Mastigaphoides haffneri Weidner
Creators: name: Rentz, Dcf
name: Su, You Ning
name: Ueshima, Norihiro
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Orthoptera
Phaneropteridae
Mastigaphoides
Mastigaphoides haffneri

description: Mastigaphoides haffneri Weidner
Haffner’s Broad-winged Snub-nose
Figs. 14A–I, 21 A, B, 23A, 26; Table 7; Map 5
Mastigaphoides haffneri Weidner, 1965, Entomol. Mitt. Zool. Staatsinst. Zool. Mus. Hamburg 3(53): 88. urn:lsid: Orthoptera.speciesfile.org:TaxonName:5269
Holotype female. Tweed River, New South Wales. Holotype female collected 2 October 1905 in the Zoologisches Museum der Universität Hamburg. Type examined.
Differential diagnosis. Most distinctive feature is the armature of the lateral margins of the pronotum (Fig. 14A) and the sculpturing of the lateral pronotal lobe (Fig. 14C). The meso- and metasternal lobes are apically strongly acute (Fig. 14E). The genitalia of both sexes are not especially distinctive.
General. Moderate size, robust appearance (Fig. 14I). Easily confused with others in the genus unless carefully examined.
Male. Head. Frons flat to feebly tumid, dorso-ventral carina obscure; genae not appreciably swollen. Fastigium of vertex (Fig. 14B) with sulcus relatively deep. Antennal scrobes (Fig. 14B) with margins well indicated, tooth of scape prominent and juxtaposed to a small tubercle on pedicel.
Thorax. Pronotum with surface slightly depressed in the middle; prozona with tuberculation more dense (Fig. 14A), transverse sulci better defined than in other taxa; lateral margins with armature irregular: crenulations with one or two larger teeth irregularly placed; lateral lobe with deep oblique dorsal sulcus (Fig. 14C) and an arching carina near ventral margin. Sternum with prosternal processes elongate, feebly divergent; meso- and metasternal lobes elongate, projecting at right angles from the body at rest.
Legs. Fore coxa with a very elongate spine projecting forward. Fore femur armed on both margins of ventral surface with 8–10 small tooth-like spines; fore tibia relatively thick, dorsal surface unarmed except for series of setae on anterior and posterior margins, ventral surface armed with 3–6 small spines on both margins, one on each side apical in position. Middle femur strongly laterally compressed, ventral surface armed on anterior margin with up to 10 tooth-like spines, posterior margin with much smaller number, usually 4–5; middle tibia strongly laterally compressed in basal half, dorsal surface densely setose on both margins and with a few scattered tooth-like spines on each margin, ventral surface also setose on both margins, anterior margin with up to 6 spines, posterior margin with 2–4 spines, one on each side apical in position. Hind femur not especially thickened basally, ventral surface armed on outer margin with 7–11 tooth-like spines, internal margin usually with 4 smaller tooth-like spines, apex armed only on ventral surface with a single spine on each side; hind tibia quadrate, slightly laterally compressed in proximal one-quarter, dorsal surface with scattered spines on both sides ending well before apex, ventral surface with a smaller number of spines but with a pair of larger apical spines. Genicular lobes of all femora armed on both sides with a small spine.
Wings. Tegmina well developed, extending well beyond apex of hind femur at rest, apex obtuse or subquadrate, venation (Figs. 21 A, B); stridulatory region of left tegmen with stridulatory vein heavy (Fig. 14D); right tegmen with mirror (Fig. 14D) without internal venation, with an arching vein, raised vein proximal to mirror indented in the middle. Hind wing with 3 prominent curved anal veins.
Abdomen. Male. Tenth tergite not produced in any manner; supra-anal plate triangular, apically acute; cercus very elongate with apical tooth directed inwards (Fig. 14F). Subgenital plate very elongate, narrow medially, with median carina.
Female. Much larger than male (Table 7), differs in following characters: tegminal venation heavy; supra-anal plate elongate, apically acute; subgenital plate (Fig. 14G) very broad and apically acute, with narrow median carina. Ovipositor (Fig. 14H) falcate, relatively short (Table 7), moderately upcurved. Colour. Colour in life dark green (Fig. 14I) the tegminal veins somewhat darker, often small dark blotches present.
