Search

Both agricultural intensification and abandonment are considered among the main drivers of biodiversity loss, especially for species typical of semi-natural grasslands. In the Mediterranean regions, semi-natural grasslands are often abandoned or replaced by perennial crops such as vineyards and olive groves with potential negative consequences on the associated diversity. However, when these crops are managed under low-intensity practices, their inter-row grass cover can potentially provide suitable habitats for grassland specialists. Here, we analysed the effects of land use on orthopterans by sampling 67 sites belonging to four different habitats (vineyards, olive groves, semi-natural grasslands and abandoned semi-natural grasslands) along a landscape composition gradient. Overall, species richness was highest in abandoned grasslands, while vineyards presented the lowest diversity. Semi-natural grasslands and olive orchards presented intermediate and similar species richness. However, this effect was significant only for Ensifera species, while species richness of Caelifera did not differ between the four habitats. Increasing forest cover within a scale radius of 500 m also increased Ensifera species richness probably providing undisturbed refugia at the margins. Orthopteran abundance was higher in semi-natural grasslands than in abandoned grasslands and vineyards. Despite the differences in species richness, we observed large overlap in species composition between olive groves and semi-natural grasslands suggesting that perennial crops managed under traditional, non-intensive practices can provide suitable habitats for orthopterans typical of semi-natural grasslands. In particular, olive groves appeared to be a better surrogate habitat than vineyards for the conservation of both Ensifera and Caelifera.

Schizodactylidae, splay-footed or dune crickets, represents a distinct lineage among the highly diverse orthopteran subgroup Ensifera (crickets, katydids and allies). Only two extant genera belong to the Schizodactylidae: the winged Eurasian genus Schizodactylus, whose ecology and morphology is well documented, and the wingless South African Comicus, for which hardly any studies providing morphological descriptions have been conducted since its taxonomic description in 1888. Based on the first in-depth study of the skeletomuscular system of the thorax of Comicus calcaris Irish 1986, we provide information on some unique characteristics of this character complex in Schizodactylidae. They include a rigid connection of prospinasternite and mesosternum, a T-shaped mesospina, and a fused meso- and metasternum. Although Schizodactylidae is mainly characterized by group-specific anatomical traits of the thorax, its bifurcated profuca supports a closer relationship to the tettigonioid ensiferans, like katydids, wetas, and hump-winged crickets. Some specific features of the thoracic musculature of Comicus seem to be correlated to the skeletal morphology, e.g., due to the rigid connection of the tergites and pleurites in the pterothorax not a single direct flight muscle is developed. We show that many of the thoracic adaptations in these insects are directly related to their psammophilous way of life. These include a characteristic setation of thoracic sclerites that prevent sand grains from intrusion into vulnerable membranous areas, the striking decrease in size of the thoracic spiracles that reduces the respirational water loss, and a general trend towards a fusion of sclerites in the thorax.

In order to explore some potential insect sources of food lipids, the lipid compositions of three Orthopterans (Acheta domesticus, Conocephalus discolor and Chorthippus parallelus) were analyzed and compared with those of Tenebrio molitor larvae. A. domesticus, Co. discolor, Ch. parallelus and T. molitor larvae were found to contain approximately 15%, 13%, 10% and 32% lipids on dry weight, respectively. The lipids from three Orthopterans contain much higher amounts of essential fatty acids than those of T. molitor larvae. The two Orthopterans of the suborder Ensifera i.e., A. domesticus and Co. discolor contain linoleic acid in major quantities, while Ch. parallelus of the suborder Caelifera, contain α-linolenic acid in major quantities. The consumption of linoleic and α-linolenic fatty acid is linked with numerous health promoting effects. The factors that contribute to differences in fatty acid profiles of these insects are being discussed. At last the nutritional parameters including polyunsaturated to saturated and omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acid ratios of these insect lipids are also being discussed to understand the potential role of these lipids in human nutrition.

A new fossil species of Cyrtophyllitinae, Vitimoilus ovatus sp. nov., is described from the Dabeigou Formation and Yixian Formation of the Lower Cretaceous of China. It is clearly placed in Vitimoilus Gorochov, 1996 according to the following characters: R forking into RA and RP distally, M forking into MA and MP distally; CuA fused with CuPaα distal of the middle of the wing length; cross-veins in basal part of CuPb–CuPaβ area non-strongly curved.

