destructor and A. poecila seem allopatric most of the time. However, we found both on Dunk Island south of Cairns. It seems that the two may occur as adults at different times of the year. In any case, A. destructor seems to be much more common than A. poecila .

Austrosalomona poecila 2 Rentz & Su, sp. nov.

( Figs. 6–8 View FIGURE 6 View FIGURE 7 View FIGURE 8 , 14B View FIGURE 14 ; Table 1 View TABLE 1 ; Map 1)

ANIC Number: Austrosalomona sp. 5

2 The specific epithet refers to the mottled grey and green colours of individuals of the species.

Description. Holotype male. Labels. 1. “20 o 20’54.47”S. 148 o 57’45.11”E. (GE) QLD. Hamilton I. (Whitsundays) nr Catseye Beach 21m 5 April 2014 DCF Rentz Stop 11 2. “Cytol. Prep. 96-15. 3. “Song recorded S-1135. 4. “ANIC database #14008695. Separate pin left male cercus. Holotype in Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra.

Differential diagnosis. Overall body shape similar to others in the genus; dominant colour grey with greenish tinges. Tegmen greyish brown with large quadrate spots ( Fig. 7A View FIGURE 7 ). Eyes ( Fig. 6C View FIGURE 6 ). Ventral surface of abdomen distinctive marked with grey and black ( Fig. 6D View FIGURE 6 ); abdominal intersegmental membrane indistinct. Median ocellus small, ovoid; lateral ocelli absent. Male cercus distinctive, with prominent internal tooth ( Figs 7B, C View FIGURE 7 ); titillators ( Fig. 6G View FIGURE 6 ) Female abdomen with 8, 9 sternites with large tubercles; subgenital plate short, arms elongate ( Fig. 7D View FIGURE 7 ).

Head. Head produced well in front of pronotum; frons slightly tumid, central portion slightly tuberculate, emphasised by colour. Frontal fastigium absent; fastigium of vertex slender, slightly produced, extending slightly beyond scape, surface smooth, not sulcate. Antenna with scape elongate, protruding well above fastigium of vertex, pedicel short, slender, about half the length of scape, similar in size to first segment of flagellum; flagellum about 1.5–2.0x body length.

Thorax. Pronotum with surface shining, with irregular shallow furrows on pro- and mesozona; metazona distinctively punctate; surface without distinct carinae, lateral margins of metazona not bent; lateral lobes broad, shallow, margins undulating, narrowly rimmed, surface with deep angled median impression. Thoracic auditory spiracle ovoid to slightly elongate, wholly concealed by lateral lobe of pronotum. Mesothorax concealed by pronotum; metathorax exposed.

Legs. Moderately elongate ( Figs 6A, B View FIGURE 6 ). Fore coxa armed with an elongate spine. Foreleg with femur rather slender, laterally compressed, surface minutely irregular, shining; ventral surface armed on anterior margin with 3,4 short spines positioned in the middle 1/3, posterior margin with 2, 4 blunt teeth; tibia unarmed dorsally, ventral surface with 6 spines on both margins. Midleg slightly laterally compressed, with posterior surface feebly concave; dorsal surface without spines, ventral surface armed on anterior margin with 3, 4 blunt teeth, posterior margin unarmed. Hind leg with femur extending slightly beyond apex of abdomen at rest; ventral surface 6,7 blunt spines on outer margin of ventral surface, internal margin unarmed. Genicular lobes of fore and middle femora armed on both sides with a single elongate spine, hind femur with an addition small spine below larger spine.

Wings. Tegmen of male short, stout ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ) of female more elongate. Tegminal venation ( Fig. 7A View FIGURE 7 ) with costal area well defined, costa absent; stridulatory area rather poorly defined, stridulatory vein rather thin, mirror quadrate, lacking internal venation; stridulatory file with teeth lamellar. Wing well developed, individuals fully capable of flight.

