The Nicarchi (sensu Descamps 1976) are a group of flightless genera within the Vilernae, characterized by living on trunks of trees and by a series of mostly adaptive morphological features. They also have relatively wide thoracic sternal interspaces. It is shown here that this last is due to two processes: development of relatively wider thoraces and reduction in the size of the sternal lobes. The latter correlates with loss of flight and of the wings, as shown by a series of genera from within the Vilernae, and is associated with the atrophy and/or loss of the indirect flight musculature. A probable selective advantage of both processes is to increase the space available for the crop, the major organ of food storage and digestion.

The genus Lithodusa Bey-Bienko, 1951 is revised, including the description of a new species. Its two species differ in many aspects of morphology, mainly in genitalia, and can most easily be separated by length of tegmina. The calling songs of both species are quite similar in amplitude pattern, as well as in spectral properties. The genus is distributed from the Caucasus to northeast Turkey. The relationships of Lithodusa to other genera of the Tettigoniidae/-inae are discussed and a list of genera belonging to Drymadusini presented.

We studied the calling patterns of common true katydids (Pterophylla camellifolia) from sound recordings made during August through October 2007 in an oak-hickory forest in western Maryland. Nightly patterns of calling frequency were determined using 1-s samples spaced five min apart. The relationship between calling frequency (i.e., the number of twelve 1-second samples per hour in which singing occurred) and time of night, date, and weather variables, was modeled using logistic regression. Model predictability was high (73% of variance explained), with temperature and two rainfall-related variables having the most influence on calling frequency. This species of katydid exhibits a highly predictable degree of consistency in calling frequency, and consequently is well suited for use in ecological, distributional and status surveys.

Microsatellite markers are preferred for fine-scale population genetic studies requiring high resolution. The grasshopper Hesperotettix viridis (Thomas) is an oligophagous species that feeds on composites and often exhibits locally restricted diets. Divergence in host plant use in some localities is seen where co-occurring subpopulations select alternate plant species, as expected with the evolution of host shifts and associated lineage divergence. To characterize the host-associated divergence patterns among populations of H. viridis, we developed markers from two microsatellite-enriched genomic libraries. Here we report the characterization and optimization of seven polymorphic di- and tri-nucleotide microsatellite loci for this species. One hundred and six individuals from 5 populations were tested for polymorphism. The number of alleles varied from 4 to 38 in all the populations. H_o ranged from 0.339 to 0.790. Homozygote excess was observed across loci, perhaps due to inbreeding. This is the first report of microsatellite markers for the subfamily Melanoplinae.

The species kiarae sp. nov. is described on the basis of an incomplete fossil specimen yielded by the Pennsylvanian deposit of Piesberg near Osnabrück (Germany). A second incomplete specimen is tentatively assigned to the species. The species is erected under the new cladotypic nomenclatural procedure, but a proper Linnaean name is also provided (Forfexala kiarae gen. and sp. nov.). The holotype (and most complete specimen) is interpreted as a hind wing, and the species assigned to the taxon Archaeorthoptera. The combination of a simple CuPa, a common stem MP CuA (diverging from M CuA) separating into MP and CuA at the point of fusion of CuA with CuPa, a brief connection of the anterior branch of MA with RP, and a branched CuPb, indicate that the new species does not belong to any of the Archaeorthoptera groups previously reported in the Pennsylvanian. According to the estimated hind-wing length of the species (ranging from 85 to 100 mm), kiarae sp. nov. is the largest Archaeorthoptera of the period, and one of the largest ever. The new species shares the habitus of phasmatodeans, but definitive assignment to this group would require new investigations of the wing venation of its representatives.

Vegetated inland sand dunes occupy thousands of square kilometers on the Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States. Many of these dunes are found along rivers where during glacial times, west winds deposited sand from dry river bottoms onto eastern banks. One such dune system, known as the Ohoopee Dunes, is found along the Ohoopee and Little Ohoopee Rivers in eastern Georgia. Because the grasshopper fauna of these dunes had not been well documented, a faunal survey was initiated. Collections focused on sand dunes along the Little Ohoopee River. Twenty-two species of grasshoppers were collected in the scrub-like habitat of the dunes. Comparison of the fauna of this scrub habitat to scrub habitat in Florida revealed two different faunas. Eight species found in the dunes are typically restricted to sandy soils in the southeastern United States. Of these, several rare species including Melanoplus bispinosus, M. quercicola, (both new state records for Georgia), M. carnegiei, and M. stegocercus, were found to inhabit the Ohoopee Dunes. Diagnostic characters of the genitalia of M. carnegiei and M. quercicola are provided for the first time.