Specimens examined. New South Wales: ca. 31o46”S 152o31’E. “Lorien” 3 km N. of Lansdowne via Taree, 28.xii.1990 (G. Williams, 1 female, ANIC). 28o17’S 153o23’E Condong Falls, Whian Whian State For., NNE of Lismore, 18.xi.1983 (D. C. F. Rentz, M. S. Harvey, Stop 56, 1 male, Cytol. prep., 83–159; Song recorded S-268, ANIC). 28o58’S 15o43’E 31 Km WNW of Tenterfield, 2.xi.1983 (D. C. F. Rentz, M. S. Harvey, 1 male, ANIC).
Queensland: 27o20’S 152o46’E Mt Glorious, 610 m, 8.iv.1978 DCF Rentz, Stop 86, 1 male collected as 1st instar nymph, matured in laboratory 11.viii.1978, ANIC). National Park, xii.1923 (H. Hacker, 1 male 1 female, QMUS). Upper Tallebudgera Ck, 6.iii.1988 (G. B Monteith, 1 male, QMUS). Tallebudgera Valley, 100 m, 13.i.1988 (D. J. Cook, 1 female, QMUS). Mt Tambourine, 20.ii.1911 (W. W. Froggatt Collection, ANIC).
Song. Fig. 23A.
Comments. A noisy and common species over much of its range. It could be confused with M. tuberculatus sp. nov. but the male and female genitalia and the armature of the pronotum and legs serve to distinguish it. At the Tallebudgera locality this species occurs with T. spininota.
Cytology. Fig. 26.
Mastigaphoides lewisensis 7 Rentz, Su, Ueshima, sp. nov. Mount Lewis Broad-winged Snub-nose
Figs. 15A–H, 21 D, E, 23B; Table 8; Map 5
Holotype male. Labels. 1. “ 16.31S 145.16E 7 km N. of Mt Lewis, (31.5 km from Julatten turnoff) 12.ii.1988 D. C. F. Rentz, Stop A-12”. 2. “Cytol. prep. 88–95”. 3. “Song- recorded S-529”. 4. “ ANIC 14-008488”. Holotype in Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra.
Type locality. The type was collected in the understorey of the rainforest along a track near the forester’s “hut”.
Differential diagnosis. Head with the antennal sockets strongly rimmed, touching dorsally (Fig. 15A); margins of pronotum with low, nearly uniform teeth; lateral lobe with surface and margins very sparsely tuberculate (Fig. 15C). Meso- and metasternal lobes cordate and apically acute. Male genitalia very similar to other species in the genus. Female subgenital plate elongate, with median carina; ovipositor upturned, unarmed.
General. Size small for genus, form robust (Table 8). Not easily confused with any other member of the genus.
Male. Head. Frons flat but with obscure dorso-ventral carina on each side, genae not swollen, clypeus slightly swollen when viewed laterally; entire frons sparsely hirsute. Fastigium of vertex (Fig. 15A) with sulcus short but deep, antennal scrobes prominent; tooth of scape acute (Fig. 15A).
Thorax. Pronotum with surface flat, not depressed in the middle; tuberculation sparse but mostly uniformly spaced (Fig. 15B); transverse sulci well defined, generally straight; lateral margins of disk with armature low but uniform; lateral lobe (Fig. 15C) without prominent sulci, surface irregular and with a few scattered tubercles, all margins smooth, not tuberculate. Sternum with prosternal processes rather closely spaced, weakly divergent; meso- and metasternal process cordate, apically acute, slightly upturned (Fig. 15D).
7. Named with reference to the type locality.
MAP 5. Known distribution for Mastigaphoides species. ˔ M. haffneri Weidner, • M. tuberculatus Rentz, Su, Ueshima sp. nov., ⋅ M. lewisensis Rentz, Su, Ueshima sp. nov., ° M. vaginalis Rentz, Su, Ueshima sp. nov.
