Horatosphaga heteromorpha (Karsch, 1888)

Hemp, Claudia, 2013, Annotated list of Ensifera (Orthoptera) and further records on Caelifera (Orthoptera) of Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Zootaxa 3613 (4), pp. 301-342 : 323

Horatosphaga heteromorpha (Karsch, 1888)

( Fig. 9 C, D)

Distribution. Tanzania (Brunner v. Wattenwyl 1891); Kenya, Ethiopia (Uvarov 1934); Somalia (Ragge 1960). Described from Mt Kilimanjaro by Brunner v. Wattenwyl (1891) as Plegmatoptera hoehneli and recorded again by Sjöstedt (1909).

Ecology and biology. Adults in January, April, November (Sjöstedt 1909). In submontane and montane elevations only present during the warm period of the year from about November (nymphs) to about April. In savanna habitats present all through the year, depending on amount of precipitation.

Habitat. Plantation belt, savanna grassland (Sjöstedt 1909). Hemp C. 2005. Very common species from savanna grass- and bushlands, in Hyparrhenia grasslands and grassy patches within banana-coffee plantations of the submontane zone, Bulbostylis grasslands, forest edge and forest clearings in the montane zone. On North Kilimanjaro also found in afroalpine tussock grasslands.

Song. Very distinctive song consisting of two parts. The first part is a continuous row of syllables getting gradually louder, the second part consists of two metallic click sounds. Horatosphaga heteromorpha males perform their song at night changing their position frequently.

Altitudinal range at Mt Kilimanjaro: 1800 m (Sjöstedt 1909); 900–1000– 1700–2600 m.

In Ethiopia found in altitudes of 1800 m and 2100 m (Uvarov 1934). On Mt Meru seen to altitudes of about 2100 m (Ragge 1960) and 2500 m.

Records: 163

Figures

FIGURE 9. Phaneropterinae species of Kilimanjaro, Acrometopini A, B. Altihoratosphaga montivaga (Sjöstedt), western slopes, Lerongo, 1500 m, male (A) and female (B) C, D. Horatosphaga heteromorpha (Karsch), grassy patches in plantation belt southern slopes, 1430 m, male (C) and female (D) E, F. Horatosphaga meruensis (Sjöstedt), western slopes, savanna grasslands, 1300 m, male (E) and female (F) G. Male Lamecosoma inermis Ragge, savanna grasslands, eastern slopes, 1000 m H, I. Peronura clavigera Karsch, eastern slopes, savanna grasslands on herbs, male (H) and female (I).