Bioacoustics of Neoconocephalus affinis

Diagnostic description.— General characteristics as described above. Stridulatory file of male 2.8-3.5 mm long, with 129-151 lamelliform teeth, maximum width of file 0.21-0.22 mm ; teeth of file uniform in thickness, evenly spaced and smoothly narrowing towards proximal end ( Figs. 44 A-B). Mirror of stridulatory apparatus with distal margin straight, and caudal and proximal margins rounded ( Fig. 45 A). Fastigium of vertex separated from fastigium of frons by gap, usually with rounded but narrow and prominent tooth underneath ( Fig. 12 C); frontal portion of fastigium with narrow, contrasting white band, accompanied by black band below; sometimes entire ventral portion of fastigium black ( Fig. 12 B). Mid femur with 3-4 small spines on anterior ventral margin, often accompanied by small, black spots at their bases. Hind tibia in green individuals usually contrastingly dark brown. Mandibles and labrum orange, clypeus green or yellowish, rest of face uniformly green or brown, depending on general coloration. Ovipositor as long as hind femur (ratio ovipositor/ hind femur 0.92-1.06), straight. Measurements .— Table 7 . Species Body with wings Tegmen Pronotum Hind femur Ovipositor affinis male female 42.6-62, 50.3±8 54.8-67.1, 62.1±5.1 33.4-50.4, 40.2±6.9 46.0-55.5, 51.4±4 7.2-9, 8±0.8 7.5-8.6, 8.2±0.4 18.8-28.9, 23.5±3.8 25.4-31.5, 29.0±2.4 na 26.9-31.5, 29±1.7 triops male female 50.6-57.9, 54.4±2.7 65.5-62.2, 65.9±0.5 41.7-48.1, 44.4±2.3 54-54.3, 54.2±0.2 7.9-9.4, 8.7±0.5 9.1-9.6, 9.4±0.4 23.1-25.8, 24.8±1.2 29-29.2, 29.1±0.1 na 31.3-32.8, 32.1±1.1 punctipes male female 42.5-48.5, 45.9±2.2 49.3-63, 55.9±5.6 33.9-46.3, 37.6±3.8 40-52.1, 45.5±5.2 6.9-8.1, 7.4±0.4 7-8.8, 7.8±0.7 19.1-22, 20.5±1.1 20.4-28, 24.1±3.1 na 22.1-28, 25±2.3 spiza male female 48.2-52.1, 50.5±1.6 63.4-67.3, 64.8±2.1 39.8-42.1, 40.6±1 50.6-54, 51.9±1.9 8-8.4, 8.2±0.2 8.1-9, 8.6±0.5 22.4-24.5, 23.4±0.8 27.1-29.5, 27.9±1.4 na 30.6-34.2, 32.6±1.8 Bioacoustics.— The call of N. affinis constitutes lengthy (30 s to 20 minutes) bouts of continuous rattling ( Figs. 56 A-B). Walker and Greenfield (1983) calculated the wingstroke rate of singing males from Panamanian populations at 13.6±0.4 wingstrokes/s at 25°C. The length of individual chirps at the beginning of a bout (the first second of the call) is much shorter than during the remainder of the call: 14.6-27.8 ms (21.9±3.1) versus 32.6-46.8 ms (39.9±6.2) (n=30; specimens from La Selva, Costa Rica ). Males form loosely synchronized choruses ( Greenfield 1983 ). Most of the calling activity occurs 1-4 hours after sunset but individual males may sing during the day, especially in shaded habitats (e.g. part of Sendero Tres Rios at La Selva Biological Station). The bouts of males singing during the day are short, not exceeding 5-10 seconds. Maximum energy of the call is located between 10 and 14 kHz. The call is loud and has an ear piercing quality, especially when listened to from a distance of 1 m or less. Greenfield (1983) measured its intensity at 98 dB at 10 cm from the singing insect.