Pseudorhynchus hastifer (Schaum 1853) Spear Reed Katydid

A large green or light brown species with elongated fastigium of vertex, red mandibles and apically pointed (not rounded) tegmina.

Original description in:
Schaum, H. 1853. Übersicht der von ihm in Mossambique beobachten Orthopteren nebst Beschreibung der neu entdecken Gattungen und Arten durch Herrn Dr. Hermann Schaum. Bericht über die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der königlich Preussischen Akademie Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 2
Also (with illustration) in: Schaum. 1862. In Peters. Zoologie V. Insecten und Myriapoden. Naturwissenschaftliche Reise nach Mossambique auf Befehl seiner Majestät des Königs Friedrich Wilhelm IV in den Jahren 1842 bis 1848 ausgeführt 126
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/103636#page/156/mode/1up
Translated from Latin: The apex of the head is very long, subhorizontal, with a blunt tip, the humeral sinus of the prothorax is deep, the elytra are pointed at the tip, and transversely veined. Female ovipositor straight. Abdomen long.

Redescription & illustrations in:
Ragge, D. R. 1969. A revision of the African species of Pseudorhynchus Serville (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology, 23, 167 - 190. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 15133
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/partpdf/15133
Diagnosis: Underside of head without dark pigmentation; fastigium of vertex bluntly (rarely sharply) pointed at tip. Fore wings pointed at tip.
Body length: males 59.7-67.0 mm; females 63.8-90.3 mm.

Illustrations:
http://orthoptera.archive.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=1134231
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D8878EFC60D929CCFE5335FA3A370F/6

Distribution: Across sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar.
Type locality: Mozambique (Sofala, Gorongosa)

Habitat & ecology:
Pseudorhynchus hastifer is associated with humid habitats such as reeds and tall grasses in wetlands, also also found in seasonally inundated savannahs. All Pseudorynchus species are grass-feeders feeding on leaves and reproductive parts of the plant.

iNat observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/37188674

Publicado el 21 de marzo de 2024 por traianbertau