On the basis of material collected over several years, 13 genera and 33 species of Melanoplinae of northeastern México are treated. Four species are considered as new records: Melanoplus arizonae Scudder, 1878, M. bivittatus (Say, 1825), M. regalis (Dodge, 1876) and M. sanguinipes sanguinipes (Fabricius, 1798). A new species is described: Huastecacris fariensis n. sp. Twenty species are endemic to México: new information on geographic distribution and relative abundance is provided for all species treated. Melanoplus Stål, 1873 and Phaedrotettix Scudder, 1897 were the most diverse genera, with 13 and five species, respectively. The most common species, in order of abundance, were Phaulotettix compressus Scudder, 1897 (231 specimens), Phaedrotettix violai Fontana & Buzzetti, 2007 (229), Huastecacris zenoni Fontana & Buzzetti, 2007 (188), Phoetaliotes nebrascensis (Thomas, 1872) (161), Melanoplus flavidus Scudder, 1878 (110) and Huastecacris truncatipennis Fontana & Buzzetti, 2007 (109). Simpson's index (D) was estimated at 0.07 and Simpson's biodiversity index (1-D) at 0.93.

AFLP molecular analysis supported morphological separation for some of the taxa studied and confirmed the presence of a new species of Huastecacris: H. fariensis n. sp.

Hemagglutinating activity (HA) of the serum of the 5^th-instar desert locust Schistocerca gregaria was detected against a range of vertebrate red blood cells (RBCs). Serum strongly agglutinates RBCs of rabbit. In contrast, no agglutination was observed for RBCs from guinea pig or horse and a very low level was observed for human, sheep, and rat RBCs. HA is Ca² dependent, heat-labile, and was strongly inhibited by α-linked-D-galactosides and rhamnose. Developmentally, a relatively low level of HA (≤32) is present in the extracted fluids from centrifuged homogenate of 1 to 12 day-old eggs. Also, a limited level of HA was observed in the 2^nd and 3^rd instars. However, prominent and cyclical patterns were observed in the 4^th and 5^th instars. In each of these cycles, HA starts low (64), maximizes (128, 512, in the two instars respectively) at about midstadium, then declines again prior to ecdysis to the next stage. On the other hand, adult stage HA starts at a low value (512), then maximizes and is sustained at a fairly constant value (1024), without any difference in the sexes throughout the period of measurements (up to day 73 of the life cycle). HA is independent of sex and season but conspicuously and reproducibly varies with stadium, stage and age.

The morphology of the proventriculus may supply useful taxonomic characters for some species of crickets. This study evaluated if the proventriculus can be used to distinguish three species of Nemobiinae crickets: Phoremia sp. n., Zucchiella sp. n., and Amanayara sp n. In crickets the proventriculus presents six lobes, each one bearing eight appendices along its longitudinal axis. In Phoremia sp. n., the central portion of the first appendix has a tooth like a spear, with two denticles; the central portion of the second appendix presents one plate formed by five denticles, whereas in Zucchiella sp. n., the apex of the first appendix is U-shaped with denticles absent, and the second appendices differ from those of Phoremia sp. n. by the number of denticles. In Amanayara sp. n. the central portion of the first and second appendices form a long and sharpened tooth, the denticles are lacking. In the other proventricular appendices there was variation in the number of denticles and in their shape. These results indicate that the morphology of the proventriculus can provide auxiliary characters for taxonomy of Nemobiinae, especially useful for this subfamily, since for many species the external morphology is insufficient for characterization of genera and species.