Multiple mechanosensory organs form the subgenual organ complex in orthopteroid insects, located in the proximal tibia. In several Ensifera (Orthoptera), a small chordotonal organ, the so-called accessory organ, is the most posterior part of this sensory complex. In order to document the presence of this accessory organ among the Ensifera, the chordotonal sensilla and their innervation in the posterior tibia of two species of Jerusalem crickets (Stenopelmatidae: Stenopelmatus) is described. The sensory structures were stained by axonal tracing. Scolopidial sensilla occur in the posterior subgenual organ and the accessory organ in all leg pairs. The accessory organ contains 10-17 scolopidial sensilla. Both groups of sensilla are commonly spatially separated. However, in few cases neuronal fibres occurred between both organs. The two sensillum groups are considered as separate organs by the general spatial separation and innervation by different nerve branches. A functional role for mechanoreception is considered: since the accessory organ is located closely under the cuticle, sensilla may be suited to detect vibrations transferred over the leg's surface. This study extends the known taxa with an accessory organ, which occurs in several taxa of Ensifera. Comparative neuroanatomy thus suggests that the accessory organ may be conserved at least in Tettigoniidea.

The egg structure of Paterdecolyus yanbarensis was examined using light, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy. The egg surface shows a distinct honeycomb pattern formed by exochorionic ridges. Several micropyles are clustered on the ventral side of the egg. The egg membrane is composed of an exochorion penetrated with numerous aeropyles, an endochorion, and an extremely thin vitelline membrane. The endochorion is thickened at the posterior egg pole, probably associated with water absorption. A comparison of egg structure among Orthoptera revealed that the micropylar distribution pattern is conserved in Ensifera and Caelifera and might be regarded as a groundplan feature for each group; in Ensifera, multiple micropyles are clustered on the ventral side of the egg, whereas in Caelifera, micropyles are arranged circularly around the posterior pole of the egg.

The basal caeliferan family Tetrigidae is investigated to identify neuropeptides belonging to the adipokinetic hormone (AKH) family. The pygmy grasshopper Tetrix subulata contains in its corpus cardiacum two octapeptides as revealed by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The less abundant peptide is the well-known Schgr-AKH-II (pELNFSTGW amide) which is suggested to be the ancestral AKH of Caelifera and Ensifera. The second peptide, Tetsu-AKH (pEFNFTPGW amide), is novel and quite unusual with its third aromatic residue at position 2. It is thought to be autapomorphic for Caelifera. Tetsu-AKH has hyperlipemic activity in T. subulata and in Schistocerca gregaria.

A new species of Elcanidae (Orthoptera: Elcanoidea), Panorpidium yixianensis sp. nov., is described based on two new specimens from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of northeastern China. It differs from other species in forewing characters and spines on the hind tibiae. In addition, a new specimen Burmelcana sp., is described and figured based on an amber inclusion from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese (Myanmar) amber. P. yixianensis sp. nov. represents the first definite record of Elcanidae in the Early Cretaceous Jehol biota, and Panorpidium is the only genus of Ensifera to be found in the Early Cretaceous faunas of England, Russia and China.

This paper describes the biomechanics of an unusual form of wing stridulation in katydids, termed here 'reverse stridulation'. Male crickets and katydids produced sound to attract females by rubbing their forewings together. One of the wings bears a vein ventrally modified with teeth (a file), while the other harbours a scraper on its anal edge. The wings open and close in rhythmic cycles, but sound is usually produced during the closing phase as the scraper moves along the file. Scraper-tooth strikes create vibrations that are subsequently amplified by wing cells specialised in sound radiation. The sound produced is either resonant (pure tone) or non-resonant (broadband); these two forms vary across species, but resonant requires complex wing mechanics. Using a sensitive optical diode and high-speed video to examine wing motion, and Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV) to study wing resonances, I describe the mechanics of stridulation used by males of the neotropical katydid Ischnomela gracilis (Pseudophyllinae). Males sing with a pure tone at ca.15 kHz and, in contrast to most Ensifera using wing stridulation, produce sound during the opening phase of the wings. The stridulatory file exhibits evident adaptations for such reverse scraper motion. LDV recordings show that the wing cells resonate sharply at ca. 15 kHz. Recordings of wing motion suggest that during the opening phase, the scraper strikes nearly 15,000 teeth/s. Therefore, the song of this species is produced by resonance. The implications of such adaptations (reverse motion, file morphology, and wing resonance) are discussed.

