Conocephalus semivittatus vittatus ( Redtenbacher, 1891 )

Hugel, Sylvain, 2009, Gryllacrididae and Tettigoniidae (Insecta, Orthoptera, Ensifera) from Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, Zoosystema 31 (3), pp. 525-576 : 561-562

Conocephalus semivittatus vittatus ( Redtenbacher, 1891)

( Figs 11C, G ; 17 )

Xiphidium vittatum Redtenbacher, 1891: 513 .

Xiphidium geniculare Redtenbacher, 1891: 527 (type locality: Indonesia, Maluku, Aru Islands). — Willemse 1925: 515.

Conocephalus semivittatus vittatus – Pitkin 1980: 338.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Conocephalus semivittatus vittatus : Indonesia. Aru Isl., Ribbe, ♂ lectotype ( BMNH). Not examined.

Xiphidium geniculare : Indonesia. Aru Isl., Ribbe, ♂ lectotype ( BMNH). Not examined.

TYPE LOCALITY. — Indonesia, Maluku, Aru Islands.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Vanuatu. (20 ♂♂, 17 ♀♀), Sanma Province, Espiritu Santo Isl., Butmas, piste entre camp et plateau Tankara, 600 m alt., jour, 9h00 am, herbes hautes en bord de piste, h= 50 cm en train de chanter, photo TR4, Exped. Santo 2006, 14.X.2006, coll. T. Robillard, 1 ♂ (TR-069 SH-075) ( MNHN- ENSIF2227). — Butmas, lisière proche du camp, nuit, 600 m alt., herbes hautes en bord de piste, c. 50 cm, Exped. Santo 2006, 14.X.2006, coll. T. Robillard, 1 ♂ (SH-076) (MNHN-ENSIF2228). — Butmas, grotte de Fapon, forêt dans doline, 15°19’51.6”S, 166°57’53.6”E, sur plante, jour, Exped. Santo 2006, 15.X.2006, coll. T. Robillard, 1 ♂ (TR-115 SH-079) (MNHN-ENSIF2231). — Butmas, camp, 600 m alt., Exped. Santo 2006, 17.X.2006, coll. T. Robillard, 1 ♂ (TR-158 SH-080) (MNHN-ENSIF2232). — Butmas, camp, 600 m alt., pelouse, zone herbacée, Exped. Santo 2006, 16.X.2006, coll.T. Robillard, 1 ♀ (TR-138 SH-078) (MNHN-ENSIF2230). — Butmas, 600 m alt., jour, pelouse/zone herbacée, Exped. Santo 2006, 16.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 2 ♂♂ (SH-086, SH-088) (MNHN-ENSIF2238, 2240). — Same locality and date, jour, enregistrement spn2, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♂ (SH-074) (MNHN-ENSIF2226). — Butmas, 600 m alt., pelouse, zone herbacée, Exped. Santo 2006, 16.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♀ (SH-101) (MNHN-ENSIF2253). — Same locality and date, enregistrement, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♂ (SH-106) (MNHN-ENSIF2258). — Butmas, 600 m alt., herbes hautes en bord de piste, Exped. Santo 2006, 16.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♀ (SH-096) ( MNHN- ENSIF2248).— Butmas, village, 600 m alt., pelouse, zone herbacée, de jour, Exped. Santo 2006, 13.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♂ (SH-084) (MNHN-ENSIF2236). — Same locality and date, Exped.Santo 2006, coll. S. Hugel, 5 ♀♀ (SH-093, SH-097, SH-103-105) (MNHN-ENSIF2245, 2249, 2255, 2256, 2257).

Chemin côtier entre Peavot et Pealulup, zone herbacée, Exped. Santo 2006, 24.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 5 ♂♂ (SH-083, SH-085, SH-087, SH-090, SH-091), 1 ♀ (SH-092) (MNHN-ENSIF2235, 2237, 2239, 2242, 2243, 2244).

Peavot, 14°59’37”S, 166°47’04”E, 38 m alt., clairière dans forêt secondaire sur ancien jardin, enregistrement spn1, Exped. Santo 2006, 20.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♂ (SH-073) (MNHN-ENSIF2225). — Peavot, 14°59’09”S, 166°47’39”E, végétation arbustive en arrière de plage, nuit, Exped. Santo 2006, 24.X.2006, coll. L. Desutter-Grandcolas, 1 ♂ (SH-081) ( MNHN- ENSIF2233). — Peavot, 14°59’09”S, 166°47’39”E, pelouse, zone herbacée, enregistrement spn2, Exped. Santo 2006, 20.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♂ (SH-082) (MNHN-ENSIF2234).— Same locality and date, Exped. Santo 2006, coll. S. Hugel, 2 ♀♀ (SH-098, SH-099) (MNHN-ENSIF2250, 2251).

