Unexpected faunistic records of Rhacocleis annulata, Eyprepocnemis plorans, and Xya pfaendleri (Orthoptera) from Croatia and Slovenia

Interesting records of one bush-cricket and two grasshopper species are reported from Croatia and Slovenia. Rhacocleis annulata Fieber, 1853 (Tettigoniidae: Tettigoniinae) has been reported for the first time from Croatia (Dubrava by Šibenik), as well as for Slovenia (Borovnica SW of Ljubljana); Eyprepocnemis plorans (Charpentier, 1825) (Acrididae: Eyprepocnemidinae) is reported for the first time for Croatia, also from Dubrava; and finally, the Xya pfaendleri Harz, 1970 (Tridactylidae: Tridactylinae) record from Dubrava represents the first record of this species from Dalmatia. Rhacocleis annulata and Eyprepocnemis plorans are known to be spreading through Europe, so these records contribute to the understanding of their dispersal in Southern Europe. Croatian Orthopteran fauna now counts, with two species added, 187 species, while Slovenian Orthopteran fauna now counts, with one species added, 158 species.

X Chromosome Inactivation during Grasshopper Spermatogenesis

Regulation of transcriptional activity during meiosis depends on the interrelated processes of recombination and synapsis. In eutherian mammal spermatocytes, transcription levels change during prophase-I, being low at the onset of meiosis but highly increased from pachytene up to the end of diplotene. However, X and Y chromosomes, which usually present unsynapsed regions throughout prophase-I in male meiosis, undergo a specific pattern of transcriptional inactivation. The interdependence of synapsis and transcription has mainly been studied in mammals, basically in mouse, but our knowledge in other unrelated phylogenetically species is more limited. To gain new insights on this issue, here we analyzed the relationship between synapsis and transcription in spermatocytes of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Autosomal chromosomes of this species achieve complete synapsis; however, the single X sex chromosome remains always unsynapsed and behaves as a univalent. We studied transcription in meiosis by immunolabeling with RNA polymerase II phosphorylated at serine 2 and found that whereas autosomes are active from leptotene up to diakinesis, the X chromosome is inactive throughout meiosis. This inactivation is accompanied by the accumulation of, at least, two repressive epigenetic modifications: H3 methylated at lysine 9 and H2AX phosphorylated at serine 139. Furthermore, we identified that X chromosome inactivation occurs in premeiotic spermatogonia. Overall, our results indicate: (i) transcription regulation in E. plorans spermatogenesis differs from the canonical pattern found in mammals and (ii) X chromosome inactivation is likely preceded by a process of heterochromatinization before the initiation of meiosis.

First Ever Data on the Occurrences of Acrididae (Acridoidea: Orthoptera) Grasshoppers in the North West Region of Cameroon

This article is a pioneer checklist of Acrididae species in the North West Region of Cameroon. This study was prompted by the absence of information on Orthoptera fauna that are found in this region. From November 2016 to September 2017, grasshoppers were collected by hand picking and the help of sweep nets from fields, lawns, farms and vegetation surrounding farms in the capital towns of the seven divisions that make up the region. Seventeen (17) species were captured and identified. These included: Acrida turrita, Coryphosima stenoptera product, Gymnobothrus temporalis, Odontomelus kamerunensis, Roduniella insipida (Acridinae), Catantops melanostrictus, Catantopsilus elongatus, Oxycatantops spissus, (Catantopinae), Cyrtacanthacris aeruginosa, Ornithacris pictula (Cytacanthacridinae), Eyprepocnemis plorans (Eyprepocnemidinae), Acrotylus patruelis, Gastrimargus africanus, Heteropternis thoracica, Trilophidia conturbata, Morphacris fasciata (Oedipodinae) and Afroxyrrhepes obscuripes (Tropidopolinae). Acridinae and Oedipodinae were the most abundant subfamilies with 5 species each. The seventeen (17) species identified in this study were recorded for the first time from the North West Region of Cameroon with one of them Ornithacris pictula magnifica recorded for the first time in Cameroon.

