Rhaphidophoridae Research Articles

A novel seed dispersal mode of Apostasia nipponica could provide some clues to the early evolution of the seed dispersal system in Orchidaceae.

Despite being one of the most diverse families, scant attention has been paid to the seed dispersal system in Orchidaceae, owing to the widely accepted notion that wind dispersal is the dominant strategy. However, the indehiscent fruits, with seeds immersed in fleshy tissue, evoke the possibility of endozoochory in Apostasioideae, the earliest diverging lineage of orchids. In the present study, I investigated the seed dispersal system of Apostasia nipponica by direct observation, time‐lapse photography, and investigation of the viability of seeds passing through the digestive tract of orthopterans. This study revealed a previously undocumented seed dispersal system in A. nipponica, in which the cricket, Eulandrevus ivani, and the camel cricket, Diestrammena yakumontana, consume the fruit and defecate viable seeds. Orthopterans are rarely considered seed dispersers, but the gross fruit morphology and pigmentation patterns of some Apostasia species parallel those seen in A. nipponica, suggesting that similar seed dispersal systems could be widespread among Apostasia species. Whether seed dispersal by orthopteran frugivores is common in Apostasioideae warrants further investigation.

Wishlist-worthy books for young readers Follow That Bee! A First Book of Bees in the City , Scot Ritchie, Kids Can Press, 2019, 32 pp. When Sue Found Sue: Sue Hendrickson Discovers Her T. Rex, Toni Buzzeo, Illustrated by Diana Sudyka, Abrams, 2019, 32 pp. Moth: An Evolution Story , Isabel Thomas, Illustrated by Daniel Egnéus, Bloomsbury, 2019, 48 pp.

From cryptic ciphers and wall-climbing robots to dinosaur digs and visits to the planetarium, this year's finalists for the Science Books and Films (SB&F) Prizes for Excellence in Science Books are packed with fun facts, easy-to-do experiments, and plenty of creepy-crawly creatures. Sponsored by Subaru and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, the publisher of Science ), the SB&F competition celebrates high-quality science books for young readers. Read on for reviews of the finalists, written by the staff of the Science family of journals, with help from a few friends.

Predicting the potential distribution of Rhaphidophorinae (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae) in China.

The rhaphidophorid subfamily Rhaphidophorinae, distributed from South Asian to Australia, comprises 7 extant genus and 160 species. In China, the subfamily are poorly understood. Based on the occurrence data and climate data, ecological niche model can be used as a tool for species discovery. Herein we predict the potential distribution of Chinese Rhaphidophorinae using MAXENT under R environment. The mean temperature of coldest quarter plays an important role in the distribution of true cave cricket in China. Our potential map suggested the main concentrated area of the subfamily's range is in Yunnan, while expanding to the east, there is an obviously geographical barrier in Guangxi. Considering the diversity of rhaphidophorids in China is not well known, we hope that the combining ecological niche model can serve as a guide to future survey expeditions in China.

Orthoptera and allies in the Maritime provinces, Canada: new records and updated provincial checklists

We provide an updated checklist of Orthoptera and their allies for each Maritime province of Canada with details for 21 new species records. Drumming Katydid (Meconema thalassinum), recorded from Nova Scotia (NS) and Prince Edward Island (PEI), and Sprinkled Grasshopper (Chloealtis conspersa), recorded from New Brunswick (NB) are reported for the first time from the Maritimes as a whole. We report range extensions in the Maritime region for Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae; NB), Treetop Bush Katydid (Scudderia fasciata; NS), Short-legged Camel Cricket (Ceuthophilus brevipes; PEI), Spotted Camel Cricket (Ceuthophilus maculatus; PEI), Roesel’s Shield-backed Katydid (Roeseliana roesellii; NS), and Black-horned Tree Cricket (Oecanthus nigricornis; PEI). Short-winged Mole Cricket (Neoscapteriscus abbreviatus; NB) and European Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa; NS) are reported as adventives (non-native species that are believed to be not yet established), new to Canada from the Maritimes. Other new records for species not known to be established are Lined Earwig (Doru taeniatum; NS), Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae; PEI), American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana; NB), Brown Cockroach (Periplaneta brunnea; PEI), Smooth Cockroach (Nyctibora laevigata; NB), West Indian Leaf Cockroach (Blaberus discoidalis; NB), an unidentified Parcoblatta species (NB), Brown-banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa; PEI), Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa; NB), and American Bird Grasshopper (Schistocerca americana; NS).