Big Bay, Matantas, prox. grotte, forêt secondaire, clairière, Exped. Santo 2006, 27.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♀ (SH- 100) (MNHN-ENSIF2252).— Big Bay, Matantas,Vatthé Conservation area, 15°20’S, 166°95’E, enregistrement, Exped. Santo 2006, 27.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♂ (SH-071) (MNHN-ENSIF2223).

Village de Kole, Loru protected area, végétation bord de chemin, jour, Exped. Santo 2006, 28.X.2006, coll. L. Desutter-Grandcolas, 1 ♀ (SH-077) ( MNHN- ENSIF2229).

Natawa, clairière en forêt pâturée, 15°19’29”S, 167°12’09”E, jour, Exped. Santo 2006, 29.X.2006, coll. L. Desutter-Grandcolas, 1 ♀ (SH-107) ( MNHN- ENSIF2259). — Same locality and date, enregistrement, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♂ (SH-072) (MNHN-ENSIF2224). — Natawa, clairière en forêt paturée, herbes basses, Exped. Santo 2006, 29.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, jour, 1 ♀ (SH-095) (MNHN-ENSIF2247).

Funafus, 15°32’46.4”S, 167°00’46”E, jour, Exped. Santo 2006, 30.X.2006, coll. S. Hugel, 1 ♂ (SH-089), 2 ♀♀ (SH-094, SH-102) (MNHN-ENSIF2241, 2246, 2254).

DISTRIBUTION. — Widely distributed in the Melanesian area. Already known from Espiritu Santo ( Willemse 1925 as Xiphidion geniculare ).

HABITAT AND LIFE HISTORY TRAITS. — We recorded this species in open anthropized areas (pasturelands, road sides) as well as small clearings of both low and mid-altitude (0-600 m).

DESCRIPTION COMPLEMENT

Stridulatory file with 45 teeth unevenly spaced along the length of the file, being closer together at the distal end, proximal and distal teeth small and lamellar, median teeth wider and knob-shaped; with numerous spinules on both sides of the file ( Fig. 11C ).

CALLING SONG ( FIG. 17 )

Males call during both night and day. The echemesequence of C. semivittatus vittatus call has two repeating distinct parts: a series of individual short syllables, alternated with a train of continuous buzz. The echeme-sequence has an average duration of 6.5 ± 0.7 s (min: 2.3; max: 14.1). Th e duration of the individual syllables series is 0.55 ± 0.53 s (min: 0.11; max: 2.25) and the rate of syllables is 18.99 ± 4.27/s (min: 14.02; max:25.10). Th e duration of the buzz train is 1.18 ± 0.85 s (min: 0.10; max: 2.71) and the rate is 66.14 ± 15.76/s (min: 44.80; max: 78.81). Studio-recorded specimens grouped (males and females) in the same container have displayed a modified call pattern, with repeated short buzz trains (duration: 139 ± 26 ms, min: 72, max: 171; rate: 52.69 ± 10.08/s, min:42.06, max:65.39) alternated with short series (duration: 210 ± 71 ms, min: 131, max: 329) of short syllables ( Fig. 17C ); this song might correspond to rivalry and/or courtship song. The calling frequency first harmonic peaks between 18.5-22.5 kHz). Six specimens have been recorded.

Figures

FIG. 11. — A-E, SEM pictures of stridulatory files; F-H, right femur III in side views;A, Phaneroptera gracilis Burmeister, 1838; B, H, Conocephalus upoluensis (Karny,1907);C, G, C. semivittatus vittatus (Redtenbacher, 1891); D, F, C. oceanicus (Le Guillou, 1841);E, Pseudorhynchus lessonii Serville,1838.Scale bars:A-E, 100 μm; F-H, 10 mm.

FIG. 17. — Calling song of Conocephalus semivittatus vittatus (Redtenbacher, 1891): A, specimen MNHN-ENSIF2226, 11H00, 25°C, recorded in situ; B, specimen MNHN-ENSIF2224, 12H30, 30.6°C, recorded in situ; C, specimen MNHN-ENSIF2234, 15H00, 29°C, recorded in studio with other male and female specimens.