Neoconocephalus affinis (Palisot de Beauvois, 1805)

Piotr Naskrecki, 2000, Katydids of Costa Rica / Vol. 1, Systematics and bioacoustics of the cone-head katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae sensu lato)., Philadelphia, PA: The Orthopterists Society at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, : 55-57

Neoconocephalus affinis (Palisot de Beauvois, 1805)

Figs. 12 A-E, 44A-B, 45A, 56A-B, Map 7

1805 Palisot de Beauvois, Ins. rec. Afr. Amer., Orthopt.: 219, pl. 7, fig. 5 >> Locusta ; type locality: Hispaniola, San Domingo; type lost?

1906 Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth. 2: 251 >> Conocephaloides ; syn. of maxillosus

1912 Karny, in Wytsman, Gen. Ins. 139: 60

>> Neoconocephalus ; as syn. of maxillosus

1999 Naskrecki and Otte, Illustr. Cat. Orthop. I (CD ROM) >>illustrated

[syn.] aztecus = 1898 Saussure and Pictet, Biol. Centr. Amer. Orth. 1: 389, 391; Type locality: CA / Mexico: Tabasco, Teapa >> Conocephalus

1906 Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth. 2: 243 >> Conocephaloides

1912 Karny, in Wytsman, Gen. Ins. 139: 31

>> Neoconocephalus

1983 Walker and Greenfield, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 109: 365 >>Syn. of Neoconocephalus affinis (Beauvois 1805) ; from Conocephalus

[syn.] crassus = 1881 Bolivar, An. Soc. Espan. x: 49; type locality: Ecuador: Baeza >> Conocephaloides

1906 Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth. 2: 242 >> Conocephaloides

1907 Karny, Abh. Zool.-bot. Ges. Wien 4(3): 31 >> Conocephalus (Neoconocephalus)

1912 Karny, in Wytsman, Gen. Ins. 139: 30 >> Neoconocephalus

1924 Hebard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 76: 223

1926 Hebard, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 52: 338 >>Syn. of affinis

[syn.] guttatus = 1839 Serville, Hist. nat. Ins., Orthopt.: 518; type locality: Cuba >> Conocephalus

1906 Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth. 2: 242 >> Conocephaloides

1912 Karny, in Wytsman, Gen. Ins. 139: 30 >> Neoconocephalus

1914 Caudell, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 47: 493 >>Attributes authorship to Walker; in Dominica

1926 Hebard, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 52: 337 >>Syn. of affinis

[syn.] nigropunctatus = 1891 Redtenbacher, Monografie der Conocephaliden 1891: 380, 391; type locality: Guiana; Surinam etc. >> Conocephalus

1906 Kirby, Syn. Cat. Orth. 2: 242 >> Conocephaloides

1912 Karny, in Wytsman, Gen. Ins. 139: 30 >> Neoconocephalus

1924 Hebard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 76: 223 >>Syn. of affinis

Diagnostic description.— General characteristics as described above. Stridulatory file of male 2.8-3.5 mm long, with 129-151 lamelliform teeth, maximum width of file 0.21-0.22 mm; teeth of file uniform in thickness, evenly spaced and smoothly narrowing towards proximal end ( Figs. 44 A-B). Mirror of stridulatory apparatus with distal margin straight, and caudal and proximal margins rounded ( Fig. 45 A). Fastigium of vertex separated from fastigium of frons by gap, usually with rounded but narrow and prominent tooth underneath ( Fig. 12 C); frontal portion of fastigium with narrow, contrasting white band, accompanied by black band below; sometimes entire ventral portion of fastigium black ( Fig. 12 B).

Mid femur with 3-4 small spines on anterior ventral margin, often accompanied by small, black spots at their bases. Hind tibia in green individuals usually contrastingly dark brown. Mandibles and labrum orange, clypeus green or yellowish, rest of face uniformly green or brown, depending on general coloration.

Ovipositor as long as hind femur (ratio ovipositor/ hind femur 0.92-1.06), straight.

Measurements.— Table 7 .

Bioacoustics.— The call of N. affinis constitutes lengthy (30 s to 20 minutes) bouts of continuous rattling ( Figs. 56 A-B). Walker and Greenfield (1983) calculated the wingstroke rate of singing males from Panamanian populations at 13.6±0.4 wingstrokes/s at 25°C. The length of individual chirps at the beginning of a bout (the first second of the call) is much shorter than during the remainder of the call: 14.6-27.8 ms (21.9±3.1) versus 32.6-46.8 ms (39.9±6.2) (n=30; specimens from La Selva, Costa Rica). Males form loosely synchronized choruses ( Greenfield 1983). Most of the calling activity occurs 1-4 hours after sunset but individual males may sing during the day, especially in shaded habitats (e.g. part of Sendero Tres Rios at La Selva Biological Station). The bouts of males singing during the day are short, not exceeding 5-10 seconds.

