Knowledge of the natural history of Neotropical mantids remains limited, and detailed biological information is lacking for most species. Here, we provide the first comprehensive account of the biology, morphology, chromatic polymorphism, development, and potential distribution of Musonia margheritae based primarily on material and observations from Ecuador, where the species inhabits arid ecosystems along the western slopes of the Andes. Our study reveals marked sexual differences in adult lifespan under laboratory conditions, with females living nearly twice as long as males, likely reflecting the energetic demands of ootheca production and prolonged foraging. We document key morphological traits and phenotypic variation relevant to the species’ ecology and taxonomy and present the first high-resolution photographic documentation of male and female genitalia for the species, including the first illustration of female genitalic structures. Coloration analyses show pronounced chromatic polymorphism in females and more uniform coloration in males. We propose that this polymorphism is associated with ecological and behavioral factors linked to crypsis in heterogeneous environments, particularly in apterous individuals (adult females and immatures) that rely heavily on substrate matching. A female with atypical green pigmentation recorded during the rainy season is consistent with developmental plasticity in coloration under seasonally variable conditions. Our ecological niche model indicates that M. margheritae occupies arid and seasonally dry habitats from sea level to 2000 m a.s.l. between central Ecuador and northern Chile; although the model overpredicts suitable areas, precipitation seasonality emerged as the primary predictor of habitat suitability. Overall, this study provides the most complete dataset currently available for M. margheritae in Ecuador and establishes a foundation for future research on this species and other understudied Neotropical mantids.
Sexual anomalies, particularly gynandromorphism and intersexuality, have been documented across a wide range of invertebrate groups including insects. This study reports the first record of gynandromorphism in a phalangopsid cricket, Endecous (Notendecous) potiguar. A detailed morphological characterization of the anomalous specimen is provided, with its traits compared to those of conspecific males and females collected concurrently from the same cave in which the anomalous individual was discovered. The specimen displays a striking mosaic of male and female features, including a malformed phallic complex and ovipositor. Beyond documenting this rare condition, these findings may provide a foundation for future investigations into the evolution, homology, and ontogeny of sexual traits particularly within crickets.
Iran, the world's 18th-largest country, harbors a wide range of habitats and a rich diversity of Mantodea. The genus Rivetina Berland & Chopard, 1922 is represented in Iran by several morphologically similar ground-dwelling species. Here, we describe Rivetina archibaldi sp. nov. from the Zagros oak forests of Lorestan Province, western Iran. The new species is diagnosed based on external morphology and male genital structures and is compared with congeners occurring in Iran and Iraq. A dichotomous key to the Iranian species of Rivetina is also provided. tations oration beneath pair Schwarz subspecies Kolnegari
Autotomy enables orthopteran species to escape from predators but imposes costs on escape speed and mating success. In the band-legged ground cricket Dianemobius fascipes nigrofasciatus, we attempted to measure the autotomy time of the forelimbs, middle limbs, and hind limbs to understand whether limb position affects autotomy speed, a critical factor of escape success from predators. All limb types, including the second forelimb, were autotomized almost instantaneously under direct observation. We also examined how female forelimb autotomy affects mating success, egg number, and hatching rate among three groups: intact females, females with a single forelimb autotomized, and females with both forelimbs autotomized. Each female was paired with an intact male, and we assessed mating success based on whether any of the laid eggs hatched. We also measured the total number of eggs laid and the hatching rate among treatment groups. Females with intact forelimbs showed the highest mating success, whereas females with both forelimbs autotomized showed the lowest. Egg number did not differ significantly among treatments, although the estimated mean was highest in the single forelimb autotomy group and lowest in the double forelimb autotomy group. Hatching rate, reanalyzed using only females that produced at least one hatched egg, was significantly lower in the double forelimb autotomy group than in the other groups. These findings highlight the importance of forelimbs in cricket reproduction, probably through their roles in maintaining mating posture and, possibly, in auditory perception.
