A Guide to the Katydids of Australia

David Rentz

• Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN: 9780643095540
• eBook ISBN: 9780643102026
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Zoology
• Index: Biological Sciences

Katydids are among the most commonly seen Australian insects. They range in size from about 5 mm to well over 90 mm and occur in many habitats all over Australia. Katydids are masters of deception, imitating twigs, bark, leaves and stems, as well as other insects. A few are brightly coloured and are distasteful to predators. They continue to be research subjects in many university curricula, where students study their behaviour, acoustical physiology and ecology.

A Guide to the Katydids of Australia explores this diverse group of insects from the family Tettigoniidae, which comprises more than 1000 species in Australia, including Norfolk and Lord Howe islands. It highlights their relationships to plants, humans and the environment, and includes colour photographs of many species.

2011 Whitley Award Commendation for Field Guide.

Appendix 1: Keeping katydids alive and preservation of specimens

Provide a source of water for any katydids that you want to keep alive. Rolled dental cotton, available from dental supply houses, can be propped into a small vial or elongate, cylindrical jar, such as a pill bottle. Water will be absorbed into the cotton and lapped off the cotton by the katydid. Cereal mites also find the water an ideal breeding site so check regularly and change the cotton if necessary.

Most species will accept a simple ‘Orthoptera food mix’ (see page 205). Only the few obligate predators will reject it. Use only a small amount of food because cereal mites will eventually find it and breed in excessive numbers and foul the jars and kill moulting katydids. Food should be changed regularly and the jars washed thoroughly from time to time to reduce problems caused by the mites.

The main component of the mixture is natural (not toasted) muesli. If the bits are too large, the mixture should be slightly crushed by hand or for a short time in a blender. You want the particles to be small enough for small nymphs to be able to deal with them.

The mixture should be kept dry and ideally stored in a refrigerator to prevent infestation from cereal mites. If it does eventually become infested, the mixture should be discarded.

Feed only a small amount. Less than half a teaspoon should be scattered on the bottom of the container or provided in a small feeding dish (a bottle cap is often useful). Dry dog food is theoretically useful but it may be infested with mites, cereal moths or beetles. Special foods mixed specifically for crickets that are used by fishermen may also be used but quality control may not be very high and the mixtures may be contaminated. Best to mix it yourself.

Orthoptera stuffing powder

Kill the specimen by freezing or in a killing bottle. After removing the body contents of a katydid you want to preserve for your collection, dust into the body cavity a small amount of dry stuffing powder made from mixing one part of talcum powder with one part of boric acid powder. This is a safe mix and the boric acid powder can be obtained from a chemist. The talcum helps to dry the specimens quickly and the boric acid powder tends to reduce bacterial action. The key to good colour preservation is rapid drying of the specimens. Placing them in an oven will ‘cook’ them and discolour them drastically. Treated as above and left on a setting board in a dry room will preserve most of the colour.

Preservatives and fixatives

Preservation of specimens in liquid is important if you want to conveniently examine legs and genitalic structures without destroying them. Placing the specimens in 75–80 per cent ethyl alcohol (ethanol) provides very acceptable results. Better preservation can be gained by fixing the specimens first in Pampel’s Fixative (see page 205) and then transferring them to 75 per cent ethanol for permanent storage. You may encounter some difficulty in obtaining some of these chemicals. A high school or university chemistry department may assist.

Appendix 2: Special interest groups and entomological supplies

There are a number of organisations that can be of help to people who want to learn more about Orthoptera and insects in general.

The Orthopterists’ Society is an international organisation of more than 300 members that was founded in 1978. People with an interest in systematics, biology, behaviour, ecology, biogeography, genetics, morphology and control belong to this society. Meetings are held every four years at venues around the world. The Journal of Orthoptera Research is published annually and contains articles on a variety of subjects in the fields noted above. Metaleptea is the society’s newsletter and contains news of interest to members including book reviews, notices, reports and short notes on orthopteroid ecology, systematics and orthopteroid biology. Website: http://140.247.119.138/OS_Homepage/ provides current news and recent books as well as a bulletin board and members database.

The Orthoptera Species Files (OSF) (http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/HomePage.aspx) is a catalogue of all Orthoptera species and is an essential tool for taxonomists. It is kept up to date on a regular basis and should be consulted by all those who need to determine the current status of any scientific name.

There are a number of entomological societies within Australia that cater to professional and amateurs alike. Papers and notes of interest to students of Orthoptera appear from time to time.

The Australian Entomological Society is the largest organisation of Australian entomologists. The Society has two publications. The Journal of the Australian Entomological Society publishes articles on a quarterly basis in a number of different fields. Myrmecia is the newsletter of the society and is issued quarterly. It publishes executive reports, minutes, regional news, notices of events and short notes of interest. Other society activities include annual meetings in various capital cities, awards to students and professionals and competitions.

For additional information on the Australian Entomological Society check the website: http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/Hort/ascu/myrmecia/society.htm

New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria have regional entomological societies and produce publications and hold meetings. The Society for Insect Studies is an entomological society in New South Wales for amateurs and professionals. Membership is open to any person with an interest in entomology. It operates in the Sydney area and holds meetings every other month in the Australian Museum. Website: http://miller.emu.id.au/pmiller/books/stick-insects/group/insect.studies/index.html

The Australian Entomologist is a quarterly journal published by the Entomological Society of Queensland. This is an illustrated magazine devoted to entomology in the Australian region, including New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the south Pacific islands. Website: www.esq.org.au/

Australian Entomological Supplies has provided entomology supplies, equipment and books to both the entomology professional and amateur entomologist for over 35 years. Website: www.entosupplies.com.au/

Index

32-spotted Katydid 158

acanthiterga, Dexerra 124–5, 126

Acauloplacella 141, 142

Acripeza 172–3

Adelaide Marauding Katydid 121

aerial net 28

Agraeciini 84, 85–96

Aka Group 68

aka, Tympanophora 68

alatus, Metaballus 118–19

albescens, Conocephalus 103

Albilinea Group 74–6

albilinea, Hemisaga 74, 75, 77

albosignata, Tinzeda 177

Alectoria 159

Alinjarria 55, 58

Alison 65

Alison’s Katydids 65

alleni, Microtettigonia 107

Allen’s Micro Katydid 107

allirra, Hemisaga 77

Alpine Katydids 136

alumba, Paraphisis Tapangiphisis 47

amaroo, Glenbalodectes 126

ambush hunters 20

anatomy 5–6

Andreae Group 68, 69–70

andreae, Tympanophora 69

Andrea’s Balloon-winged Katydid 69

angularis, Dexerra 125

angustiloba, Polichne 169...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• Biology
• Sound and hearing
• Collecting and studying katydids
• Habitats
• Conservation
• Guide to species
• Key to subfamilies of Australian katydids
• List of the Tettigoniidae (katydids) of Australia
• Glossary
• References
• Appendix 1: Keeping katydids alive and preservation of specimens
• Appendix 2: Special interest groups and entomological supplies
• Index