Understanding Katydid Communication and Its Ecological Significance
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Understanding Katydid Communication and Its Ecological Significance∗ Chandranshu Tiwari
Katydids use species-specific sound signals for courtship and long-distance communication. These sound signals are the product of intense selection pressures, both natural and sexual, while simultaneously being affected by physiological and environmental limitations. Their unique communication patterns and high sensitivity to ecological disturbances make them an important system to understand animal behavior, as well as ecosystem changes. This article introduces readers to acoustic communication in katydids and the significance of sound in their lives.
Chandranshu Tiwari is a postgraduate in environmental studies from the University of Delhi. Currently he is investigating
Katydids or bushcrickets are part of the insect family Tettigoniidae, and member of the suborder Ensifera (Ensifer in Latin means sword-bearing), alluding to the pronounced ovipositor of females used for laying eggs, (Figures 1 (a–d)). The suborder includes field crickets, wetas, king crickets, and leaf-rolling crickets [1]. Along with Caelifera (grasshoppers), the two suborders constitute the order Orthoptera, one of the oldest and most widely distributed insect groups [1, 2]. Currently, there are ∼7500 species of katydids described globally, from every continent outside polar circles [2, 3]. This number, however, is liable to change as more species are added to our knowledge base regularly.
acoustic diversity of katydids in North-East India as part of his Doctoral research.
Morphology and Habit The family name ‘Tettigoniidae’ was derived from Tettigonia, Latin for ‘leaf-hopper’ that in turn originated from Greek Tettigonion (cicada) where tettix attempted to describe the insect’s sound [4]. General identifiable traits of the Tettigoniidae include long filamentous antennae, large and well-developed hind-legs ∗
Keywords Tettigoniidae, orthoptera, katydid, mimicry, sound signals, mating call.
Vol.25, No.11, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12045-020-1073-0
RESONANCE | November 2020
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GENERAL ARTICLE
Figure 1.
Variety of ovipositor (red arrow) in Tettigoniidae family (a) Conocephalus sp., (b) Phaneroptera sp., (c) Hexacentrus major, and (d) Onomarchus sp.
1 Possessing large and welldeveloped wings, compared to apterous (without wings).
The diversity in katydid appearances is widely considered to be their primary defense strategy against predators.
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for jumping, and forewings that are held away from the body in a raised, roof-like structure when at rest [3]. Though macropterous1 , katydids are not active flyers and tend to move more via walking and jumping. Most species fly only when threatened or to approach potential mates, and even then, flights are usually shortdistance flutters [1, 5]. Katydid body size ranges from 10–60 mm, with an extreme of 120 mm in predatory Saga pedo [1, 3, 6]. Besides these general traits, katydids exhibit an astounding diversity in terms of appearances, ranging from camouflage in the leaf and bark-mimicking katydi
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