The first monkey hopper (Orthoptera: Eumastacoidea) from Eocene Baltic amber (ca. 49–44 Ma) is described based on a well-preserved male specimen. Baltoparalethus alessioboninoi gen. et sp. nov. is tentatively assigned to the family Episactidae: subfamily Episactinae. The new taxon extends the age of Episactidae back by about 25 Ma, providing important new insights into their geographic distribution in deep time as well as the evolutionary chronology of Eumastacoidea.
A new species of cave cricket, Dolichopoda balrogi sp. nov., is described from the Greek island of Kastellorizo (Dodecanese, Levantine Sea). The species is documented from artificial subterranean habitats, as no accessible natural caves are known on the island. Detailed morphological analysis of both sexes reveals a unique combination of characters, including the structure of the male epiphallus, the shape of the tenth tergite, the presence of styli on the male subgenital plate, and the morphology of the female ovipositor, which clearly differentiate it from all known congeners. Comparative morphology indicates strong affinities with Anatolian species of Dolichopoda, particularly D. sbordonii and D. lycia, and no close relationship with the Aegean species complex occurring on islands of East Aegean and the adjacent Anatolian coast. These affinities are further supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses inferred from DNA barcoding. Both Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses consistently recover the Kastellorizo lineage as a distinct and well-supported clade nested within the southwestern Anatolian lineage of the genus. The discovery of D. balrogi sp. nov. represents the first documented occurrence of an Anatolian lineage of Dolichopoda within European territory, underscoring the unique biogeographical character of Kastellorizo as a Greek territory with pronounced Anatolian biogeographical affinities. This finding emphasizes the importance of integrated morphological and molecular approaches in resolving species boundaries and evolutionary relationships and contributes to the growing evidence of underestimated biodiversity in the eastern Mediterranean region.
Mantises predominantly prey on invertebrates but occasionally also on small vertebrates. We describe the distributions of the three Polyspilota species (Mantodea: Mantidae) that occur in South Africa, based on 466 specimen records from local and international museum collections as well as citizen science observations on iNaturalist. Polyspilota species are widespread along the subtropical eastern coastal and northern regions of South Africa. We report a novel feeding strategy for Polyspilota aeruginosa (Goeze, 1778) in which a late-instar nymph consumed a terrestrial snail in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We additionally confirm similar feeding behavior in a captive female of the same species. Citizen scientist observations on iNaturalist have also recorded more than one Polyspilota species feeding on mollusks in South Africa, suggesting that terrestrial gastropod predation may be more common within this genus. An incidental observation of P. aeruginosa consuming a gecko further illustrates the trophic opportunism of this species. Feeding on snails may be related to the abundance of this resource within the combined range of the South African Polyspilota species, which lies in coastal areas and low-altitude regions with high atmospheric humidity.
Orthoptera species distribution ranges are dynamically shifting because of climate change. This article documents the expansion of the short-winged grasshopper Pezotettix giornae in Western and Central Europe between 1990 and 2024. Published records from Central Europe (Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic) are supplemented with data from public databases and targeted field surveys, particularly in southeastern Moravia and the Burda Hills region of southern Slovakia. Whereas P. giornae was previously abundant mainly in the Mediterranean reaching northwards into central Hungary, its range has gradually shifted northward over the past 30 years, now reaching central France, Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, with single individuals transported to northern France, northern Switzerland, central Germany, and the Netherlands. The increase in abundance and the number of newly recorded localities indicate the dynamic spread of this species despite its inability to fly. This expansion is facilitated by climate warming, the species’ ability to colonize ruderal and successional habitats, and passive dispersal via transportation, particularly along road and railway corridors. The case of P. giornae demonstrates that even brachypterous species with limited dispersal ability can undergo significant range shifts. This trend has important implications for ecological modeling and the prediction of future species distributions and biodiversity conservation strategies in the changing European landscape.