Maximum energy of the call is located between 10 and 14 kHz. The call is loud and has an ear piercing quality, especially when listened to from a distance of 1 m or less. Greenfield (1983) measured its intensity at 98 dB at 10 cm from the singing insect.

Distribution.— This species has a wide distribution, from Nicaragua through Costa Rica and Panama to Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. It has also been recorded from Caribbean islands of Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Cuba, Hispaniola, Nevis, Grenada, and Trinidad, as well as Florida Keys. In Costa Rica it is the most common species of Neoconocephalus (and probably the most common species of Tettigoniidae altogether), found in a variety of open, semi-open or even forest habitats all over the country ( Map 7 ).

Material examined.— COSTA RICA: Alajuela Prov., Estac. San Ramón Oeste, elev. 620 m, 19 April 1994 (coll. F. Quesada) - 1 male ( INBio); Puesto Quebradón, elev. 300 m, 1 - 30 April 1997 (coll. G. Rodríguez) - 1 female ( INBio); same locality, elev. 300 m, 1 - 31 August 1997 (coll. G. Rodríguez) - 1 female ( INBio); Sect. San Ramón de Dos Rios, elev. 620 m, 18 March - 13 April 1995 (coll. F.A. Quesada) - 1 male ( INBio); Sector Colonia Palmareña, 9 km SO de Bajo Rodríguez, elev. 700 m, 1 - 31 May 1997 (coll. G. Carballo) - 1 male ( INBio); Zona Protectora de Arenal, Pocosol, 10 - 16 February 1994 (coll. P. Naskrecki) - 2 males, 3 females ( PN collection); Cartago Prov., 2 mi SE Turrialba (grounds of Inst. Interamer. de Sci. Agricolas), 29 - 30 September 1961 (coll. Hubbell, Cantrall, Cohn) - 2 males ( UMMZ); same locality, 1 - 3 October 1961 (coll. Hubbell, Cantrall, Cohn) - 1 male ( UMMZ); Grano de Oro, Chirripó, Turrialba, elev. 1120 m, 15 October 1992 (coll. J.C. Saborio) - 1 female ( INBio); Grano de Oro, Chirripó, Turrialba, A.C. Amistad, elev. 1120 m, 30 June 1993 (coll. P. Campos) - 1 female ( INBio); Turrialba, 6 June 1951 (coll. O.L. Cartwright) - 1 male ( USNM); same locality, 17 March 1965 (coll. S.S. and W.D. Duckworth) - 2 females ( USNM); same locality, 19 July 1965 (coll. P.J. Spangler) - 1 male ( USNM); Guanacaste Prov., 2.7 mi. NE La Cruz on Pa. Amer. Hwy., 27 September 1961 (coll.

