Department of Biology

A review of the Croatian and Serbian Tetrigidae is given and first records of Tetrix undulata (Sowerby, 1806) for Croatia and Serbia as well as Tetrix tuerki (Krauss, 1876) and Tetrix transsylvanica (Bazyluk & Kis, 1960) comb. nov. for Croatia are presented. The status of the genus Uvarovitettix Bazyluk & Kis, 1960 and the taxonomic position of T. transsylvanica comb. nov. are discussed. The genus Uvarovitettix Bazyluk & Kis, 1960 syn. nov. is synonymised with the genus Tetrix Latreille, 1802. A new subspecies from Croatia and Slovenia, Tetrix transsylvanica hypsocorypha Skejo, 2014 subspecies nova, is described. Tetrix pseudodepressa (Ingrisch, 2006) comb. nov. and Tetrix depressa (Brisout de Barneville, 1848) comb. nov. are moved to the genus Tetrix and the genus Depressotetrix Karaman, 1960 syn. nov. is synonymised with the genus Tetrix. Tetrix gibberosa (Wang & Zheng, 1993) inc. sed. and T. nodulosa (Fieber, 1853) inc. sed. are now considered to be species of uncertain placement within the genus Tetrix. New combination is also given to Paratettix tuberculata (Zheng & Jiang, 1997), primarily placed within the genus Mishtshenkotetrix: Tetrix tuberculata (Zheng & Jiang, 1997) comb. nov., but its placement within the genus Tetrix is also uncertain.

Rapid range expansion is one of the major attributes of invasion success. During range expansion, dispersing individuals face a novel environment where trade-offs between benefits of reduced conspecific density and pressure from niche competitors may differentially affect life-history traits essential for population growth. In this study, we examined differences in sex ratio, body condition, physiological condition and capacity for energetic investment into reproduction along an actively expanding range of one of the most successful crayfish invaders in Europe, the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). In the examined invasive range, signal crayfish faces competition by a native crayfish, Astacus leptodactylus. By comparing measured parameters between invasion fronts and invasion core sites, we analyzed whether the potential benefits of dispersal to areas with low conspecific density are outweighed by the competitive pressure from a native crayfish. Caught signal crayfish of both sexes from invasion fronts were in a better body condition compared to those from the invasion core, while females from invasion fronts also exhibited better energetic status of hepatopancreas and gonads. At the same time, A. leptodactylus from the contact zones at invasion fronts were in poorer body condition compared to those outside the invaded range. Thus, interspecific competition at invasion fronts affected the native A. leptodactylus more strongly than the signal crayfish, which still benefited from the reduced conspecific density in the presence of a competitor. This study highlights the importance of examining trait variability as invader advances its range, since a shift between the rate of population growth and counteracting pressure from other niche competitors could represent one of the crucial determinants of a lag between establishment and expansion of invasive species.

A review of the Balkan representatives of the genus Psorodonotus was made with the aim of revealing the relationships between taxa and their systematic arrangement. For this purpose we used morphological (qualitative and quantitavive), acoustic (amplitude- temporal song parameters) and molecular (mtDNA COI gene sequence) data. The analyses and comparisons with other taxa of Psorodonotus support the distinction of three species occurring on the Balkan Peninsula: P. fieberi, P. illyricus and P. macedonicus. Analysis of the COI sequences suggested the following relationships: outgroups + (P. illyricus + (P. fieberi + (P. macedonicus + P. caucasicus))). All available information on the distribution of the Balkan taxa was synthesized and mapped.

In this paper we deal with a not well known orthopteran species described from Croatia—Krauss' bush-cricket, Platycleis kraussi Padewieth, 1900 with unknown type series. After systematic field studies the species was found only three kilometres from Padewieth's locus typicus, in Francikovac near Senj (Croatia). It was found to be the same as Bicolorana kuntzeni (Ramme, 1931), thus B. kuntzeni (Ramme, 1931) syn. nov. became a synonym of Bicolorana kraussi (Padewieth, 1900) comb. nov. which is moved into genus Bicolorana Zeuner, 1941. Since the type was lost a neotype of B. kraussi is designated and deposited in the Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Leiden, the Netherlands). Historical review of this species' taxonomy is given. An improved description is presented showing some variability of certain morphological characters. The morphology, morphometrics and bioacoustic data of the species are compared with those of the closely related B. bi-color (Philippi, 1830) and Modestana modesta (Fieber, 1853). Vichetia helleri syn. nov. is regarded a synonym of Bicol-orana bicolor. The literature and new distribution data are gathered and presented.

