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Submitted to: Journal of Orthoptera Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 12/23/2005 Publication Date: 7/31/2006 Citation: Nickle, D.A. 2006. Two new arboreal species of pseudophylline katydids from northern Peru (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Pseudophyllinae). Journal of Orthoptera Research. 15:31-36. Interpretive Summary: Katydids are usually plant-feeding insects, many species of which are agricultural or ornamental pests. Katydids are often intercepted at U.S. ports-of-entry in foliage and flowers of tropical ornamental plants, yet many of them are unidentifiable because our knowledge of tropical species is sparse. This paper reports the discovery of two new plant-feeding species from rainforest canopies in Peru that are described as part of an investigation comparing diversity of katydids and their relatives (grasshoppers and crickets) from Peru with those from the United States. 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: Two new arboreal katydid species (Pseudophyllinae) were recently discovered from northern Peruvian rainforest canopies using pesticide-fogging methods. One species, belonging to the platyphylliine genus Brachyauchenus Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1895, is known only from the male sex and differs from both described species of that genus by its more elongate pronotum, the mother-of-pearl markings on the pronotal disc, and differences in the shape of the male cercus and subgenital plate. The other new species belongs to the pleminiine genus Bufotettix Caudell, 1918, but is easily distinguished from B. alpha Caudell by its unusually expanded pronotum and by genitalic characters. Both sexes of this species are described. Although they are in different tribes, they share the distinction of being the smallest of the pseudophylline katydids. The occurrence of these species in rainforest canopies suggests that many species of katydids may yet be discovered as this poorly known habitat is studied in more detail. |