Grasshoppers are one of the most dominant and diversified groups in terrestrial ecosystems, of which they are potential bioindicators. In West-Central Africa and the Congo basin, the Acridomorpha fauna is dominated by Acrididae, Pyrgomorphidae, Thericleidae, and Ixalidiidae. This biodiversity is still understudied. The current study compared the grasshopper communities of four vegetation types in the Bangou district: crop field, fallowland, forest, and bare soil. Grasshoppers were sampled using sweep netting and identified in the laboratory using appropriate keys. The species composition was analyzed using several statistical indices: species richness, abundance and abundance distribution model, frequency of occurrence, diversity and similarity, SIMPER, and IndVal. A total of 48 species and 10 subfamilies from three families—Acrididae, Thericleidae, and Pyrgomorphidae—were recorded. Crop field and fallowland hosted the highest grasshopper richness and abundance, while forest and bare soil showed few taxa. Chrotogonus homalodemus served as a specialist or bioindicator of bare soil, whereas four species—Parapterotiltus minimoides, Pterotiltus coeruleocephalus, Parepistaurus sp., and Thericles sp.—indicated forest land. Polyculture enhances plant-resource diversity and expands ecological niches, allowing most generalist species to occur while only a few become rare or highly dominant. Overall, both the number and proportion of generalist species increased markedly with land-use intensification, while rare species occurred in lower proportions in the most disturbed habitats. In the Bangou district, habitat disturbance has increased pest activities of some taxa such as Eyprepocnemis plorans or Catantops melanostictus, whereas other threatened species (e.g., Parapetasia rammei and P. minimoides) were confined to the remaining forest patches, emphasizing the need for sustainable land management.
The endemic species Barbitistes vicetinus (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae) is a flightless bush-cricket that is recognized as a pest in certain hilly areas of northeastern Italy. Under favorable conditions, its population can increase to outbreak levels, causing severe damage to broadleaf trees and crops, particularly vineyards and olive groves. Current population management methods rely on insecticide sprays; however, environmentally compatible chemical control options are still to be evaluated. In this study, we compared the effects of six active ingredients, representative of both conventional and organic insecticides, through field and laboratory trials; we also assessed the impact of different dosages for selected compounds. Vine shoots were sleeved and nymph and adult bush-crickets were caged before the application. Among the active ingredients tested, spinosad and deltamethrin were effective in killing bush-crickets under all experimental conditions. Doses as low as one-fourth of the standard deltamethrin application rate resulted in adult mortality levels comparable to those observed with the full dose. Pyrethrins exhibited moderate insecticidal activity, with enhanced effectiveness at double the standard dose against both nymphs and adults. High adult mortality was observed seven days after treatment with the fungal entomopathogens Metarhizium anisopliae and Metarhizium acridum. These data provide valid support for updating the guidelines aimed at controlling B. vicetinus for growers, landscape managers, and homeowners and can help guide future authorization processes for the tested active ingredients.
The praying mantid Tenodera sinensis (Saussure, 1871) is widely distributed and a popular species for studying many aspects of mantid biology. In this study, ten microsatellite loci were characterized both by hybridization capture from genomic DNA and by bioinformatic identification of tetranucleotide repeats from a draft genome. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 13, and heterozygosity ranged from 0.35 to 0.94. Allelic variation from a single locus was used to demonstrate multiple paternity in a wild clutch of T. sinensis.
The genus Trimerotropis Stål, 1873 (Orthoptera: Acrididae) is a speciose group of American grasshoppers, comprising 49 recognized species. Despite its diversity, published records of parasitoid associations with Trimerotropis are scarce, with only a single published record of a sarcophagid fly, Blaesoxipha (Acridiophaga) caridei (Brèthes, 1906) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), from T. ochraceipennis (Blanchard, 1851) in Chile. Here, we report two new hosts for B. (A.) angustifrons (Aldrich, 1916): T. melanoptera McNeill, 1901, in New Mexico, USA, and T. pallidipennis (Burmeister, 1838), in California, USA. The records are described herein, including illustrations and diagnostic characters of both hosts and their parasitoid fly. These findings significantly expand the known host range for this Nearctic parasitoid and contribute to the limited understanding of host–parasitoid dynamics in this ecologically important genus of grasshoppers.
