Catoptropteryx aurita Huxley, 1970

Naskrecki, Piotr & Guta, Ricardo, 2019, Katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) of Gorongosa National Park and Central Mozambique, Zootaxa 4682 (1), pp. 1-119 : 76

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) .

Figures

FIGURE 33. Mozambican Phaneropterinae: A. Corymeta amplectens, male abdominal apex, dorsal view; B. ditto, male abdominal apex, lateral view; C. ditto, male lateral; D. ditto, ovipositor; E. Catoptropteryx aurita, ovipositor; F. ditto, male abdominal apex, latral view; G. ditto, male lateral; H. Materuana eriki, male abdominal apex, lateral view; I. ditto, male abdominal apex, dorsal view; J. ditto, male lateral; K. Melidia brunneri, male abdominal apex, dorsal view; L. ditto, male lateral; M. ditto, ovipositor.

FIGURE 53. Oscillograms and power spectra of Mozambican Phaneropterinae: A–C. Melidia brunneri; D–F. Catoptropteryx aurita; G–I. Plangia graminea; J–L. P. satiscaerulea.