Insights into the molecular phylogeny of Rhaphidophoridae, an ancient, worldwide lineage of Orthoptera

We investigated the molecular phylogenetic divergence and historical biogeography of cave crickets belonging to the family Rhaphidophoridae (Orthoptera, Ensifera). We used taxa representative of most of the regions embraced by the family, considering samples of Macropathinae from Gondwana land (i.e., Tasmania, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and South America); Aemodogryllinae and Rhaphidophorinae from Southern-eastern Asia (i.e., India, Bhutan, China, Philippines and the Sulawesi islands); Dolichopodainae and Troglophilinae from the Mediterranean region and Ceuthophilinae from North America. Based on previous papers, we carried out an analysis of both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences considering the ribosomal RNA units 12S, 16S, 18S, and 28S. To reconstruct phylogeny, we use cladistics, Maximum Likelihood (ML), and Bayesian analyses. All phylogenetic analyses showed the same highly supported topology generally congruent with the classical systematic arrangement at the level of each sub-family but strongly disagree with previous affinity hypotheses between sub-families based on morphological characters. Our results reveal a close affinity between Asiatic and Gondwanian taxa from one hand and between North American and Mediterranean ones from the other hand. Dating estimates indicated that Rhaphidophoridae originated in the Cretaceous period during the Mesozoic era with the ancestral area located both in the northern and southern hemisphere. A possible biogeographic scenario, reconstructed using S-DEC with RASP software, suggested that the current distribution of Rhaphidophoridae might be explained by a combination of both dispersal and vicariance events occurred especially in the ancestral populations. The radiation of Rhaphidophoridae started within the Pangaea, where the ancestor of Rhaphidophoridae occurred throughout an ancestral area including Australia, North America, and the Mediterranean region. The opening of the Atlantic Ocean promoted the divergence of North American and Mediterranean lineages while the differentiation of the southern lineages, spread from Australia, appears to be related to the fragmentation of Gondwana land.

Low-frequency vibration transmission and mechanosensory detection in the legs of cave crickets

Vibrational communication is common in insects and often includes signals with prominent frequency components below 200 Hz, but the sensory adaptations for their detection are scarcely investigated. We performed an integrative study of the subgenual organ complex in Troglophilus cave crickets (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae), a mechanosensory system of three scolopidial organs in the proximal tibia, for mechanical, anatomical and physiological aspects revealing matches to low frequency vibration detection. Microcomputed tomography shows that a part of the subgenual organ sensilla and especially the accessory organ posteriorly in this complex are placed closely underneath the cuticle, a position suited to evoke responses to low-frequency vibration via changes in the cuticular strain. Laser-Doppler vibrometry shows that in a narrow low-frequency range the posterior tibial surface reacts stronger to low frequency sinusoidal vibrations than the anterior tibial surface. This finding suggests that the posterior location of sensilla in tight connection to the cuticle, especially in the accessory organ, is adapted to improve detectability of low-frequency vibration signals. By electrophysiological recordings we identify a scolopidial receptor type tuned to 50–300 Hz vibrations, which projects into the central mechanosensory region specialised for processing low-frequency vibratory inputs, and most likely originates from the accessory organ or the posterior subgenual organ. Our findings contribute to understanding of the mechanical and neuronal basis of low-frequency vibration detection in insect legs and their highly differentiated sensory systems.

Farallon Camel Cricket, Farallonophilus cavernicolus (Rentz, 1972) (Orthoptera: Rhapidophoridae), Relationship within the Ceuthophilinae

Farallonophilus cavernicolus (Rentz, 1972) is a member of the family Rhaphidophoridae (camel crickets) endemic to the Farallon Islands. Rentz (1972) hypothesized that F. cavernicolus had characteristics between those of the genera Pristoceuthophilus Rehn, 1903 and Ceuthophilus Scudder, 1862 but closest to the genus Pristoceuthophilus. Currently Pristoceuthophilus is placed in the tribe Pristoceuthophilini and Ceuthophilus in the tribe Ceuthophilini. Farallonophilus cavernicolus is currently placed within the Pristoceuthophilini (Cigliano et al. 2018). We tested this hypothesis and classification by performing mtDNA phylogenetic analysis using collected samples and GenBank sequences. Our results indicate general agreement with current subfamily Ceuthophilinae (which contains the tribes Pristoceuthophilini and Ceuthophilini) relationships except that F. cavernicolus appears to be outside both the Pristoceuthophilini and the Ceuthophilini. Our results suggest that the F. cavernicolus lineage diverged from the Pristoceuthophilini and Ceuthophilini roughly 8.9MYA, roughly 1.6 million years before the Pristoceuthophilini and Ceuthophilini diverged from each other.