Recent citizen science observations have documented the occurrence of the Asian mantid genus Odontomantis in Brazil, with records from the cities of Boa Vista (Roraima) and Manaus (Amazonas). This represents the first evidence of the genus in South America. All available data derive from photographic records provided by non-specialists, suggesting a recent introduction, although the introduction pathways and the role of human-mediated transport remain unknown. The presence of Odontomantis in urban environments raises questions regarding its ability to establish populations and its potential ecological effects. Urban habitats such as gardens, ornamental vegetation, and fragmented green areas may facilitate its persistence during early stages of colonization. Ecological similarities with native Neotropical mantids occupying comparable microhabitats suggest that interactions with local species could occur if the introduced populations expand beyond urban areas. The detection of Odontomantis in two geographically distant cities may indicate either multiple introduction events or early dispersal within Brazil. These findings highlight the importance of citizen science as an effective tool for detecting non-native invertebrates and underscore the need for continued monitoring to assess the distribution, habitat use, and potential ecological impact of Odontomantis in the Neotropics.
The observation of mating between species of different genera in field conditions is extremely rare. Here, we report an instance of heterospecific copulation between a male of the Nagy’s mountain grasshopper (Pseudopodisma nagyi) and a female of the green mountain grasshopper (Miramella alpina), which was observed in subalpine grasslands in the Veľká Fatra Mountains in central Slovakia. After being transferred to the laboratory, the female laid egg pods. This finding supports the hypothesis that the two species are closely related and suggests the need for a taxonomic revision within the tribe Podismini. If it occurs more often, reproductive interference may impact the viability of populations of both the green mountain grasshopper and Nagy’s mountain grasshopper populations wherever they are in contact. Further data are needed to test whether reproductive interference reduces the viability of their syntopic populations.
The Asian mantises Hierodula tenuidentata and Hierodula patellifera are known alien species rapidly spreading in the last few years in the Mediterranean and continental Europe, especially in urban and suburban habitats, although their invasive nature is debated. This study investigated the first set of impacts of these species on European ecosystems, measuring the prolificacy and reproductive potential with inferences on native mantises, the presence of positive and negative interactions with other species—both as prey and predators—and other peculiar behaviors leading to possible ecosystemic impacts. Laboratory data has shown high reproductive output, with H. tenuidentata hatching on average 209 nymphs per ootheca, about twice that of the native Mantis religiosa, and low cannibalism rates during first instars, supporting rapid and competitive population growth. Behavioral tests revealed reproductive interference: M. religiosa males are attracted to Hierodula females and are therefore preyed upon, a “fatal attraction” that may reduce mating success in native species. A large set of citizen science reports (over 2,300 records) document Hierodula predation on a wide range of native species, from pollinators to small vertebrates often protected by EU legislation, such as Podarcis muralis and Hyla perrini. Hierodula mantises show trophic generalism, preying on a wide range of insect taxa and occasionally competing with native mantises or even hornets, revealed to be their main natural predators. Their use of human-modified environments and artificial refuges highlights their adaptability. The different impacts recorded and measured here are discussed within the IUCN criteria for invasive species, confirming the Hierodula in Europe as invasive alien species.
