Bioacoustics of Neduba radicata

Etymology. l. radicata having roots, having found a home. Notes. At China Flat Campground, El Dorado County, California, two males were observed emerging from leaf litter to sing in understory tangles.Acoustical activity commenced before dusk at this locality during overcast conditions after a rainstorm. At the southern extent of the range along Finning Mill Road, males were singing before sunset at 2019 h. This species is sympatric with N. radocantans (Sierranus Group) in El Dorado County, California. Specimens examined. (n = 21) All USA , CA , El Dorado Co. , in addition to type material (above), 1♁, Kelsey , 38.798791N , 120.820768W , 24-VII-1939 , J Labadie , CSCA ; 1♀ , Pollock Pines , 38.761292N , 120.586594W , 1207 m , 1-VII-1950 , HL McKenzie , CSCA ; 1♀ nymph, Snowline Camp , 38.746292N , 120.624373W , 21-VI-1948 , CD MacNeill , CAS ; 1♁, Strawberry , 38.796852N , 120.145187W , 1768 m , 1-X-1954 , ME Gardner , BMED ; 1♀ , same data except WJ Wall , BMED ; 1♀ nymph, same data except 28-VII-1950 , ME Gardner , BMED ; 1♀ nymph, same data except 3-VIII-1952 , WJ Wall , BMED ; 1♁ nymph, Strawberry Valley , 38.796582N , 120.145187W , 12-VIII- 1912 , EC VanDyke , CAS ; 1♁ nymph, same data except 5-VIII-1912 , EC VanDyke , CAS ; 1♁, US50 3.7 mi. W Kyburz, 38.76427N , 120.35897W , 1112 m , 19-VII-2015 , JA Cole , DB Weissman , JAC sound record; Nevada Co. , 1♁, junction SR20&I-80, 4-X-1972 , AM Shapiro , BMED ; Placer Co. , Cisco , 39.301569N , 120.546874W , VI-1910 , C VanGeldern , CAS ; 3♁, Emigrant Gap , 39.300456N , 120.668268W , 1567 m , 17-XI-1967 , HR Ingham , CSCA ; 1♀ , Michigan Bluff , 39.042956N , 120.741319W , 1073 m , 11-V-1962 , G Buxton , CSCA ; Sierra Co. , 1♁, 10 mi. S Downieville , 39.41439N , 120.826891W , 28-VII-1962 , WJ Turner , CSCA ; 1♁, Goodyears Creek , 39.540911N , 120.88824W , 10-VII-1925 , EB Nast , CAS ; 1♁, St. Charles Hill , 39.56795N , 120.911061W , 7-VII-1925 , EB Nast , CAS ; Yuba Co. , 1♁ nymph, Challenge , 39.487389N , 121.223572W , 1-VII-1963 , J Vercamp , CAS ; 1♁, same data except 20-VIII-1964 , R Whitely , CAS ; 1♀ , same data except VIII-1963 , E Ball Jr , CAS .

Distribution. High elevations in the central and northern Sierra Nevada of California . Habitat. Mixed conifer woodland. Taken from understory tangles and leaf litter in coniferous forest, under logs, in a small shrub in an open field, and from riverbanks. One male paratype sang from 2.4 m above ground in thicket of branches. He dropped to the ground when approached (JAC pers. obs.). Seasonal occurrence. Midsummer through fall, from July ( 1-VII-1950 , HL McKenzie, CSCA) through November ( 17-XI-1967 , HR Ingham, CSCA). Nymphs occur from early June through August, thus overlapping broadly with adult activity. Stridulatory file. (n = 6) length 3.3–3.9 mm , 115–135 teeth, tooth density 35.4 ± 3.4 (30.8–40.9) teeth/mm. Song. (n = 19) PTR is significantly faster than all other Convexa Clade lineages (ANCOVA, P = 1.08×10 -5 ), owing to significantly shorter MPTL of 202.5 ± 53.6 ms (ANCOVA, P = 4.27×10 -11 ). MPT often have a characteristic amplitude modulation pattern, with a gradual increase in amplitude followed by an abrupt increase at the middle of the PT ( Plate 4F ). Males may sing in the late afternoon as well as at night. Karyotype. (n = 7) 2n♁ = 26 ( 2m + 22t + XtYt), T88-8, S88-60, paratype . Recognition. The male ventral sclerite has straight, thick shaft, the apex rounded with the highest point lateral to the central axis, and the short lateral process directed 45 o anterior to plane of shaft. This genital morphology may only be confused with N. diabolica and some N. carinata , both of which have higher stridulatory file tooth densities and lisping songs and are distributed in the South Coast Ranges. The female subgenital plate is distinct from all other Carinata Group species: wider than long with a strongly bifurcate apex. The song PTR is faster and MPTL shorter than all other Convexa Clade taxa. This species is the only Neduba found in high elevation yellow pine forest in the central and northern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California .