Public questions spur the discovery of new bacterial species associated with lignin bioconversion of industrial waste.

A citizen science project found that the greenhouse camel cricket (Diestrammena asynamora) is common in North American homes. Public response was to wonder ‘what good are they anyway?’ and ecology and evolution guided the search for potential benefit. We predicted that camel crickets and similar household species would likely host bacteria with the ability to degrade recalcitrant carbon compounds. Lignocellulose is particularly relevant as it is difficult to degrade yet is an important feedstock for pulp and paper, chemical and biofuel industries. We screened gut bacteria of greenhouse camel crickets and another household insect, the hide beetle (Dermestes maculatus) for the ability to grow on and degrade lignocellulose components as well as the lignocellulose-derived industrial waste product black liquor. From three greenhouse camel crickets and three hide beetles, 14 bacterial strains were identified that were capable of growth on lignocellulosic components, including lignin. Cedecea lapagei was selected for further study due to growth on most lignocellulose components. The C. lapagei secretome was identified using LC/MS/MS analysis. This work demonstrates a novel source of lignocellulose-degrading bacteria and introduces an effective workflow to identify bacterial enzymes for transforming industrial waste into value-added products. More generally, our research suggests the value of ecologically guided discovery of novel organisms.

Seasonal abundance and distribution of the Farallon camel cricket, Farallonophilus cavernicolus Rentz, 1972 (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae), and other arthropods on Southeast Farallon Island

We provide distribution and abundance information for Farallonophilus cavernicolusRentz, 1972, the Farallon camel cricket, and other commonly encountered ground dwelling arthropods (the tenebrionid beetles Coniontis sp. and Eleodes parvicollis Eschscholtz, 1829, Isopoda, and Microcoryphia) recorded during visits to the Southeast Farallon Island (SEFI) from 2013 through 2015. We found cricket populations in six caves and rock crevices, which were mapped and surveyed. One cave accounted for the greatest cricket numbers, with counts averaging 2787 ± 277 individuals, while the other five caves never exceeded 250 individuals; crickets were most abundant from late September to early November. Behavioral observations and pitfall trapping indicate that crickets leave caves at night and prefer walking along the outer surfaces of walls rather than over open ground and, in some cases, may inhabit large crevices on cliff facings. Crickets were not commonly found under boards, rocks, or seabird burrows on the island, although diversity and numbers of other arthropods were significantly greater under artificial board salamander refuges vs. natural ground cover and during the wetter winter and spring seasons.

The mechanical leg response to vibration stimuli in cave crickets and implications for vibrosensory organ functions.

We investigate the influence of leg mechanics on the vibration input and function of vibrosensitive organs in the legs of the cave cricket Troglophilus neglectus, using laser Doppler vibrometry. By varying leg attachment, leg flexion, and body posture, we identify important influences on the amplitude and frequency parameters of transmitted vibrations. The legs respond best to relatively high-frequency vibration (200-2000Hz), but in strong dependence on the leg position; the response peak shifts progressively over 500-1400Hz towards higher frequencies following leg flexion. The response is amplified most strongly on the tibia, where specialised vibrosensory organs occur, and the response amplitude increases with the increasing frequency. Leg responses peaking at 800 and 1400Hz closely resemble the tuning of the intermediate organ receptors in the proximal tibia of T. neglectus, which may be highly sensitive to positional change. The legs of free-standing animals with the abdomen touching the vibrating substrate show a secondary response peak below 150Hz, induced by body vibration. Such responses may significantly increase the sensitivity of low-frequency receptors in the tibial accessory organ and the femoral chordotonal organ. The cave cricket legs appear suitable especially for detection of high-frequency vibration.