Mitochondrial DNA has been the preferential genome biodiversity studies. However, several factors contribute to its inadequacy. Numts constitute one of the main complications that prevent obtaining orthologous mitochondrial sequences. Orthoptera have been a model group in numt studies because of their huge genome size. In this study we aimed to; (i) test efficiency of standard PCR protocol in producing orthologous sequences of cytochrome C oxidase, (ii) study presence/absence of numts in several unstudied Orthoptera species, (iii) test if there is a threshold between the length of mtDNA targeted for amplification and possibility of encountering numts, and (iv) estimate reliability of the sequences in databases in light of these findings. For these aims we studied 38 species of Orthoptera representing different sublineages and genome sizes. DNA extracted from each sample was used to amplify five different fragments of COI region by standard PCR protocol. Sequenced PCR amplicons were checked for numt possibility by several different numt criteria. No sequences without numt signs were obtained for the first fragment. The number of samples with numt signs for the other four fragments differed between the suborders Ensifera and Caelifera. The percentage of samples with numt signs was higher in Caelifera than Ensifera for all fragments. The numt percentage considerably decreased for the longest two fragments. Numts are more prevalent in families with larger genome size. We arrived at the following conclusions: (i) numts are common in all members of Orthoptera, but, their prevalence differs among intra-lineages, especially more prevalent in Caelifera, (ii) there seems a correlation between numt rate and genome size, (iii) there is no threshold to avoid numt co-amplification, but, a 1,000 bp length may be a threshold for Ensifera, (iv) Folmer region of COI doesn't seem an appropriate marker for animal barcoding. Additionally, a phylogenetic tree produced from the numt sequences of fragment four detected in genus Anterastes suggested a paleonumt gained in generic ancestor a 3.5–4 times slower divergence rate for numt sequences.

The complete 15,831 bp nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome from Elimaea cheni (Phaneropterinae) was determined. The putative initiation codon for cox1 was TTA. The phylogeny of Orthoptera based on different mtDNA datasets were analyzed with maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI). When all 37 genes (mtDNA) were analyzed simultaneously, the monophyly of Caelifera and Ensifera were recovered in the context of our taxon sampling. The phylogeny of Orthoptera was largely consistent with previous phylogenetic hypotheses. Rhaphidophoridae to be a sister group of Tettigoniidae, and the relationships among four subfamilies of Tettigoniidae were (Phaneropterinae + (Conocephalinae + (Bradyporinae + Tettigoniinae))). Pyrgomorphidae was the most basal group of Caelifera. The relationships among six acridid subfamilies were (Oedipodinae + (Acridinae + (Gomphocerinae + (Oxyinae + (Calliptaminae + Cyrtacanthacridinae))))). However, we did not recover a monophyletic Grylloidea. Myrmecophilidae clustered into one clade with Gryllotalpidae instead of with Gryllidae. ML and BI analyses of all protein coding genes (using all nucleotide sequence data or excluding the third codon position, and amino acid sequences) revealed a topology identical to that of the entire mtDNA genome dataset. However, 22 tRNAs genes excluding the DHU loop and TpsiC loop (TRNA), and two rRNA genes (RRNA) perform poorly when analyzed as single dataset. Our results suggest that the best phylogenetic inferences were ML and BI methods based on total mtDNA. Excluding tRNA genes, rRNA genes and the third codon position of protein coding genes from dataset and converting nucleotide sequences to amino acid sequences do not positively affect phylogenetic reconstruction.

Tympanal hearing organs in the front tibiae of ensiferan insects supposedly evolved from vibration-sensitive tibial organs (TO), like those in the cave cricket Troglophilus neglectus (Rhaphidophoridae). If this is true, one expects to find interneurons in the cave cricket that are homologous to auditory neurons from hearing Ensifera. Therefore, we examined the central projections of the foreleg TO of the cave cricket, as well as morphology and response properties of interneurons responding to foreleg vibration. Sensory axons of the TO adjoined to the “tympanal nerve” terminate in the equivalent portion of the ring tract neuropile in the prothoracic ganglion as corresponding receptors of crickets and weta. We found nine putatively homologous elements to sound- and/or vibration-sensitive interneurons of Ensifera – one local neuron (unpaired median, DUM), three T-fibres (TN), three descending (DN) and two ascending neurons (AN). Presumable first-order interneurons arborising in the ring tract correspond to a local auditory DUM cell of bush crickets and to TN1, DN1 and AN2 of various Ensifera, respectively. Homologues of some prominent auditory cells, the “omega” neuron(s) and the ascending neuron 1 (AN1), however, were not found. We conclude that (a) T. neglectus interneurons are morphologically primitive with respect to those of hearing taxa, (b) significant changes in the dendritic structure/synaptic connectivity have taken place during the evolution of the most specialised first-order auditory interneurons of Ensifera, (c) the data do not contradict independent evolution of hearing in Grylloidea and Tettigonoidea. Other interneurons appear morpho-physiologically conserved across hearing and non-hearing species, possibly as a part of a multimodal “alert” system.

