Bioacoustics of Neduba ambagiosa

Etymology. l. ambagiosa circuitous, indirect, roundabout, referring to the distribution being the southwestern extent of a ring of Convexa Clade taxa around the Central Valley ( Fig. 8 ). Notes. This species has exchanged genes with populations of N. carinata (see also Notes section under N. carinata species account). In addition to DNA evidence ( Fig. 4 ), males from a population along Putah Creek in Solano County have a high stridulatory file tooth density as in N. carinata but sing with N. convexa song, albeit with a faster PTR that may be influenced by N. carinata alleles. The geography of this hybrid population suggests that other populations from the northern and eastern Bay Area may also have hybrid characteristics. Stridulatory files from north Bay Area populations that we have examined are within the range for this species. Populations in inland locations such as Solano County may experience gene flow that is otherwise prevented across the Coast Ranges by San Francisco Bay.A precopulatory pair was observed (JAC pers. obs.) at the type locality ( Fig. 2G , Plate 1B ). After phonotaxis the female oriented directly behind the male and palpated the male with her antennae.

Distribution. North Coast Ranges of California . The type locality is in the vicinity of Clear Lake. Habitat. Understory of chaparral and mixed conifer forests, riparian corridors, and canyon bottoms. On leaf litter, poison oak, and on tree trunks. Seasonal occurrence. mid-June ( 16-VI-1978 , DB Weissman, CAS) through November ( 15-XI-1953 JR Helfer, CAS). Nymphs from December through July. Stridulatory file. (n = 13) length 2.6–3.9 mm , 94–139 teeth, tooth density 34.2 ± 2.6 (30.8–40.9) teeth/mm. Song. (n = 11) PTR 2.9 ± 0.3 s- 1, identical to topotype N. convexa . PTF 13.0 ± 0.9 kHz. Males are nocturnal singers. A genetically identified hybrid population ( Fig. 4 ; see also Notes under N. carinata ) from Solano County, California has a significantly faster pulse rate of 3.1 ± 0.2 s- 1 (ANCOVA, P = 1.08×10 -5 ). Karyotype. (n = 9) 2n♁ = 26 ( 2m + 22t + XtYt). T14-24, S14-64, paratopotype. Recognition. A low stridulatory file tooth density (30–40) will separate this species from N. carinata and N. diabolica distributed to the south. The ventral sclerite apex is usually conical to pyramidal, rarely flat, with a short to medium-length lateral process. The length of the lateral process is shorter than most N. convexa , a species of the Sierra Nevada , northern Central Valley and Cascade Range, but is longer than that of N. oblongata in the Diablo Range. The lateral process is shorter than the shaft, separating this taxon morphologically from N. longiplutea distributed farther north in the North Coast Ranges. Curved apical margins and a distinct central groove on the triangular subgenital plate will separate females of this species from N. carinata , N. diabolica , and N. oblongata which are pentagonal with straight apical margins. The subgenital plate of N. longiplutea to the north is longer than wide with a bifurcate apex in contrast to the subequal length and width and entire, acute apex of this species. Calling song will separate this species from N. carinata , N. oblongata , and N. diabolica as all are species with similar length MPT and OPT and fast PTR.