The scolopidial accessory organ is a relatively small and compact chordotonal organ consisting of mechanosensory scolopidial sensilla. The accessory organ is placed in the tibia next to the larger subgenual organ in several Orthoptera. In other orthopteroid insects, the accessory organ detects substrate vibrations in low frequency ranges. Among Tettigonioidea katydids or bush-crickets, the accessory organ has been described so far in only a few species. The peripheral nerve pattern for the two chordotonal organs usually includes two separate nerve branches for each sensory organ. Within the Phaneropterinae (leaf katydids or sickle-bearing bush-crickets), some differences occur as the accessory organ can share a single nerve branch with the subgenual organ. Here, the accessory organ in two phaneropterine species of the East African genus Gonatoxia, G. immaculata Karsch, 1889, and G. helleri Hemp, 2016, is investigated. The aim is to document the accessory organ and its nerve pattern for further tettigonioid species and to provide a first report for species from the Holochlorini. The accessory organ was present in both species in all leg pairs. The number of sensilla was 5–12. The sensillum numbers were slightly lower in G. helleri than in G. immaculata. The accessory organ has a nerve branch that is separate from the nerve branch for the posterior subgenual organ. This neuroanatomy, including the nerve pattern, is similar to most other tettigonioids. The findings support the occurrence of the accessory organ among the different subgroups of Phaneropterinae, and in Tettigonioidea at large, and raise the possibility of behaviorally relevant vibrational inputs.
In Gryllus, mate choice is known to exist in both sexes. Because of the added cost of mate selection, most models assume that mate choice has benefits that outweigh these costs. Gryllus firmus and G. pennsylvanicus have sexually dimorphic cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles: Males have a relatively homogenous and simple profile, whereas females are more variable, and some individuals resemble the profile of males (“male-like” females). Previous studies have shown that males in captivity exhibit mate choice and prefer females with a more male-like profile, courting and mating with them more promptly. In this study, both species were used to test whether CHC serve as a signal of female fertility and whether females with a male-like CHC profile mate more often in the field. We captured field-mated females, scored their CHC profiles, and used seven highly polymorphic microsatellites to assign paternity to their broods. We report on the number of sires for field-caught females and demonstrate that male-like females are not more fertile and do not mate more often in the field. We also show that the allocation of sperm does not seem to follow a fair raffle: A few males dominate the brood composition of field-caught mated females.
Specimens of webspinners (order Embioptera) of the family Oligotomidae from two biological collections in Mexico were examined (n = 431), revealing a greater state-level distribution than previously recorded for the three species of the genus Oligotoma. Oligotoma humbertiana is newly recorded for the states of Baja California Sur, Ciudad de México, Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Sinaloa, Sonora, Veracruz, and Yucatán; Oligotoma nigra is newly recorded for Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, and Colima; and Oligotoma saundersii is newly recorded for Coahuila, Colima, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Sonora, Veracruz, and Yucatán. An illustrated key that includes Haploembia solieri and the three aforementioned species of Oligotoma is proposed.
The Kole wetlands of Kerala is a unique wetland ecosystem, a designated Ramsar site and a high-value biodiversity area, yet its insect fauna has not been thoroughly studied. Tetrigidae (pygmy grasshoppers) are a taxonomically complicated group under Orthoptera, which is not well explored in Kerala. The present survey was conducted in the Kole wetlands of Kerala from January 2021 to January 2024 and found 12 morphospecies under 8 genera. Genera Tetrix and Thoradonta were reported for the first time from the state. A generic level key for the identification of pygmy grasshoppers of the Kole wetlands is provided.
Apterotrypa Gorochov, 2017 is a genus with notable diagnostic characteristics, such as the absence of wings and acoustic communication, traits generally essential for crickets. Exclusive to the neotropical region, Apterotrypa was recently elevated from subgenus to genus and currently includes only three described species. In this study, three new species of Apterotrypa are described based on detailed morphological analyses of adult males and females. The species A. assymmetrica Tonon $ Campos, sp. nov., A. hepatica Tonon $ Campos, sp. nov., and A. endolongata Tonon $ Campos, sp. nov. represent the first records of the genus in Brazil, collected in Pacoti (State of Cear & aacute;), Itamaraju (State of Bahia), and Corup & aacute; (State of Santa Cata-rina), respectively. These findings double the number of known species in the genus to six and significantly expand its geographical range from northern to southern South America. Additionally, an updated identifica-tion key and a distribution map for the genus are presented. New insights into the biology of Apterotrypa, including potential behaviors, communication, and reproduction strategies, are discussed based on morphological observations and comparisons with related taxa.
