This paper treats the genus Phaulotettix Scudder, 1897, which previously included only three species. In this work we describe 12 new species: P. adibilis n. sp., P. opimus n. sp., P. altissimus n. sp., P. ablusus n. sp., P. adiaphoros n. sp., P. ambrosius n. sp., P. arcadius n. sp., P. flaccidus n. sp., P. affinis n. sp., P. adynatos n. sp., P. nimius n. sp. and P. jocundus n. sp. Species separation is based on male cerci and internal genitalia. The members of this group are distributed mostly in northeastern Mexico: Cohauila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo and north Veracruz. Two species, P. compressas Scudder, 1897 and P. eurycercus Hebard, 1918, extend their distribution into Texas, USA. Many of the species treated here overlap geographically, and many occur sympatrically. We also provide a brief discussion of the geography of northeastern Mexico.

Based upon 18 specimens collected at two sites in southeastern Arizona during 2009 and 2010, Dichroplus notatus is added to the orthopteran fauna of the United States. Habitat descriptions, lists of sympatric orthopterans and comments on its taxonomic position are presented.

Ottotettix smaragdopoda gen. et sp. nov., a brachypterous katydid from the eastern Andean foothills of southern Ecuador, is described. It is moderately common in rainforest understory along creeks and in vales between 850 and 1300 m. The male's ultrasonic calling song, which is also described, is apparently performed only sporadically, and males seem also to use substrate-borne signals.

Adeclus is a genus of Neotropical thorny katydids composed of two species: A. spiculatus (Stål, 1873) from Colombia and A. brevipennis Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1895 from Mexico. A new species of this genus, A. trispinosus n. sp., is here described from the Colombian Andes and the species A. spiculatus is redescribed. Information on distribution data, biological notes, and a key to separate the three species is also provided.

The genus Dysonia White, 1862 (Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae) is revised in the present paper. Large morphological differences between species that currently make up the genus, justify separation into three new genera: Lichenomorphus n. gen., Lichenodentix n. gen., and Valna, the latter is removed from synonymy and separated into two subgenera. Taxonomic keys for the Dysonia complex and species lists, relocating all species in this new classification, are herein provided. In addition two new species are described: Dysonia holgeri n. sp., and Lichenomorphus montealegrezi n. sp., as well as a true female of Dysonia alipes (Westwood, 1844). Locusta sellata Stoll, 1787 and Dysonia ephippium (Stoll, 1813) are considered as nomina oblita of Lichenomorphus fuscifrons n. comb. & nomen protectum.

This paper proposes new synonyms and combinations for species of Bolidorhynchus, Cephalocoema, Orienscopia, Pseudastroma and Scleratoscopia; phallic complexes, seminal receptacles and distributions are illustrated. Most of the synonymized species were originally described by Dr. Salvador de Toledo Piza Jr., whose types were found in the collection of the Museu da Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brasil.

Tetanorhynchus insignisHebard, 1931 is transferred to Bolidorhynchus; T. montanusPiza, 1977 and T. fornicatorPiza, 1981 are synonymized under Cephalocoema dubia (Mello-Leitão, 1939), and the lectotype of T. fornicator is designated; T. rostratusPiza, 1977, T. proximusPiza, 1981 and T. spitztPiza, 1981 are synonymized under Cephalocoema sica (Serville, 1839); T. guairaiPiza, 1981 is synonymized under Cephalocoema simillima (Piza, 1943); T. uruguaiensisPiza, 1977 is synonymized under Orienscopia angustirostris (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1890); Cephalocoema multispinosaBrunner von Wattenwyl, 1890 is transferred to Pseudastroma and Cephalocoema leonardosiMello-Leitão, 1939 is synonymized under it; T. taeniatusPiza, 1981 is synonymized under Pseudastroma perducta (Mello-Leião, 1939) and Tetanorhynchus silvaiRehn, 1957 is transferred back to Scleratoscopia and T. mamanguapensisPiza, 1981 is synonymized under it.

Female grasshoppers can affect the fitness of their offspring through their selection of oviposition sites. Successful embryological development depends on suitable temperature and moisture levels, factors which may vary greatly on a fine scale in natural environments where grasshoppers occur. Knowledge of parameters defining acceptable oviposition sites can provide guidelines for habitat manipulations that reduce the availability of such sites. This paper compares oviposition-site selection in two species of grasshopper from Alaska, Melanoplus borealis and M. sanguinipes, and a population of M. sanguinipes from Idaho. Laboratory experiments did not detect any differences in preferred substrate temperature among the groups of grasshoppers. In field cages containing a choice of different ground covers (bare ground, single clump of grass or turf), M. sanguinipes from Idaho were less selective in terms of the distribution of egg pods among the different cover types, whereas both M. borealis and M. sanguinipes from Alaska deposited the fewest egg pods under the turf. Results suggest that differences in oviposition behavior between the grasshoppers from Idaho and those from Alaska may stem more from differences in the above-ground physical structure of the vegetation, than from differences in responses to below-ground temperature.