Legs. Fore coxa with an elongate spine projecting forward. Fore femur arched and strongly laterally compressed, armed ventrally on anterior margin with 9 minute tooth-like spines, posterior margin with 9 slightly larger tooth-like spines; fore tibia carinate on both surfaces, unarmed dorsally, ventral surface with 5–7 minute spines on anterior margin, one apical in position, posterior margin with 3 spines, one apical in position. Middle femur laterally compressed, somewhat inflated apically, anterior margin with 9–11 tooth-like spines, posterior margin with 6–7 smaller tooth-like spines; middle tibia strongly laterally compressed, inflated proximally, both surfaces strongly carinate, dorsal surface unarmed, ventral surface with 7 minute spines on anterior margin, one apical in position, posterior margin with 5–6 minute spines, those proximal smaller than those apical, apex with a large terminal spine. Hind femur not especially inflated, armed only on outer margin with 8 small spines; hind tibia quadrate, bearing spines on both margins of both surfaces; apex armed with terminal spines only on ventral surface.
Wings. Tegmina well developed, extending well beyond apex of hind femur at rest, Apex angulate (Fig. 21 D), venation (Fig. 21 C, D, E); stridulatory region (Fig. 15E) with vein heavy, thick, short; right wing with mirror (Fig. 15F), without internal venation, raised vein proximal to mirror low, not indented in the middle. Hind wing with a single prominent vein.
Abdomen. Male. Tenth tergite not produced, with shallow median incision; supra-anal plate (Fig. 15G) absent; cercus very elongate, narrow, with small, incurved tooth (Fig. 15G). Subgenital plate short (Fig. 15H) but elongate, narrow in median portion, without median carina.
Female. Much larger than male (Table 8), differs in following characters: tegminal venation heavy and raised; supra-anal plate elongate, with median carina.
Colour. Colour uniformly dark green, tegminal veins lighter,
Specimens examined. Paratypes: Queensland: Paratypes: 16o31’S 145o16’E 7 km N. of Mt Lewis, 31.5 road km from Julatten turn-off, 12.ii.1988 (D. C. F. Rentz, Stop A-12, 1 female, ANIC).
Song. Fig. 23B.
Comments. The most notable feature of this species is the small size of the male and the peculiar stridulation which sounds like a buzz. In most morphological aspects, the species is similar to the type species. However, females have a proportionally narrower subgenital plate and a shorter ovipositor. As with the holotype, the female paratopotype was found on low shrubbery along the rainforest margin.
Mastigaphoides vaginalis 8 Rentz, Su, Ueshima, sp. nov. Slender Broad-winged Snub-nose
Figs. 1, 16A–C, 17A–M, 21 F–G; 23C; Table 9; Map 5
Holotype male. Labels. 1. “ 16o12’S 145o24’E. (GPS) Qld.: Alexandra Bay, (Wilderness Lodge) 1 November 1997 DCF Rentz Stop C-4”. 2. “Collected as nymph, matured in laboratory 1 Dec. 1997 ”. 3. “Song recorded, S-1032”. 4. “ ANIC 14-008489”. Holotype in Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra.
Type locality. The type locality is coastal rainforest. The type was collected at night in low vegetation along a rainforest nature trail.
Differential diagnosis. The most distinctive features of this species are its narrow, slender appearance (Figs. 1, 16B, C) with a broadly expanding tegmen and the narrow pronotum with a small number of erect, black-tipped teeth along the lateral margins (Fig. 17D). The prosternal armature is reduced to little more than a pair of tubercles; the meso- and metasternal lobes are minutely acute.
General. Of moderate to large size with a slender appearance; female tegmen strongly bowed (Fig. 21 G). Not easily confused with any other species in the genus.
Male. Head. Frons flat to feebly tumid (Fig. 17A), sparsely hirsute; clypeus swollen; genae not at all swollen. Fastigium of vertex (Fig. 17B) with sulcus deep, lateral margins expanded in the middle. Antennal scrobes (Fig. 17B) with margins produced in the middle; scape setose, tooth low and blunt, pedicel setose.
Thorax. Pronotum with surface weakly depressed, not tuberculate (Fig. 17C, D), transverse sulci well defined; cephalic margin of disk weakly concave, caudal margin evenly obtuse and not armed; lateral margins with low, black-tipped teeth, prozona with 2 minute teeth preceding a single large tooth, mesozona bearing a single tooth, metazona with 1–2 large teeth and several smaller ones; lateral lobe with surface uneven but with 2 parallel sulci, anterior and posterior margins parallel and not tuberculate (Fig. 17D), ventral margin uneven and with traces of tubercles. Sternum with prosternal processes represented as paired tubercles (Fig. 17E); meso- and metasternal processes erect, apically acute.