Hubbell, Cantrall, Cohn) - 1 male ( UMMZ); 9 mi N Cañas on Río Tenorio, Finca La Pacifica, elev. 40 m, 3 - 10 February 1969 (coll. D.C. Rentz) - 1 female ( ANIC); La Pacifica, 4 km NW Cañas, 2 March 1971 (coll. P.A. Opler) - 1 male ( EMEC); Heredia Prov., Braulio Carillo N. P., Estac. El Ceibo, elev. 400 - 600 m, 15 March 1990 (coll. C. Chaves) - 1 female ( INBio); Finca Naranjo Valenciana, 2 km S Pueblo Nuevo, Sarapiquí, elev. 90 m, 4 - 31 January 1993 (coll. M. Ortiz) - 3 males, 1 female ( INBio); Puerto Viejo, 6 April 1969 (coll. D.C.F. Rentz) - 1 male ( ANIC); Puerto Viejo, Finca La Selva, 16 July 1973 (coll. D.C. Rentz and K.R. Brodey) - 4 males ( ANIC); Puerto Viejo, Finca La Selva, on Río Puerto Viejo, 3 April 1969 (coll. D.C. Rentz) - 1 male ( ANIC); same locality, 16 January 1975 (coll. D.C. Rentz) - 6 males ( ANIC); Puerto Viejo, La Selva Biological Station, elev. 50 - 150 m, 10° 26' N, 84° 1' W, 17 - 22 February 1994 (coll. P. Naskrecki) - 1 female (, PN collection); same locality, 1 - 4 April 1994 (coll. P. Naskrecki) - 6 males, 7 females ( PN collection); same locality, 30 November 1995 (coll. P. Naskrecki) - 1 male, 1 female ( PN collection); Sarapiquí, Puerto Viejo, La Selva Biological Station, elev. 50 - 150 m, 10° 26' N, 84° 1' W, 8 March 1967 (coll. H.R. and E.H. Roberts et al.) - 6 males, 3 females ( ANSP); Limón Prov., Guápiles, 26 February 1903 – 1 male ( UNSM); Amubri, Talamanca, elev. 70 m, 16 - 31 August 1992 (coll. G. Gallardo) - 1 female ( INBio); same locality, elev. 70 m, 26 January 1993 (coll. G. Gallardo) - 1 male ( INBio); same locality, elev. 70 m, 31 October 1993 (coll. G. Gallardo) - 1 female ( INBio); Estac. Cuatro Esquinas, Tortuguero N. P., 15 June 1990 (coll. J. Solano) - 1 male, 1 female ( INBio); Estac. Hitoy-Cerere Res. Biol. Hitoy Cerere, Río Cerere, elev. 200 m, 15 November 1990 (coll. G. Carballo) - 1 male ( INBio); same locality, elev. 100 m, 15 June 1991 (coll. A. Moreno) - 1 female ( INBio); same locality, elev. 100 m, 20 December 1991 (coll. G. Carballo) - 1 female ( INBio); same locality, elev. 100 m, 26 January 1992 (coll. G. Carballo) - 1 male ( INBio); same locality, elev. 100 m, 15 December 1992 (coll. G. Carballo) - 1 male ( INBio); same locality, elev. 200 m, 16 September 1993 (coll. G. Carballo) - 1 female ( INBio); same locality, elev. 200 m, 15 November 1993 (coll. G. Carballo) - 1 male ( INBio); Manzanillo, RNFS Gandoca y Manzanillo, elev. 0 - 100 m, 27 January 1993 (coll. F.A. Quesada) - 1 female ( INBio); R.B. Hitoy Cerere, Valle La Estrella, elev. 100 m, 27 February 1993 (coll. G. Carballo) - 1 female ( INBio); Río Sardinas, R.N.F.S. Barra del Colorado, elev. 10 m, 25 August 1992 (coll. F. Araya) - 1 female ( INBio); same locality, elev. 50 m, 24 April 1993 (coll. F. Araya) - 1 female ( INBio); same locality, 12 November 1993 (coll. F. Araya) - 1 female ( INBio); Puntarenas Prov., 4 km NW of San Vito de Java (jct. of road and Río Java), elev. 914.4 m, 20 January 1967 (coll. I.J. Cantrall) - 1 male ( UMMZ); Corcovado N. P., Península de Osa, 22 March 1979 (coll. D.H. Janzen) - 1 male ( INBio); Estac. Aguias, Río Agujas, Sendero Purruja, elev. 300 m, 1 - 6 September 1997 (coll. A. Azofeifa) - 1 female ( INBio); Estac. Agujas, Sendero Zamia, elev. 300 m, 11 - 27 July 1996 (coll. A. Azofeifa) - 1 female ( INBio); Estac. Quebrada Bonita, Res. Biol. Carara, elev. 50 m, 15 February 1994 (coll. R. Guzmán) - 1 female ( INBio); Estac. Quebrada Bonita, R.B. Carara, elev. 50 m, 15 February 1994 (coll. J. Saborio) - 1 female ( INBio); Finca Las Cruces (OTS, 2 km S San Vito), elev. 1219.2 m, 15 March 1973 (coll. D.C. Rentz) - 1 male ( ANIC); P. N. Manuel Antonio, Quepos, elev. 80 m, 15 July 1991 (coll. R. Zuniga) - 1 female ( INBio); same locality, elev. 80 m, 15 October 1992 (coll. R. Zuniga) - 1 male ( INBio); Península de Osa, 3.5 mi. S Rincón, 8° 42' N, 83° 29' W, 12 March 1969 (coll. D.C.F. Rentz) - 1 female ( ANIC); Península de Osa, Corcovado N. P. , elev. 10 - 100 m, 7 July 1977 (coll. D.H. Janzen) - 1 male, 1 female ( INBio); same locality, elev. 10 - 100 m, 23 March 1978 (coll. D.H. Janzen) - 1 female ( INBio); Península de Osa, Estac. Esquinas , elev. 200 m, 15 August 1993 (coll. M. Segura) - 1 male, 1 female ( INBio); Penisula de Osa, Rancho Quemado , elev. 200 m, 27 January 1992 (coll. A. Marín) - 1 male ( INBio); same locality, elev. 200 m, 31 March 1992 (coll. A. Marín) - 1 male ( INBio); same locality, elev. 200 m, 15 September 1992 (coll. A. Marín) - 1 male ( INBio); same locality, elev. 200 m, 8 - 28 October 1993 (coll. A. Marín) - 1 male, 2 females ( INBio); same locality, elev. 200 m, 20 December 1993 (coll. A. Marín) - 1 female ( INBio); Rancho Quemado Península de Osa, elev. 200 m, 15 October 1990 (coll. F. Quesada) - 1 female ( INBio); same locality, elev. 200 m, 15 December 1990 (coll. F. Quesada) - 1 female ( INBio); Rancho Quemado, Península de Osa, elev. 200 m, 31 March 1993 (coll. A. Gutiérrez) - 1 female ( INBio); Rincón de Osa, 7 March 1969 (coll. D.C. Rentz) - 1 male ( ANIC); San Vito, 13 February 1970 (coll. M. Kosztarab) - 1 male ( USNM); San Vito, 2 km S San Vito, Finca Las Cruces, elev. 1219.2 m, 8° 42' N, 83° 0' W, 14 March 1969 (coll. D.C. Rentz) - 1 female ( ANIC); Sirena, Corcovado N.P., elev. 0 - 100 m, 10 - 25 August 1992 (coll. A. Gutiérrez) - 1 female ( INBio); Valle de Coto Brus, Las Cruces, Wilson Botanical Gardens, elev. 700 - 1000 m, 1 - 6 December 1995 (coll. P. Naskrecki) - 1 male, 1 female ( PN collection); Vuelta Campana, R. Térraba, Rey Curré, elev. 100 - 500 m, 1 - 31 March 1993 (coll. S. Rojas) - 1 male ( INBio).