Long Legs And Combat Outcomes Among Male Cave Crickets

Long Legs And Combat Outcomes Among Male Cave Crickets

Seed dispersal in the mycoheterotrophic orchid Yoania japonica: Further evidence for endozoochory by camel crickets.

Although orthopterans are rarely considered to be effective seed dispersal agents, the large flightless crickets known as 'weta' have been suggested to function as ecological replacements for small mammals in New Zealand, where such mammals are absent. In addition, a recent study reported that camel crickets mediate seed dispersal of several heterotrophic plants, including Yoania amagiensis in Japan. I investigated the seed dispersal mechanism of Yoania japonica because the fruit morphology is similar to Y.amagiensis. Specifically, I aimed to determine whether Y.japonica fruits are consumed by camel crickets and, if so, whether the seeds defecated by camel crickets remains intact, by checking seed viability with TTC staining, and whether germination rate is different between seeds collected directly from fruits and defecated seeds by comparing insitu seed germinability. The present study provides evidence that camel crickets function as seed dispersal agents of Y.japonica. Camel crickets were important consumers of Y.japonica fruits, and a substantial portion of the consumed seeds remained viable after passing through the digestive tract. In situ seed germination experiments revealed that the seeds defecated by camel crickets actually germinated in the field. In addition, the germination rate of defecated seeds was even higher than that of intact seeds, although the difference was not significant. Taken together with recent reports of insect-mediated endozoochory, such a seed dispersal system may be common in plants with fleshy indehiscent fruits and small seeds, even in locations where other seed dispersal agents are present.

A revised phylogeny of macropathine cave crickets (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) uncovers a paraphyletic Australian fauna

Australian cave crickets are members of the subfamily Macropathinae (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae). The subfamily is thought to have originated prior to the tectonic separation of the supercontinent Gondwana based on distributions of extant lineages and molecular phylogenetic evidence, although the Australian fauna have been underrepresented in previous studies. The current study augments existing multigene data (using 12S, 16S, and 28S rRNA genes) to investigate the placement of the Australian representatives within the Macropathinae and to assess divergence dates of select clades. Results suggest that the endemic Tasmanian genus Parvotettix is the sister lineage to the remaining members of the subfamily, an outcome that presents a paraphyletic Australian fauna in contrast to previous studies. All other Australian taxa represented in this study (Micropathus and Novotettix) emerged as a sister group to the New Zealand and South American macropathine lineages. Estimation of phylogenetic divergence ages among the aforementioned clades were calibrated using two methods, in absence of suitable fossil records: (i) tectonic events depicting the fragmentation of Gondwanan landmasses that invoke vicariant scenarios of present day geographic distributions; and (ii) molecular evolutionary rates. Geological calibrations place the median age of the most recent common ancestor of extant macropathines at ∼125 to ∼165 Ma, whereas analyses derived from molecular substitution rates suggest a considerably younger origin of ∼32 Ma. This phylogenetic study represents the most rigorous taxonomic sampling of the Australian cave cricket fauna to date and stresses the influence of lineage representation on biogeographic inference.

Photons and foraging: Artificial light at night generates avoidance behaviour in male, but not female, New Zealand weta.

Avoiding foraging under increased predation risk is a common anti-predator behaviour. Using artificial light to amplify predation risk at ecologically valuable sites has been proposed to deter introduced mice (Mus musculus) and ship rats (Rattus rattus) from degrading biodiversity in island ecosystems. However, light may adversely affect native species; in particular, little is known about invertebrate responses to altered lighting regimes. We investigated how endemic orthopterans responded to artificial light at Maungatautari Ecological Island (Waikato, New Zealand). We predicted that based on their nocturnal behaviour, ecology and evolutionary history, tree weta (Hemideina thoracica) and cave weta (Rhaphidophoridae) would reduce their activity under illumination. Experimental stations (n = 15) experienced three evenings under each treatment (order randomised): (a) light (illuminated LED fixture), (b) dark (unilluminated LED fixture) and (c) baseline (no lighting fixture). Weta visitation rates were analysed from images captured on infra-red trail cameras set up at each station. Light significantly reduced the number of observations of cave (71.7% reduction) and tree weta (87.5% reduction). In observations where sex was distinguishable (53% of all visits), male tree weta were observed significantly more often (85% of visits) than females (15% of visits) and while males avoided illuminated sites, no detectable difference was observed across treatments for females. Sex could not be distinguished for cave weta. Our findings have implications for the use of light as a novel pest management strategy, and for the conservation of invertebrate diversity and abundance within natural and urban ecosystems worldwide that may be affected by light pollution.