8. Named with reference to the shape of the fastigium of the vertex.
Legs. Fore coxa bearing an elongate forward-projecting spine. Fore femur laterally compressed, carinate above, armed on both margins of the ventral surface with 7–8 tooth-like spines; fore tibia slender, quadrate, dorsal surface unarmed but setose on both margins, ventral surface with 6 spines on both margins and with a slightly larger apical spine on each side. Middle femur laterally compressed, somewhat expanded apically, ventral surface armed with 6 minute tooth-like spines on each margin (Fig. 17M); middle tibia expanded basally, carinate, dorsal surface setose along both margins and armed with 5 tooth-like spines basally on posterior margin in region of swelling (Fig. 17M), ventral surface bearing 5, 6 spines along both margins and an apical spine on each side. Hind femur not especially swollen basally, armed externally with 6–10 minute spines, internal margin with traces of spines indicated mostly as tubercles; hind tibia armed dorsally and ventrally with many elongate spines, those dorsal ending well before apex, ventral surface bearing an apical spine on each side. Genicular lobes of all femora bearing a single prominent spine on each side.
Wings. Tegminal venation very well developed, distinctive in shape (Figs. 16C, 21 F, G), tegmen extending well beyond apex of hind femur at rest, apical portion expanding, outline of apex obtuse; stridulatory region of left tegmen (Fig. 17F) with stridulatory vein heavy, “bubble-like” when viewed from behind; right tegmen with mirror (Fig. 17G) longer than broad, without internal venation. Hind wing with venation generally weak, with only a single prominent anal vein more sclerotized than the others.
Abdomen. Male. Tenth tergite weakly concave in the middle (Fig. 17H); supra-anal plate elongate, setose, apically acute; cercus very elongate, extending to apex of supra-anal plate, armed apically with a small inwardsprojecting tooth; paraprocts swollen tubercles, each with a prominent divergent tooth. Subgenital plate very broad basally narrowed, stem-like apically with feeble, shallow V-shaped median incision; titillators represented as a pair of feebly sclerotized non-structured lobes (Fig. 17I).
Female. Much larger and tegmina more expanded than in male (Table 9), differs in following characters: tegminal venation heavy; supra-anal plate (Fig. 17J) very elongate, 3.5x as long as basal width, extending beyond apex of cerci at rest, apex obtuse; subgenital plate (Fig. 17K) triangular, with low median carina, apex strongly acute and bent upwards. Ovipositor falcate, (Table 9) upcurved (Fig. 17L).
Colour. Colour in life light green (Figs. 16 A-C) the tegminal veins darker and with brownish or frosty white “imperfections” as blotches, bilaterally symmetrical. Pronotum with armature of lateral margins black-tipped.
Locality Length Length Width Length Length Length Length Length
Body Pronotum Pronotum Fore femur Middle femur Hind femur Tegmen Ovipositor Specimens examined. Paratypes: Queensland: 16o12’S. 145o 24’E. (GPS) Alexandra Bay (Wilderness Lodge) 1.xi.1997 (D. C. F. Rentz, Stop C-4, 1 male, ANIC). 16o13’S. 145o26’E. (GPS) 4 km W. of Bailey Point, “Crocodylus Rainforest Village”, 30.x.1993 D. C. F. Rentz, L. Lowe, Stop 6, 2 males, 1 females, collected as nymphs, matured in Laboratory 8.xi.1993, 16.i.1994, ANIC). 16o11’S. 145o24’E. Lync-Haven Motel, 7,8. xii.2012 (D. C. F. Rentz, Stop 12–39, 1 female, ANIC). 16.48’S 145.38’E (GPS) QLD. Kuranda 335m (Top of the Range) 19 Butler Dr 1–15.xii.2004; 16–31.i.2008; 16–31.i. 2009; 1–15.ii.2010; 16–31.i.2010; 1–15.i.2012; 16–29.ii.2012 (DCF Rentz, 7 females, ANIC); Kuranda, 15.i.2000 (J. Hasenpusch, 1 female, ANIC).