The Middle Jurassic Ashangopsis daohugouensis, gen. et sp. n., of the prophalangopsid subfamily Chifengiinae is described based on two well-preserved specimens collected from the fossil locality near Daohugou at Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, Northeast China. The new genus is characterized by the particular shape of its pronotum, its hind leg, and stridulatory veins that only concern the cubital area but not the anal area, unlike in other Chifengiinae.

This is a synoptic monograph of fossil Orthoptera from the English Lower Cretaceous (Purbeck and Wealden groups). The previously described taxa of these insects are revised on the basis of type specimens and examination of extensive new material. Eight new genera and 30 new species are proposed: Probaisselcana cretacea sp. nov., Minelcana membranacea gen. et sp. nov., Panorpidium proximum sp. nov., P. bimaculatum sp. nov., ?P. parvum sp. nov. (Elcanidae); ?Cyrtophyllites cretaceus sp. nov. (Haglidae); Aenigmoilus minutus gen. et sp. nov., Pseudaboilus wealdensis gen. et sp. nov., P. purbeckensis sp. nov., Tettigoilus sonorus gen. et sp. nov., ?Agrionidium obscurum sp. nov. (Prophalangopsidae); Notocearagryllus britannicus sp. nov., N. grandispeculum sp. nov., N. cordispeculum sp. nov., Anglogryllus lyristes gen. et sp. nov., A. rotundispeculum sp. nov., Speculogryllus acutispeculum gen. et sp. nov., Sharategia davisi sp. nov., S. batchelorae sp. nov., S. baldocki sp. nov. (Baissogryllidae); ?Araripegryllus orientalis sp. nov. (Gryllidae); Deinovitimia occidentalis sp. nov. (Ensifera: infraorder incertae sedis); Cretoxya rasnitsyni gen. et sp. nov. (Tridactylidae); Locustopsis posterior sp. nov., Zeunerella prior sp. nov., Zessinia borealis sp. nov., Mesolocustopsis anglica sp. nov., M. angusta sp. nov., M. problematica sp. nov., and Britannacrida distincta gen. et sp. nov (Locustopsidae). The subfamily Baisselcaninae is synonymized with Elcaninae, and a new subfamily (Archelcaninae subfam. nov.) is proposed for a segregate of Elcaninae. A preliminary comparison of the Purbeck/Wealden with other Early Cretaceous orthopteran faunas is given.

The phylogenetic relationships of 39 species of Eneopterinae crickets are reconstructed using four molecular markers (16S rRNA, 12S rRNA, cytochrome b, 18S rRNA) and a large morphological data set. Phylogenetic analysis via direct optimisation of DNA sequence data using parsimony as optimality criterion is done for six combinations of weighting parameter sets in a sensitivity analysis. The results are discussed in a twofold purpose: first, in term of significance of the molecular markers for phylogeny reconstruction in Ensifera, as our study represents the first molecular phylogeny performed for this insect suborder at this level of diversity; second, in term of corroboration of a previous phylogeny of Eneopterinae, built on morphological data alone. The four molecular markers all convey phylogenetic signal, although variously distributed on the tree. The monophyly of the subfamily, that of three over five tribes, and of 10 over 13 genera, are recovered. Finally, previous hypotheses on the evolution of acoustic devices and signals in the Eneopterinae clade are briefly tested, and supported, by our new data set.