Cave and burrow crickets of the subfamily Bothriophylacinae (Orthoptera: Myrmecophilidae) in Iran and adjacent countries

The composition, distribution, morphology and bionomics of the cricket subfamily Bothriophylacinae are briefly discussed. The following taxa are described and redescribed on the base of type material: Microbothriophylacini Gorochov trib. nov.; Eremogryllodes iranicus Tahami et Gorochov sp. nov., E. persicus Tahami et Gorochov sp. nov., E. p. torangae Tahami et Gorochov subsp. nov., E. p. lari Tahami et Gorochov subsp. nov., E. dilutus Tahami et Gorochov sp. nov., E. d. bakhtiyari Tahami et Gorochov subsp. nov. and E. bifurcatus Tahami et Gorochov sp. nov. from Iran; E. b. turcicus Gorochov et Ünal subsp. nov. from Turkey; E. major Chopard from Afghanistan; E. monodi Chopard from North Africa; Bothriophylax kiritshenkoi Gorochov et Tahami sp. nov.; B.? richteri Chopard from Iran; and B. rjabovi Gorochov sp. nov. from Armenia. Key to tribes and genera of Bothriophylacinae is also prepared.

Invertebrate community response to coarse woody debris removal for bioenergy production from intensively managed forests.

Increased market viability of harvest residues as forest bioenergy feedstock may escalate removal of coarse woody debris in managed forests. Meanwhile, many forest invertebrates use coarse woody debris for cover, food, and reproduction. Few studies have explicitly addressed effects of operational-scale woody biomass harvesting on invertebrates following clearcutting. Therefore, we measured invertebrate community response to large-scale harvest residue removal and micro-site manipulations of harvest residue availability in recently clearcut, intensively managed loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) forests in North Carolina (NC; n=4) and Georgia (GA; n=4), USA. We captured 39,794 surface-active invertebrates representing 171 taxonomic groups using pitfall traps situated among micro-site locations (i.e., purposefully retained piles of hardwood stems and piles of conifer stems and areas without coarse woody debris in NC; windrows and no windrows in GA). Micro-site locations were located within six, large-scale treatments (7.16-14.3ha) in clearcuts. Large-scale treatments represented intensive harvest residue removal, 15% and 30% harvest residue retention, and no harvest residue removal. In NC, ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) were three times more abundant in treatments with no harvest residue removal than those with the most intensive harvest residue removal and were reduced in treatments that retained 15% or 30% of harvest residues, although not significantly. Invertebrate taxa richness was greater at micro-site locations with retained hardwood and pine (Pinus spp.) harvest residues than those with minimal amounts of coarse woody debris. In both states, relative abundances of several invertebrate taxa, including cave crickets (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae), fungus gnats (Diptera: Mycetophilidae and Sciaridae), millipedes (Diplopoda), and wood roaches (Blattodea: Ectobiidae), were greater at micro-site locations with retained harvest residues than those with minimal coarse woody debris. Intensified woody biomass harvesting without retention of ≥15% of harvest residue volume may reduce invertebrate taxa richness and abundances of some key invertebrate taxa in regenerating stands. Further, harvest residue management during and after woody biomass harvesting may be an important consideration for maintaining invertebrate diversity and conserving invertebrates that are influential in the maintenance of ecosystem function and integrity in young forests.

Independent recruitment of a novel seed dispersal system by camel crickets in achlorophyllous plants.