Song. Fig. 23C
Comments. This large species is very distinctive in its slender appearance. The armature of the pronotum is its most distinctive character. It can be found with other members of the genus such as M. tuberculatus and other members of the tribe such as C. nigrolinea. Like others in this tribe it can be common some years and absent in others.
Mastigaphoides tuberculatus 9 Rentz, Su, Ueshima sp. nov. Pimpled Broad-winged Snub-nose
Figs. 18A–D, 19A–D, 21 H, I, 24A, B; Table 10; Map 5
Holotype male. Labels 1. “ 16.48S 145.38’E (GPS) Qld. Kuranda (335m) (Top of the Range) 19 Butler Dr 1–15 DEC. 2010 DCF Rentz”. 2. “ ANIC 14-008490”. Holotype in Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra.
Type locality. The type locality is a simple to complex mesophyll to notophyll vine forest on moderately to poorly drained metamorphics (Regional Ecosystem 7.11.1 EPA, 2007). The type was found at night singing from a low native shrub.
Differential diagnosis. The most distinctive feature of this species is the generally uniform tuberculation of the dorsal surface of the pronotum (Fig. 19A) with the lateral lobe smooth and shining and bearing a few scattered tubercles. The dimensions of the lateral lobes of the pronotum are equally distinctive in that they are slightly longer than deep. The vein bearing the stridulatory file is expanded like a transverse blister. The outline of the tegmen is equally distinctive in both sexes of this species and the apex is gently obtuse in females and often angulate on the lower (posterior) margin in males.
9. Named with reference to the extensive tuberculation on the surface and sides of the pronotum.
General. Of moderate to large size, robust in appearance (Fig. 18A). Similar in general habitus to M. haffneri but occupying a much more northern distribution (Map 5).
Male. Head. Frons flat to feebly tumid, sparsely hirsute, clypeus swollen; genae not expanded; head well seated in pronotum. Fastigium of vertex (Fig. 19A) wrinkled, sulcus relatively deep, its margins irregular. Antennal scrobes with margins well indicated, raised considerably above fastigium (Fig. 19B); tooth of scape produced as a small tooth on distal internal margin.
Thorax. Pronotum with surface generally weakly, if at all, depressed, surface covered with small tubercles; transverse sulci well indicated (Fig. 19A); lateral margins of disk with low tubercles, usually 4 on the prozona and 2 on the mesozona, metazona with 1–2 large tubercles and several much smaller, generally poorly defined ones. Anterior margin of disk straight to truncate with a row of small tubercles positioned subapically, posterior margin of disk produced, broadly V-shaped and not bearing any tubercles; lateral lobe (Fig. 19C) slightly longer than deep (Table 10), surface smooth, with a single prominent sulcus and another much less engraved sulcus anterior to it, surface bearing a few scattered tubercles, anterior and posterior margins with a few low tubercles, ventral margin generally without any tubercles. Pleurites above middle coxae bearing a few prominent tubercles. Sternum with prosternal processes elongate, spiniform (Fig. 19E), meso- and metasternal processes erect, well produced, margins of mesosternum scalloped in female (Fig. 19F). Thoracic auditory structure minute (Fig. 19D).
Legs. Fore coxa with a stout, scythe-like decurved spine projecting forward. Fore femur bowed, dorsally carinate, this more prominent apically, ventral surface armed on anterior margin with a few small spines, usually 10–13 (Fig. 19H), posterior margin with 10–11 much more robust spines (Fig. 19G); fore tibia quadrate in outline, setose along dorsal margins, slightly expanded in region of tympanum, unarmed dorsally, ventral surface with 7 small spines on anterior margin, posterior margin with 10 larger spines; apex armed with a longer spine on each side. Middle femur almost equal in width throughout, dorsal surface carinate, margins setose, ventral surface armed with 11 small robust spines on anterior margin, posterior margin with 7–8 small spines; middle tibiae laterally compressed, expanded in basal quarter, dorsal surface carinate, densely setose on lateral margins and bearing a few minute tooth-like spines in basal one-quarter, ventral surface with 7 small spines on anterior margin, posterior margin with 5 small spines, apex armed on each side with a larger spine. Hind femur slender, ventral surface armed externally with around 13 small spines, internal margin with a much smaller number, these positioned in apical one-quarter, apex armed ventrally with a single spine on each side. Genicular lobes of all femora armed on both sides with a prominent spine.