The genus Poecilimon, with more than 150 species, is the largest genus of the family Phaneropteridae. According to DNA data (Ullrich et al. 2010) the most basal branch of the genus is formed by the P. hamatus group (Hamatopoecilimon n. subgen.). The coloration and a male calling song composed of series of short syllables, which follow each other at a relatively high frequency (9–26 Hz at 25°C), are important characteristics of this group. For all species of the subgenus, male calling songs, stridulatory movements (except for one species), and diagnostic genital morphology are described and figured. The females respond acoustically to the male song with a delay of about 30 ms. In four of six species the males have been observed to use two types of calling song, obviously connected to the female response behavior. The reasons for this behavior are discussed, as well as the phylogeny of the group, considering also its biogeography.

A new species of Plagiotriptus is described from the Taita Hills of Kenya, East Africa. Data on habitat and co-occurring Saltatoria species are given and an updated key provided to the species of Plagiotriptus.

The world is facing severe biodiversity loss and agencies worldwide are attempting to stem this threat. However problems arise when a rare or threatened species is also an agricultural or medical pest. In this paper we discuss the case of Aularches miliaris, the spotted coffee grasshopper. This species exists as several subspecies across south Asia, perhaps representing local genetic adaptation. It is polyphagous and a minor agricultural pest, and is usually managed via insecticides and egg-bed destruction. For much of its range, populations appear healthy and are not threatened. In contrast, within the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot in south India, A. miliaris is sparse and listed as Near-Threatened. In this area the insect is an occasional minor agricultural pest. Considering its local rarity, versus its abundance in other geographic areas, we recommend that in south India A. miliaris needs to be conserved at the present time. During localized outbreaks, we recommend that A. miliaris be managed via mechanical collection of nymphs and adults, and destruction of egg pods, rather than intervention using insecticides.

To understand the driving forces of speciation in grasshoppers of the subfamily Gomphocerinae, we compared a molecular phylogenetic tree with the distribution of the song pattern complexity and courtship behavior. In 50 grasshopper species of Gomphocerinae, a barcoding region of mitochondrial gene COI was sequenced and analyzed. A plesiomorphic pattern of calling song was shown to be predominant in the species of the most basal clusters, including the tribes Chrysochraontini, Dociostaurini and Arcypterini. In the tribes Stenobothrini and Gomphocerini, plesiomorphic pattern of the calling song was found in less than half of the species studied; others demonstrated increasing song complexity. The species of the basal cluster of the phylogenetic tree did not show complex courtship songs. Courtship songs that are different and more complex than the calling songs were only found in about half of species belonging to the tribes Stenobothrini and Gomphocerini. Most species with complex courtship (species of Stenobothrus genus, of Chorthippus albomarginatus group) were shown to be recently diverged species. Comparison of visual displays accompanying complex courtship song, revealed similarities between the species from different groups. According to the molecular phylogeny, complex courtship behavior in Gomphocerinae evolved independently and convergently. Since the courtship song can be used by a female to judge mate quality, sexual selection is suggested to be the main driving force of rapid speciation in these young species.

Wetapunga (Deinacrida heteracantha), New Zealand's largest insect, were formerly abundant in forests of northern New Zealand. However, they are now restricted to onepopulation on mammal-free Little Barrier Island (3083 ha). This study investigated the movements, habitat use and behavior of 22 adult wetapunga fitted with miniature radiotransmitters for up to 18 nights. Adult wetapunga appeared to be quite mobile, with males (16 m per night) moving further than females (8 m per night). Differences in the distances travelled by adult male and female wetapunga between daytime refuges appear due to differences in reproductive behavior. Wetapunga were associated with silverfern, nikau palm, kanuka, and kohekohe within second-growth coastal forest on Little Barrier Island. The majority of wetapunga were found above ground level, but were also occasionally found moving on the ground. In addition, adult wetapunga were found in relatively open sites with little or no cover and were clearly visible by day. Wetapunga were generally solitary and the majority of their activities, such as feeding, movements and oviposition, occurred at night. The one exception is mating (actual copulation and pre-, post-copulatory behavior), which usually occurred during daylight after weta had paired during the previous night. During the study, one male wetapunga was eaten by an unknown avian predator. Radiotelemetry has extended our knowledge of adult wetapunga behavior and this monitoring technique could be readily applied to other large invertebrates.