The Central American locust, Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons Walker, is an economically important agricultural pest in Mexico and Central America. This species is characterized by its ability to gregarize and migrate long distances. High infestations of S. p. piceifrons have occurred in northeastern Mexico since 1998, particularly in the Huasteca region (South Tamaulipas, East San Luis Potosi, North Veracruz and the State of Hidalgo). The aim of this study was to develop a model that relates the life cycle of the Central American locust with the climatic conditions of northeastern Mexico. The model is expressed in terms of a Thermal Time Clock calculated from mean monthly temperatures and photoperiod. Historic temperature data of 20 y, from 20 meteorological stations, were used to calculate average monthly (Ψ_month) and yearly (Ψ_year) values for thermal time (units are °C-days). For these calculations we used the Allen sine method, a lower temperature threshold (k₁ =15.3 °C) and an upper thermal threshold (k₂ = 38.5 °C). An average Thermal Time Locust Development Clock (TTLDC) was calculated using the relationship (Ψ_month/Ψ_year)*360, which quantifies the monthly angular contribution on the clock (Ψ = 10.6 α). Essentially, the clock is a translator between thermal time and calendar time (or vice versa) and may be used to forecast locust-stage development dates, starting from a given “Bio-fix” point. This clock can be used to program management activities of this pest. Field observations from 2001 to 2008, on population density and development stages of the Central American locust, were consistent with the development times recorded in the TTLDC.

A list of Libyan Orthoptera is presented based on specimens preserved in Museums, incorporating all (previously published or unpublished) label information. Overall, 141 species are included, of which four are new records for the country. Given within “species inquirendae” are another six species, with the reasons for confirming their presence. Libya's orthopteran fauna is probably not rich, but our knowledge of it is far from exhaustive.

There has been a considerable range expansion for Roesel's bushcricket Metrioptera roeselii in Essex since 1980, and it is often assumed that the macropterous (long-winged) form (f. diluta) has played an important role. A systematic study of the occurrence and distribution of this bushcricket in the county shows that this range expansion has corresponded with a significant increase in air temperature and the availability of tall grassland on farmland, due to the introduction of set-aside and agri-environment schemes such as Countryside Stewardship. These tall grasslands are particularly important for M. roeselii in areas of the county (e.g., the northwest) where hedgerow removal has been severe since the 1940s. This study indicates that the previous year's air temperature may be the most crucial climatic determinant of macroptery, hot weather leading to successful breeding and high population densities in the following year. These populations may then produce macropterous individuals in response to overcrowding; this may explain the occurrence of long-winged M. roeselii in years with cool and damp weather. However, this study fails to provide conclusive evidence of this due to a lack of quantitative macropter data. Nevertheless, a clear link is established between high temperatures and the early appearance of macropters, hot weather from April to July leading to accelerated nymphal development and earlier sightings of macropterous bushcrickets.

Three lectins, designated as Sg₁, Sg₂ and Sg₃, were identified in the serum of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria. With the use of (NH₄)₂SO₄ fractionation, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and affinity chromatography on CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B, three pools, each containing one of the putative lectins, were obtained. IEF, native PAGE and SDS/PAGE revealed that the three pools contained Sg₁, Sg₂ and Sg₃, respectively, with pI = 6.39, 8.11 and 6.8; native PAGE Rm = 0.44, 0.32 and 0.32; SDS/ PAGE subunits approximate molecular weights = 21.5, 44.5, and 43.9 kDa, respectively. Under reducing conditions, SDS/PAGE has separated each of Sg₂ and Sg₃ into two bands that indicate the presence of covalent interactions between their subunits, which are not present in Sg₁. The three lectins are more highly specific for rabbit RBCs than for those of other vertebrates. The HA of lectins are Ca² -dependent, heat-labile, and are inhibited strongly by α-linked-D-galactosides, followed by L-( )-rhamnose.

A new species of Parasphena is described from southwestern Tanzania, occurring in the montane zone of the third highest mountain, Mt Hanang. Morphological details are given for P. hanangensis n. sp. and for species on the northern branch of the Eastern Arc mountains, Mt Kilimanjaro and the Kenyan highlands, morphologically related to this new species. A coenological comparison is made between several high mountains of East Africa; patterns of present-day distribution — the result of climatic fluctuations of the past — are discussed. Information on distribution, habitat and altitudinal ranges are given for all species of the genus Parasphena.

A new species of Odonturoides Ragge, 1980 is described from the east African highlands. O. hanangensis Hemp, n. sp., occurs on the lower border of the montane forest of Mt Hanang, the third highest mountain of Tanzania. Morphological and ecological data are presented for all known species of this genus.

The genus Chromothericles is reviewed. Data on distribution, habitat and ecology are given for most species and four species new to science described. Along with a key to all species (excepting C. pulchripes Descamps, for which only the female is known), phenological data are provided for C. uguenoensis n. sp. and C. kanga Sjöstedt. I discuss climatic fluctuations of the past as the driving force for patterns of allopatric speciation found in several flightless Saltatoria taxa in East Africa.