Wings. Tegmina very well developed, extending well beyond apex of hind femur at rest, apex feebly obtuse or subtruncate (Figs. 18A, B, 21 H), in males produced or angular at posterior corner; stridulatory region (Fig. 19J) with venation heavy, the stridulatory vein raised, blister-like (Fig. 19I), right wing mirror ovoid, without internal venation. Hind wing with a single anal vein more sclerotized than the others.
Abdomen. Male. Tenth tergite (Fig. 19K) not produced, median portion somewhat more membranous than the lateral portions; supra-anal plate elongate as in other species but not reaching apex of cercus; cercus very elongate, apical tooth directed inwards (Fig. 19K); paraprocts (Fig. 19K) each bearing a stout apical tooth, directed downwards. Subgenital plate (Fig. 19L) stout, robust, apically shallowly incised, not bearing a median carina. Titillators represented as a pair of narrowly separated, feebly sclerotized transverse swellings.
Female. Much larger than male (Table 10), differs in following characters: tegminal venation (Fig. 21 I), the tegmen elongate; supra-anal plate an elongate thinly sclerotized flap extending well beyond cerci; subgenital plate (Fig. 19M) broadly triangular, with median carina.
Locality Length Length Width Length Length Length Length Length Females
Paratopotye 31.8 8.1 7.1 15.0 14.4 29.3 50.2 22.5
“ 27.8 7.0 5.6 11.8 9.8 22.3 47.7 18.9
“ 35.7 7.5 7.1 14.6 13.3 24.2 47.6 23.9
“ 34.8 7.4 7.0 14.3 12.1 28.0 47.6 22.0 Garradunga 36.9 7.5 7.1 14.8 14.3 29.2 47.7 22.7 Lake Barrine 34.3 8.1 6.6 15.1 11.4 23.8 43.2 21.9 Fishery Falls 37.0 8.1 7.5 14.4 12.4 28.8 48.3 22.3 Shipton’s Flat 33.0 6.0 6.3 13.2 11.2 25.3 42.9 21.8 Krukow Rd 30.5 7.5 6.8 14.7 13.4 29.5 45.8 24.1 FIGURE 22. Calling songs of Chloracantha species. Left chirp song; right pulse of the chirp shown on an expanded time scale. A, C. lampra Hebard, S-909, recorded at 24o C. B–D, Chloracantha angularis Rentz, Su, Ueshima, sp. nov., S-482 recorded at 28o C, S-513 recorded at 27o C, S-394 recorded at 23o C.
Colour. Colour deep dark green in life (Figs. 18A–C), the veins contrastingly darker. Stridulatory vein dark brown, bordered in straw or yellow brown. Abdomen (Fig. 18D) probably species distinctive in life regarding colour but comparative examples at the species level are not available presently.