The seeds of most heterotrophic plants, commonly referred to as dust seeds, are typically dispersed in the air like dust particles. Therefore, little attention has been paid to how seeds of heterotrophic plants are dispersed, owing to the notion that wind dispersal is the dominant strategy. However, inconspicuous but fleshy, indehiscent fruit can be observed in distantly related plants that have independently evolved full heterotrophy. Here I investigated the seed dispersal system in three unrelated fully heterotrophic plants with fleshy, indehiscent fruits (Yoania amagiensis, Monotropastrum humile and Phacellanthus tubiflorus) by direct observation, a differential exclusion experiment of fruit feeders and investigation on seed viability through the digestive tract. The present study revealed that camel crickets are the major seed disperser in three achlorophyllous plants in the study population. This represents the first evidence of seed dispersal by camel crickets in any angiosperm species. These heterotrophic plants grow in the understorey of densely vegetated forests where wind is probably an ineffective seed dispersal agent. Life-history traits of the achlorophyllous plants associated with heterotrophic lifestyles, such as colonization of dark understorey habitats and dust seeds, could facilitate independent recruitment of the novel endozoochorous seed dispersal system by camel crickets.

Olfactory signaling of aggressive intent in male-male contests of cave crickets (Troglophilus neglectus; Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae).

In animal contests, communicating aggressive motivation is most often mediated by visual or acoustic signals, while chemical signals are not expected to serve such a function since they are less able to be modulated by the sender during the changing behavioral context. We describe a rare example of ephemeral olfactory signals in terrestrial animals, signals that are emitted via protrusive scent glands in male cave crickets Troglophilus neglectus (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae) to reflect the state of the signaler’s aggression. We correlate the intensity of behaviorally expressed aggression of the individuals in dyadic contests with the frequency and extent of their gland tissue protrusion, the latter serving as an indication of the amount of released odor. We detected large amounts of odor release during brief gland protrusions, and the absence of its release during gland retraction. Males protruded the glands during and after encountering a rival, with the degree of protrusion increasing with the intensity of the signalers’ aggression. During the encounters, the degree of gland protrusion increased most strongly with the occurrence of the elevated body posture, directly preceding the attack. This degree was significantly higher in encounter winners than in losers displaying such posture, suggesting the highly important role of the released odor for contest resolution. After the encounters, glands were protruded almost exclusively by winners, apparently announcing victory. We tested for the function of the olfactory signals also directly, by preventing gland tissue protrusion in symmetric and asymmetric treatments of the contestants. Treating only the dominant individuals decreased the percentage of encounters they won by over 60%, while treating both contestants elicited a significant increase in the frequency and duration of fights. During contests, the olfactory signals of T. neglectus apparently function as a highly effective threat, which prevents maximal contest escalation and decreases the conflict-related costs.

Molecular phylogeography ofTroglophiluscave crickets (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae): A combination of vicariance and dispersal drove diversification in the East Mediterranean region

In this study, we investigated the molecular phylogenetic divergence and historical biogeography of cave crickets belonging to the genus Troglophilus (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae) from caves in eastern Mediterranean and Anatolia regions. Three mitochondrial DNA genes (COI, 12S rDNA, and 16S rDNA) and two nuclear ones (18S rDNA and 28S rDNA) were amplified and partially sequenced to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships among most of the known Troglophilus species. Results showed a well-resolved phylogeny with three main clades representing the Balkan, the Anatolian, and the Cycladian–Cretan lineages. Based on Bayesian analyses, we applied a relaxed molecular clock model to estimate the divergence times between these three lineages. Dating estimates indicate that radiation of the ingroup might have been triggered by the opening of the Mid-Aegean trench, while the uplift of the Anatolian Plateau in Turkey and the changes of relief, emergence, and disappearance of orographic and hydrographical barriers in the Balkan Peninsula are potential paleogeographic events responsible for the initial diversification of the genus Troglophilus. A possible biogeographic scenario, reconstructed using S-DIVA with RASP software, suggested that the current distribution of Troglophilus species can be explained by a combination of both dispersal and vicariance events that occurred in particular in the ancestral populations. The radiation of Troglophilus species likely started from the Aegean and proceeded eastward to Anatolia and westward to the Balkan region. Results are additionally compared to those available for Dolichopoda, the only other representative genus of Rhaphidophoridae present in the Mediterranean area.

Preliminary study of central Texas cave cricket monitoring (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae)

Presence of cave crickets is important for health and stability of karst ecosystems. Our study represents the first long-term monitoring of cave crickets at Cave X. Our results add necessary information regarding an important nutrient-cycling species in a central Texas karst ecosystem. Nymphs were the most abundant size class during the study, followed by juveniles, and large adults were least abundant. Relative abundance of cave crickets showed a trend with temperature and humidity.