Representatives of the Orthopteran suborder Ensifera (crickets, katydids, and related insects) are well known for acoustic signals produced in the contexts of courtship and mate recognition. We present a phylogenetic estimate of Ensifera for a sample of 51 taxonomically diverse exemplars, using sequences from 18S, 28S, and 16S rRNA. The results support a monophyletic Ensifera, monophyly of most ensiferan families, and the superfamily Gryllacridoidea which would include Stenopelmatidae, Anostostomatidae, Gryllacrididae, and Lezina. Schizodactylidae was recovered as the sister lineage to Grylloidea, and both Rhaphidophoridae and Tettigoniidae were found to be more closely related to Grylloidea than has been suggested by prior studies. The ambidextrously stridulating haglid Cyphoderris was found to be basal (or sister) to a clade that contains both Grylloidea and Tettigoniidae. Tree comparison tests with the concatenated molecular data found our phylogeny to be significantly better at explaining our data than three recent phylogenetic hypotheses based on morphological characters. A high degree of conflict exists between the molecular and morphological data, possibly indicating that much homoplasy is present in Ensifera, particularly in acoustic structures. In contrast to prior evolutionary hypotheses based on most parsimonious ancestral state reconstructions, we propose that tegminal stridulation and tibial tympana are ancestral to Ensifera and were lost multiple times, especially within the Gryllidae.

A novel member of the AKH/RPCH family of peptides has been identified from the corpus cardiacum of an, as yet, unidentified species of the newly discovered insect order Mantophasmatodea from Namibia. The primary sequence of the peptide, which is denoted Manto-CC, was deduced from multiple MSN electrospray mass data to be an octapeptide: pGlu-Val-Asn-Phe-Ser-Pro-Gly-Trp amide. Synthetic Manto-CC co-elutes on reversed-phase HPLC with the natural peptide from the gland of the insect. Interestingly, Manto-CC is structurally very closely related (only one point mutation) to the AKH/RPCH peptides previously identified in mostly more basal insect taxa (Odonata, Blattodea, and Ensifera) and in Crustacea, the sister group of insects, whereas larger structural differences occur with peptides from Mantodea and Phasmatodea, which are thought to be close relatives of Mantophasmatodea. Functionally, Manto-CC may be employed to activate glycogen phosphorylase to mobilize carbohydrates.

Interest in parasitoids has grown with the recognition that host-parasitoid systems offer opportunities to examine fundamental questions in behavioural and evolutionary ecology. Tachinid flies of the Ormiini possess a conspicuously inflated prosternal region, enabling them to detect the mating songs of their hosts. This speciality makes them a highly suitable group for studies of adaptive radiation. To emphasise further research in this important group of parasitoids, their biogeography and host species are summarised. The Ormiini are a particularly small group, containing only 68 described species of predominantly tropical, especially neotropical forms. A table of host-parasitoid relations reveals that predominant parasitism is of bushcrickets. The exploitation of cricket songs appears to be a derived pattern that evolved as a host switch some time after the Eocene. Hypotheses concerning fly-host coevolution and the reasons for the development of hearing are discussed, and include the question of mate finding and avoidance of bats as predators.

New material attributed to the species Iasvia reticulata ZALESSKY, 1934 and to a new species in this genus is described from the Salagou Formation (Saxonian Group, Lodeve basin). Preamble to the taxonomic section, the wing venation pattern of Orthoptera is discussed. The numerous described specimens yield decisive information about variability of wing venation within the genus, previously based on a single specimen from the Russian Permian. I. reticulata is the first species from the Lodeve basin that is already known from another site. The biostratigraphic implications are discussed.

The gene encoding allatostatins (AST) of the FGLamide family from the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus is expressed in the brain. The mRNA, which contains four polyadenylation signals, encodes a hormone precursor that is split into at least 14 putative hormones. Five of them have been previously found in the cricket, six to seven others, or their close homologues, are known from other insects. Hormone AST 2 contains an internal cleavage site and may exist in a shorter version 2b. The hormones AST 3 and 4 are identical. The cDNA sequence revealed that a single point mutation and a single deletion eliminated an additional hormone between AST 12 and 13. The deduced hormone precursor is very similar to that in cockroaches, but is different from a shorter precursor in locusts, indicating that the gene evolved very fast in the latter. Regions conserved between cockroaches and crickets include parts of the acidic spacers that separate clusters of hormones, suggesting that these spacers may have additional functions.