Specimens examined. Paratypes: Queensland: 15o47’S 145o14’E Shipton’s Flat, nr Cooktown, 16– 18.v.1981 (D. C. F. Rentz, Stop 38, 1 female, ANIC). 16o03’to 16o05’S 145o28’E Cape Tribulation, 21–28.iii.1984 (A. Calder, T. Weir, 2 females, ANIC). 16o05’S 145o27’E (GE) PK’s Jungle Resort, xi.1998 (J. Hasenpusch, 1 male, ANIC). 16o04’S 145o28’E (GPS) Beach S. of Cape Tribulation between Myall & Mason Cks, 31.x.1993 (D. C. F. Rentz, L. Lowe, Stop 8b, 1 male collected as nymph, matured in laboratory 4.i.1994, 1 male collected as nymph, matured in laboratory, 21.xi.1993, Cytol. Prep. 94-2; Song recorded, S-850, ANIC). 16o06’11.53”S 145o27’13.08”E Daintree, James Cook Univ. rainforest site, 19 m, 22.i.2014, 5–6.v.2014 (D. C. F. Rentz, B. Richardson, rainforest/grassland edge, rainforest 1 male, 3 females, ANIC, JCUD). 16o13’S 145o25’E (GPS) 5 km W by S of Bailey Pt., Cow Bay Hotel, 1.xi.1993 (D. C. F. Rentz, L. Lowe, Stop 10, 1 female, ANIC). 16o49’S 145o40’E (GE) Upper Stanton Rd, Smithfield, 104m, 5.ii.2012 (D. C. F. Rentz, O. Béthoux, Stop 12-7, 2 females, ANIC). 16o59’S 145o43’E 7 km N. of Cairns. 16.ii.1989 (G. Milledge, 1 female, ANIC). 16o48S 145o38’E (GPS) Kuranda (335m) (Top of the Range) 19 Butler Dr, 1–15.iii.2003, 15–31.iii.2005, 1–15.iii.2007, 1–15. ii.2008, 16– 31.iii.2008, 16–31.vii.2008, 1–15.viii.2008, 16–31.i.2010, 16–28.ii.2010, 1–15.iii.2010, 1–15.i.2012, 1– 15.xii.2013, 1–15.i.2014 (D. C. F. Rentz, 3 males, 11 females, ANIC). 16o48’S 145o35’E Russet Park, 5 km WNW of Kuranda, 20.ii1988 (D. C. F. Rentz, Stop A-20, 1 male, Cytol. Prep. 88–115; Song Recorded, S-564, ANIC). 17o15’S 145o38’E Lake Barrine, Atherton Tablelands 6.xii.1985 (J. Balderson, rainforest by torch, 1 female, ANIC). 17o10’S 145o53’E (GE) Fishery Falls, 25 m, 16.i.1995 (L. Ring, 2 females, ANIC). 17o18’S 145o57’E Babinda, Kruckow Rd, 25 m, 1.i.2012 (D. C. F. Rentz, G. Wilson, Stop 12-1, 1 female, ANIC). Russel River at Bellenden Ker landing 1–9.xi.1981 Earthwatch/Qld Museum, 1 male, ANIC). 17o00’S 145o50’E Pine Ck., (CSIRO tower), 11 km SE by S of Cairns, 18.ii.1988 (D. C. F. Rentz, Stop A-18, 1 male, Cytol. Prep. 88–127; Song recorded, S-554, ANIC). 17o28’S 146o0’E Garradunga, Polly Ck., 12.xii.1995, 10.i.1996, 20.xii.2006 (2 females), 8.i.2007, 16.i.2007 (J. Hasenpusch, 6 females, ANIC). 17o43S 145o56’E Japoonvale, Liverpool Ck. 19.xii.2013 (J. Hasenpusch, 1 female, ANIC). 16o48S 145o37’E Kuranda Caravan Park, Kuranda Hts Rd. 22. i.2009 (D. C. F. Rentz, 1 female, ANIC).
Song. Figs. 24A, B.
FIGURE 23. Calling songs of Mastigaphoides species. A, M. haffneri, S-268 recorded at 24o C. B, M. lewisensis holotype male, S-529, recorded at 23o C. C, M. vaginalis, S-1032, recorded at 27o C.
Eggs. The eggs of this species are probably characteristic of others in the genus. They are cylindrical, thinshelled, fragile (Fig. 19N) and slightly bowed. Females deposit them after dark in dead branches. One end seems to be somewhat vascular (Fig. 19O). This end protrudes slight above the substrate presumably to capture moisture to prevent the egg from desiccating. Five eggs ranged in length from 8.0 mm– 8.2 mm.
Comments. This common rainforest katydid is most closely related to M. haffneri and can be distinguished by its larger size and more tuberculate pronotum. The calling song is quite different as well. This species occurs sympatrically with M. vaginalis and three of the four Chloracantha species over much of its range, see Maps 1, 2, 5.
This katydid lives on a variety of understorey shrubs. Perches characteristically outstretched during the day (Fig. 18A). Females lay eggs in cracks in bark.
description: Published as part of Rentz, Dcf, Su, You Ning & Ueshima, Norihiro, 2015, Studies in Australian Katydids: A Review of the Australian Snub-nosed Sylvan katydids (Tettigoniidae; Pseudophyllinae; Simoderini), pp. 1-54 in Zootaxa 3946 (1) on pages 35-50, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3946.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/288290