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Submitted to: Journal of Orthoptera Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 2/3/2003 Publication Date: 12/1/2005 Citation: Nickle, D.A. 2005. Additiional notes on the genus Phlugis (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae) with the descriptions of two new species from Costa rica. Journal of Orthoptera Research. 14(1): 47-62. (#158533: December 1, 2005) Interpretive Summary: Katydids are usually plant-feeding insects, many species of which are agricultural or ornamental pests. Some species, however, are predaceous, feeding on aphids, flies, and other insects. Two new species of predaceous katydids are described in this paper as part of an investigation comparing diversity of katydids and their relatives (grasshoppers and crickets) from Costa Rica with those from the United States. Some species of predaceous katydids may have use as natural enemies of pests of trees and shrubs, including all species in this study. User groups who may benefit from this research include researchers on biodiversity and tropical ecology, biological control, and the U.S. Forestry Service. Technical Abstract: Fourteen new species of the predaceous katydid genus Phlugis Karny (Meconematinae) were recently described from northern Peruvian rainforest canopies using pesticide-fogging methods. This paper reports the presence of two new species of Phlugis from rainforest canopies in Costa Rica. Although most of our representation of Phlugis species in museums consists primarily of easily collected understory species, the occurrence of a very diverse fauna in rainforest canopies suggests that many species of this genus are yet to be discovered. |