Microspines in the alimentary tract in five families of grasshoppers and crickets (Orthoptera: Saltatoria) were studied to determine their structures and correlate them with patterns of distribution for potential use in taxonomy and future physiological studies. Short microspines were found in all sections of the foregut of each family, with the caeliferan Acrididae being the most unique, and the ensiferan families forming another group with similarities. Among the Ensifera, the Gryllacrididae and Gryllidae were the most distinctive, especially Stenopelmatus . The hindgut demonstrated another set of relationships, although less distinctive, with the Acrididae, Tettigoniidae, and Gryllacrididae appearing to be one grouping, whereas the Gryllidae and Gryllotalpidae formed another group with similarities.

Four types of stridulatory mechanisms were found in 35 species (7 genera) of New Zealand wetas (Orthoptera : Stenopelmatidae). These include: (1) tergo-femoral; (2) tergo-tergal; (3) mandbbuao-mandibular; and (4) pleuro-coxal. These fell into 12 groups, based upon shape, density and pattern of tergal and femoral pegs, number of terga bearing pegs and presence of mandibular tusks bearing stridulatory tubercles. The plesiomorphic condition, consisting of spinose peg patches on 3 or more abdominal tergites rubbed by bands of pegs on the femur, is found in Hemiandrus spp. Apomorphically-derived tergal files have arisen separately in 3 other genera. In Hemideina , (2 species groups) well-formed files are very similar among species. In Deinacrida , (4 species groups), the trend is toward file reduction into one or 2 massive tergal ridges, and embellished femoral pegs. In the tusked wetas (2 gen., 2 spp.), one species has a crude file of many broken ridges. Stridulatory structures on mandibular tusks of both New Zealand species are unique, although the tusks appear to have their origin in African stenopelmatids. The plesiomorphic condition appears to have been deployed originally for defense stridulation (inter-specific communication). Additional intea-specific stridulatory communication developed in Hemideina and Deinacrida , using the apomorphic file and peg mechanisms. Here, the stridulation is associated with defense, calling, mating and disturbance behaviors.

The origin, morphology, and distribution of extracellular material associated with developing and mature sperm of Conocephalus and their participation in the spermatophore formation is described. The spermatophore is formed by a fibrous muff, which apparently is produced by the secretory cells from the seminal tubule, and holds together the sperm heads in a very regular arrangement. This primary spermatophore disappears in the seminal vesicle, and the sperm become united by their acrosomes.

Descriptions of fermoro-abdominal stridulatory structures and frequency spectra of stridulatory sounds are presented for 7 species (Hemideina, Deinacrida) of Stenopelmatidae. In Hemideina, femoral pegs and abdominal file ridges were approximately similar in shape among species, but varied in size. The abdominal component differed in Deinacrida and consisted of either 1 or 2 heavy ridges, or an array of thin, upright, rectangular pegs. The stridulatory structures in some species had elaborate lips, grooves or buttresses. Acoustic spectra of defensive sounds of 3 Hemideina spp. had overlapping peaks between 4 – 14 kHz; a 4th species had a peak at 2 kHz. The spectral intensity dropped sharply above peak frequencies. Spectra for 3 Deinacrida spp. were very broad (1 – 90 kHz) with a shallow roll-off above peaks. The peak frequency band was 10 – 50 kHz. Each species had a different characteristic spectrum. There is no clear, consistent relationship between stridulatory structure size and spectral characteristics of stridulatory sounds.

The file teeth of crickets show pronounced interspecific differences. Twenty-four species, representing eight subfamilies, were examined to determine whether such differences reflect differences in acoustic function. We found no relation between particular tooth structures and particular features of the calling song; however, such structures correlated with the major phyletic divisions of crickets.

Acoustic signalling during pair formation is more complex in Phaneropterinae than in any other Ensifera. Lone males of most species produce more than one kind of sound, and females of all species studied produce sound during pair formation, a phenomenon with no known parallel in other Ensifera. This report includes (1) an analysis of the singing behaviours and the descriptions of sounds of nine species of Phaneropterinae and (2) the results of numerous experiments with these species to determine the behavioural significance of their sounds. Three kinds of male-female acoustic systems occur in the species studied: (1) the male makes a particular sound, the female answers with a tick and the male goes all the way to the female, (2) the male makes one kind of sound which attracts females from a distance (but not at close-range), the male makes a second sound which the female answers with a tick and the male goes to the female from close-range, and (3) the male makes one kind of sound, the female answers with a tick, the male moves towards the female from a distance (but not all the way), and the male produces a second kind of sound which attracts the female the remaining distance. Some species produce stereotyped sequences of different kinds of sounds; different responses occur to different sounds in the sequences.