Arulenus miae Skejo & Caballero sp. nov. is described from Buknidon and Davao, Mindanao, the Philippines. The species was serendipitously found in an amateur photo posted in Orthoptera Facebook group by Leif Gabrielsen. Holotype and paratype are deposited in Nederlands Centrum voor Biodiversiteit in Leiden, the Netherlands. Detailed comparison with Arulenus validispinus Stål, 1877 is given. A new diagnosis of the genus and A. validispinus is given. The paper is part of the revision of the subfamily Discotettiginae. This study provides a good example of how social networks can be used as a modern tool of discovering biodiversity if the regulations of the International Code of the Zoological Nomenclature are followed. A brief insight into habitat and ecology of this rainforest and mountainous species is presented. Introduction In the early April 2015 JS (senior author) found a photo (Figure 1) of an interesting tetrigid species on a post by L. Gabrielsen in 'Orthoptera' Facebook group (www.facebook.com/groups/250665138415294/). After attempting to identify by comparing with the Southeast Asian genera and species with flattened antennal segments, it became evident that the species would be most likely a member of the genus Arulenus Stål, 1877, which is a monotypic genus that includes A. validispinus Stål, 1877 as its only member. After discussion with other tetrigidologists JS concluded that the photo represented an undescribed species from the genus and decided to obtain specimens to formally describe it. An orthopterist colleague, Dan Johnson, found out that there were a few specimens of what appeared to be the same species from the same region of the same island for sale at LesColeopteres webpage (www.lescoleopteres.com). Two of those specimens were purchased in order to proceed with the description based on that material. The specimens arrived in Croatia by the end of April. After a detailed study of morphology of the two male specimens (holotype and paratype), JS deposited the type material to the Orthoptera collection of Nederlands Centrum voor Biodiversiteit (Dutch Centre for Biodiversity, formerly Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum Naturalis) in Leiden, the Netherlands (NCB-RMNH). In order to obtain at least brief data on species ecology and habitat, JS contacted Alma Mohagan, a zoology professor at the Central Mindanao University (Mindanao, the Philippines) to inform her on finding of a new and unique species from her region and to ask for collaboration. Together with Mohagan, JS thought it would be a good idea to involve students by training how to recognize, collect, and identify tetrigids, especially the new species of Arulenus. In October and November 2015, Mohagan and her students collected and observed more than 10 specimens of this species, and amongst the students was JHSC (second author) who made an analysis of habitats where the species was found. Eventually, JS and JHSC, who are both students, started collaboration on this unusual species, JS in charge of species description and taxonomic work, while JHSC in charge of habitat description.

Фауна правокрилаца (Orthoptera: Ensifera, Caelifera) Србије једна је од боље проучених националних фауна Балканског полуострва. Међутим, из литературних података за фауну Овчарско–кабларске клисуре познати су подаци за само седам врста зрикаваца. У оквиру овог рада представљени су резултати првих подробнијих истраживања фауне правокрилаца у Овчарско–кабларској клисури са циљем да се упозна и окарактеризује фауна овог подручја.

The Orthopteran fauna (Orthopera: Ensifera, Caelifera) of Serbia is one of the best researched national faunas within the Balkan Peninsula. However, existing data from literature regarding the Orthopteran fauna of Ovčar–Kablar Gorge refers to only seven species of long–horned grasshoppers. This paper represents the results of the first thorough research of Orthopteran fauna in Ovčar–Kablar Gorge with a goal to familiarize and characterize it.

The European Red List is a review of the conservation status of European species according to IUCN regional Red Listing guidelines. It identifies those species that are threatened with extinction at the regional level, so that appropriate conservation action can be taken to improve their status. This Red List publication summarises results for all hitherto described native European Orthoptera species (grasshoppers, crickets and bush-crickets).

In a recently published paper on colour polymorphism in a Pygmy grasshopper from China (Zhao et al 2016) an unidentified Paratettix sp. was misidentified as Tetrix bolivari. This case highlights the need for correct species identification and provides an opportunity to recommend some aspects of Good Taxonomic Practice (GTP) in Tetrigidae to reduce the number of erroneous identifications.

Long-headed pygmy grasshoppers (genus Ophiotettix Walker, 1871) from the New Guinean region (New Guinea and adjacent islands) are taxonomically and biogeographically reviewed. For Ophiotettix and the morphologically similar genera Paraspartolus Günther, 1939, Spartolus Stål, 1877 and Threciscus Bolívar, 1887 a new tribe is erected, Ophiotettigini trib. nov. This tribe is close to Clinophaestini Storozhenko, 2013, which is placed here also under Metrodorinae. Bufonidinae syn. rev. are regarded to be synonymous with Batrachideinae, not Cladonotinae, as previously considered. Statuses of currently known taxa of Ophiotettix are reviewed. The genus now includes 40 species, seven of them previously described: O. buergersi Bolívar, 1929, O. cygnicollis Walker, 1871, O. limosina (Snellen van Vollenhoven, 1865), O. lorentzi Bolívar, 1929, O. modesta Bolívar, 1929 stat. rev., O. scolopax Bolívar, 1929, O. westwoodi Bolívar, 1929 stat. rev. 33 new species are described and illustrated, namely: O. amberiana sp. nov., O. bewana sp. nov., O. bomberaiensis sp. nov., O. brevicollis sp. nov., O. cheesmanae sp. nov., O. depressa sp. nov., O. filiforma sp. nov., O. flyriveriensis sp. nov., O. fritzpahli sp. nov., O. hansscholteni sp. nov., O. imbiana sp. nov., O. kaitani sp. nov., O. karimuiensis sp. nov., O. katharinae sp. nov., O. luce sp. nov., O. meggy sp. nov., O. mountnokensis sp. nov., O. parvicollis sp. nov., O. projecta sp. nov., O. pulcherrima sp. nov., O. pushkari sp. nov., O. quateorum sp. nov., O. rebrinae sp. nov., O. roesleri sp. nov., O. rohwedderi sp. nov., O. sanguinea sp. nov., O. schapinae sp. nov., O. stallei sp. nov., O. storozhenkoi sp. nov., O. subbrevicollis sp. nov., O. telefominensis sp. nov., O. tenuis sp. nov., and O. toxopei sp. nov. An annotated identification key to species is provided. Antennal morphology (especially morphology of five apical segments) is diagnostically important in the taxonomy of this group and provides the best morphological character for species delimitation. Function of modified antennae is not fully understood. Differences between species exist also in head morphology, facial colouration, and morphometrics. Pygmy Giraffhoppers are a diverse group occupying most biogeographical regions of New Guinea North of the Central range, while only few species inhabit areas south of the central range.