Abstract
Listroscelidinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) are insectivorous Pantropical katydids whose taxonomy presents a long history of controversy, with several genera incertae sedis. This work focused on species occurring in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, one of the world's most threatened biomes. We examined material deposited in scientific collections and visited 15 conservation units from Rio de Janeiro to southern Bahia between November 2011 and January 2012, catching 104 specimens from 10 conservation units. Based on morphological and molecular data we redefined Listroscelidini, adding a new tribe, new genus and eight new species to the subfamily. Using morphological analysis, we redescribed and added new geographic records for six species, synonymized two species and built a provisional identification key for the Atlantic Forest Listroscelidinae. Molecular results suggest two new species and a new genus to be described, possibly by the fission of the genus Hamayulus. We also proposed a 500 bp region in the final portion of the COI to be used as a molecular barcode. Our data suggest that the Atlantic Forest Listroscelidinae are seriously endangered, because they occur in highly preserved forest remnants, show high rates of endemism and have a narrow geographic distribution. Based on our results, we suggest future collection efforts must take into account the molecular barcode data to accelerate species recognition.
Highlights
Listroscelidinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) are carnivorous katydids [1] with a long and controversial taxonomic history
Except for Listroscelis monnei sp. nov. and L. cohni sp. nov., each genus was represented by a single species in the same sample site, indicating a high rate of endemism of Listroscelidini in Atlantic Forest remnants
Based on specimens collected in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, as well as some specimens deposited in museums, we added a new tribe, a new genus and eight new species to the subfamily and redefined Listroscelidini
Summary
Listroscelidinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) are carnivorous (insectivorous) katydids [1] with a long and controversial taxonomic history. In 1891, Redtenbacher [2] placed these species in the tribe ‘‘Listroscelini’’, which he included in Conocephalinae, with Listroscelis Serville as the type genus. In 1924, Karny [6] transferred a few genera to Meconematinae and in 1936 Zeuner [7,8] reevaluated Tettigoniidae, examining traditional characteristics of the head, wing venation and prothoracic tracheal apparatus. He proposed two closely related taxa: ‘‘Conocephaloids’’, including Listroscelidinae (treated as a subfamily), Salomoninae (including Agraeciinae) and Copiphorinae; and ‘‘Tettigonioids’’, including Tettigoniinae, Decticinae, Saginae, Mecopodinae and Phyllophorinae. In 1979, Rentz [10] corrected the suprageneric name to Listroscelidinae, redefining it to include species with fastigium of vertex narrow and usually sulcated, fore and mid femora with robust spines and fore tibia with five to seven long spines
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