Figures

FIG. 12. Neoconocephalus affinis. A. male - habitus, B. head fastigia, lateral view, C. head fastigia, frontal view, D. male cerci, dorsal view, E. male head and pronotum, dorsal view.

FIG. 44. Stridulatory files of Costa Rican species of Neoconocephalus. A. N. affinis, B. ditto, enlarged fragment, C. N. triops, enlarged fragment, D. ditto, entire file, E. N. punctipes, entire file, F. ditto, enlarged fragment, G. N. cf. spiza, enlarged fragment, H. ditto, entire file.

FIG. 45. Stridulatory areas of Costa Rican species of Neoconocephalus, dorsal views, left and right sides. A. N. affinis, B. N. triops, C. N. punctipes, D. N. spiza.

FIG. 56. Oscillograms of male airborne calls and substrate tremulations of species of Neoconocephalus. A. N. affinis, B. ditto, 0.5 s fragment, C. N. punctipes, D. ditto, 0.5 s fragment, E. N. cf. spiza (Costa Rica, Heredia Prov., Las Selva Biol. Sta.), F. ditto, 0.5 s fragment, G. N. spiza (Panama, Gamboa).

MAPS 7 - 12. Distribution of species of Conocephalinae s. l. in Costa Rica. 7. Neoconocephalus affinis, N. triops, 8. Neoconocephalus punctipes, N. cf. spiza, 9. Bucrates capitatus, B. clausus, Metacaputus brenesi, 10. Pyrgocorypha rogersi, P. hamata, 11. Caulopsis cuspidata, C. microprora, 12. Moncheca elegans, M. pretiosa, Vestria punctata.

Tables

TABLE 7. Body measurements of species of Neoconocephalus (all measurements are lengths in mm: range, mean ± SD)

Species	Body with wings	Tegmen	Pronotum	Hind femur	Ovipositor
affinis male female	42.6-62, 50.3±8 54.8-67.1, 62.1±5.1	33.4-50.4, 40.2±6.9 46.0-55.5, 51.4±4	7.2-9, 8±0.8 7.5-8.6, 8.2±0.4	18.8-28.9, 23.5±3.8 25.4-31.5, 29.0±2.4	na 26.9-31.5, 29±1.7
triops male female	50.6-57.9, 54.4±2.7 65.5-62.2, 65.9±0.5	41.7-48.1, 44.4±2.3 54-54.3, 54.2±0.2	7.9-9.4, 8.7±0.5 9.1-9.6, 9.4±0.4	23.1-25.8, 24.8±1.2 29-29.2, 29.1±0.1	na 31.3-32.8, 32.1±1.1
punctipes male female	42.5-48.5, 45.9±2.2 49.3-63, 55.9±5.6	33.9-46.3, 37.6±3.8 40-52.1, 45.5±5.2	6.9-8.1, 7.4±0.4 7-8.8, 7.8±0.7	19.1-22, 20.5±1.1 20.4-28, 24.1±3.1	na 22.1-28, 25±2.3
spiza male female	48.2-52.1, 50.5±1.6 63.4-67.3, 64.8±2.1	39.8-42.1, 40.6±1 50.6-54, 51.9±1.9	8-8.4, 8.2±0.2 8.1-9, 8.6±0.5	22.4-24.5, 23.4±0.8 27.1-29.5, 27.9±1.4	na 30.6-34.2, 32.6±1.8