Abdomen. Tenth tergite with shallow, broadly U-shaped median incision. Cercus ( Figs 7B, C View FIGURE 7 ) with internal tooth prominent, elongate, with apical hook directed upwards, fully visible from above, apex acute. Base of titllators with membranous portion weakly tuberculate lateral membranous portions very weakly sclerotised, forming distinct swellings ( Fig. 6G View FIGURE 6 ). Subgenital plate relatively elongate, distinctly scoop-shaped, with deep V-shaped median incision, styles very elongate, about as long as one side of median incision.

Female. Differs from male in following characters. Size much larger, form more robust. Distal abdominal sternites each with a tubercle ( Fig. 6D View FIGURE 6 ) on each side; subgenital plate short and with a broad V-shaped median incision, base on each side with an undulating thin carina ( Fig. 6D View FIGURE 6 , arrow). Ovipositor ( Fig. 6B View FIGURE 6 ).

Coloration. General coloration of this species is more variable than in other Austrosalomona . Ventral surface with distinctive black markings on thorax and abdomen ( Fig. 6F View FIGURE 6 ). Some specimens have mottled green on legs and thorax ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ) whilst others are uniformly mottled grey and show no trace of greenish coloration ( Fig. 6B View FIGURE 6 ).

Song. The calling song ( Fig. 14B View FIGURE 14 ) comprises 2 bursts roughly separated by slightly less than a second and repeated continually unless disturbed. To the ear each “zick sounds like a single chirp but graphically it is actually 2 pluses.

Cytology. Specimen damaged.

Specimens examined: Paratypes. 20 O 20’S 148 O 50’ E Whitsunday Is., Long Is., Sandy Bay track, 26.ii.1997 ( DCF Rentz, Stop 22, 1 male; Cytol. Prep. 97-24; Song recorded S-1014, 1 female); same locality and data, (1 male, Cytol. Prep. 97-23; Song recorded S-1013). 20 O 23’S 148 O 52’ E Whitsunday Is., Long I., Palm Bay , 26.ii.1997 ( DCF Rentz, Stop 20, Cytol. Prep. 97-98; Song recorded S-1006). Whitsunday Is., Hamilton I., nr Catseye Beach, 21 m, 5.iv.2014 ( DCF Rentz, stop 11, 1 male, Cytol. prep.96-15; Song Recorded S-1135). Whitsunday Is., Daydream I., 19.x.1996 ( AME Roach, 1 male; Cytol. Prep. 96-13; Song recorded S-980). 16 O 34.125 ’S 145 O 30.200 ’E nr Mowbray, Capt. Cook Hwy, 8m, 14.iii.2016 ( DCF Rentz, B Richardson, Stop 13, 1 female) . Hartley’s Crocodile Far , north of Cairns, 2.ii.2012 (G. Watson, 1 female) . 16 O 55.798 ’S 145 O 59.415 ’ E Fitzroy I., nr Cairns , Resort area , 16m 5.v.2018 ( DCF Rentz , Stop 16, 1 female, collected as nymph, matured 1.ix.2018). 16 O 46’S 145 O 59’ E Green Is., 28km NE. of Cairns , QLD, 1.iv.1988 ( DCF Rentz , Stop A-38, 3 males, Cytol. Prep. 88-228, Cytol. Prep. 88-231, Song recorded S-635, Song recorded S-636). 17 O 53’S 146 O 09’ E Coconut Bay , Dunk Is , QLD, 16.iv.1990 ( DCF Rentz, A Lo, stop 19, 1 female, collected as nymph, matured 10.xii.2018). 17 O 53’S 146 O 09’ E Muggy Muggy Beach, Dunk Is, QLD, 16.iv.1990 ( DCF Rentz, A Lo, stop 18, 1 male) . Low I, N. Qld on Cay 15.viii.1954 (E.N. Marks, 1 female) .

Comments. A. poecila occurs within much of the geographic range of A. destructor but it is always less common than that species. Nymphs of the two species are difficult to distinguish, especially in the early stages. Adults of A. poecila are unmistakeable owing to the larger size, very different male and female genitalia and very different colour ( Fig. 6B View FIGURE 6 ). A. poecila has been found in tall grasses after dark where the related agraeciine Goodangarkia oedicephala Rentz, Su, Wilson also occurs.