Re-evaluation of the genus Phonochorion (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae)

Abstract

Abstract. Phonochorion Uvarov (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae) is a little known genus consisting of three species: Ph. satunini, Ph. artvinensis and Ph. uvarovi. The objective of this study is to conduct a thorough distributional, taxonomic and systematic revision of the genus Phonochorion using both bioacustic and external morphological characters. Field surveys indicate that the genus is distributed from the Trabzon region of Turkey to the Khulo province of Georgia however the exact limit of the eastern distribution of the genus remains unknown. Phonochorion species occur only on the northern slopes of the East Black Sea and Lesser Caucasus Mountains. The Coruh Valley, which seprates the East Black Sea and Lesser Caucasus Mountain ranges, seems to be an effective physical and climatic barrier and determines the distribution of these species. Ph. uvarovi can clearly be distinguished from Ph. satunini and Ph. artvinensis by the calling songs of males and external morphological characters. Ph. artvinensis and Ph. satunini differ in several taxonomic characters but the males have virtually identical calling songs. From a character evolution perspective, although geographically more distant, Ph. satunini is more closely related to Ph. uvarovi than Ph. artvinensis. Morphological similarities in several characters indicate Phonochorion to be most closely related to Polysarcus zacharovi and the Poecilimon heroicus-group. Within the genus Phonochorion, song structure and morphological characters clearly indicate Ph. uvarovi to be the basal taxon.

Mating Behavior and Spermatophore Characteristics in Two Closely Related Bushcricket Species of the Genus Phonochorion (Orthoptera: Phaneropterinae)

“…Only males producing calling songs were used in mating trials. The typical calling songs of both species are different (Sevgili et al 2010). In preliminary studies, it was found that the females were not sexually receptive until 7 days after adult eclosion.…”

“…The genus Phonochorion Uvarov, 1916 (Orthoptera: Phaneropterinae) is a small genus consisting of three species: P. satunini, P. artvinensis and P. uvarovi (Sevgili et al 2010). These species are distributed only on the northern slopes of the East Black Sea of Turkey and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in Georgia.…”

“…1 and 2). The most important characters for the species identification are the shape of the pronotum for both sexes, the cercus and subgenital plates of the males and their calling songs (Sevgili et al 2010). While the males typically have similar colors and patterns, the females can sometimes be completely green.…”

“…For example, there are few studies on the genus Isophya, which has more than 90 species in the Palearctic region and is the second largest genus after the genus Poecilimon, which contains about 150 species (see Can 1959;Sevgili 2004;Eades et al 2014;Uma and Sevgili 2015). The genus Phonochorion is a little known group and only three species are described for the genus belonging to the barbitistine bushcrickets, representing a total of 15 genera in the world (Sevgili et al 2010;Eades et al 2014). Data on mating behavior of species of the genus Phonochorion may make contributions to evolutionary ecological approaches related to species within the barbitistine genera.…”

“…Both species have an attractive color pattern and are endemic to the Eastern Black Sea Region. Males produce calling songs during the mating period (Sevgili et al 2010). The species are morphologically similar to each other, and phylogenetically is closely related to the genera Poecilimon and Polysarcus among the barbitistine genera (Heller 1990).…”