Diversity, abundance and distribution of grasshopper species (Orthoptera: Acrididea) in three different types of vegetation with different levels of anthropogenic disturbances in the Littoral Region of Cameroon

Grasshoppers have been identified as excellent monitors of landscape use. Despite their importance, their composition and distribution in the highly disturbed Littoral Cameroon is still unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of human activities on diversity, abundance and distribution of grasshopper species in the Littoral region of Cameron. We investigated three types of vegetation differing remarkably on the level of anthropogenic impact (farmlands, fallows and forests), using sweep netting. The eight non-parametric estimators for specific richness, abundance, α and β diversity indices and species abundance distribution models, were used to compare the structure of communities among vegetation. Overall, 38 species belonging to three families and ten subfamilies were recorded. The Acrididae was the most diverse family. The species richness, abundance and diversity were higher in farmlands than in fallows and in forests. Five species occurred exclusively in farmlands, one in fallows and four in forests. Eyprepocnemis plorans, Coryphosima stenoptera, Serpusia opacula were overall the most abundant species respectively in cultivated farms, fallows and forests. Species abundance distribution fitted the Motomura model in all sites. Serpusia opacula is considered as a useful indicator since its presence and abundance significantly depend on the rate of forest naturalness. The farmlands were characterized by short vegetation while the fallows and forests were dominated by tall grasses and tall trees respectively. Anthropogenic disturbances promote the species richness, diversity and abundance of open meadow species, while it is detrimental to forest species which are sensitive, specialized and have limited dispersal abilities. Key words: Grasshopper, diversity, abundance, distribution, bioindicator

Morphology, development, and reproduction of Eyprepocnemis plorans ibandana (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in South Cameroon rainforests

Eyprepocnemis plorans ibandana is a very common grasshopper species in open environments and agricultural systems of tropical Africa. It is a pest that significantly benefits from forest degradation in southern Cameroon, hence the need to study the bioecology of this subspecies. We studied the reproduction as well as the morphological characteristics and development times of the post-embryonic instars of E. p. ibandana. Sixty-one adult pairs were obtained from sixth instar nymphs caught in grassy vegetation in the Nkolbisson area (Yaoundé) and bred in the laboratory. After hatching, the first instar nymphs were individually placed in cages and fed every two days using fresh leaves of Manihot esculenta. The postembryonic development of E. p. ibandana took six instars in the male and six to seven instars in the female. Mean nymphal development took 79.16 ± 0.51 days in males, 89.93 ± 0.58 days in 6 instar females and 94.96 ± 1.22 days in 7 instar females. The survival rate of the first instar was low (53%). However, from the second instar on the survival rate was very high (> 87%). Sexual dimorphism is distinct in adults, fifth and sixth nymphal instars. Adults of E. p. ibandana took on average 32.57 ± 3.88 days to start mating, and mating lasted 2.12 h on average (1–3 h). Oviposition took place on average 52.03 ± 5 days after first mating; each female deposited one to eleven oothecae with an average of 34.93 ± 2.37 eggs per ootheca. Our study provides important information for the control of this subspecies in southern Cameroon.

B Chromosomes in Grasshoppers: Different Origins and Pathways to the Modern Bs

B chromosomes (Bs) were described in most taxa of eukaryotes and in around 11.9% of studied Orthopteran species. In some grasshopper species, their evolution has led to many B chromosome morphotypes. We studied the Bs in nine species (Nocaracris tardus, Nocaracris cyanipes, Aeropus sibiricus, Chorthippus jacobsoni, Chorthippus apricarius, Bryodema gebleri, Asiotmethis heptapotamicus songoricus, Podisma sapporensis, and Eyprepocnemis plorans), analyzing their possible origin and further development. The studied Bs consisted of C-positive or C-positive and C-negative regions. Analyzing new data and considering current hypotheses, we suggest that Bs in grasshoppers could arise through different mechanisms and from different chromosomes of the main set. We gave our special attention to the Bs with C-negative regions and suggest a new hypothesis of B chromosome formation from large or medium autosomes. This hypothesis includes dissemination of repetitive sequences and development of intercalary heterochromatic blocks in euchromatic chromosome arm followed by deletion of euchromatic regions located between them. The hypothesis is based on the findings of the Eyprepocnemis plorans specimens with autosome containing numerous intercalary repeat clusters, analysis of C-positive Bs in Eyprepocnemis plorans and Podisma sapporensis containing intercalary and terminal C-negative regions, and development of heterochromatic neo-Y chromosome in some Pamphagidae grasshoppers.

First records of Eyprepocnemis plorans plorans in southeastern Italy (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

New populations of Eyprepocnemis plorans plorans (Charpentier, 1825) are first reported for southeastern Italy. The species was found in the period 2013-2017 in different lowland habitats of Apulia and Basilicata. These data may document a most recent colonization of southeastern Italy, which is potentially due to a wide range shift or expansion of species distribution from adjacent regions or countries.