Arrolla longicauda

5 A raspy cricket at Canberra Airport, ACT

Arrolla longicauda at Canberra Airport, ACT - 14 Mar 2022
Arrolla longicauda at Canberra Airport, ACT - 14 Mar 2022
Arrolla longicauda at Canberra Airport, ACT - 14 Mar 2022
Arrolla longicauda at Canberra Airport, ACT - 14 Mar 2022
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Identification history

Arrolla longicauda 17 Mar 2022 MichaelMulvaney
Arrolla longicauda 16 Mar 2022 RogerF
Wirritina brevipes 14 Mar 2022 RogerF
Wirritina brevipes 14 Mar 2022 trevorpreston
Anostostoma opacum 14 Mar 2022 FeralGhostbat

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Significant sighting

MichaelMulvaney noted:

15 Mar 2022

This is a rarely recorded species anywhere

3 comments

RogerF wrote:
   16 Mar 2022
I have had a discussion with Paul Whitingdon about the identity of this raspy cricket. He has a copy of the Johns and Rentz paper which he has forwarded to me with his conclusions as to why this is Arolla longicauda rather than the Wirritina. I have sent his comments in a separate email to Trevor and Michael M.
   17 Mar 2022
Paul's comments included that - The relative length of the ovipositor and the body is the main reason I'm calling it Arrolla rather than Wirritina brevipes, the other likely wingless gryllacrid species. I base this on Fig.95 in a Rentz and John paper showing the habitus of a female Wirritina brevipes. There is no photo of Arrolla longicauda but the description sounds about right and the defining feature of this species is its very long ovipositor. In addition, the hind tibia in the animal in your photo looks rectangular rather than cylindrical, which would speak for Arrolla. Another character that separates the genera is presence of a frons patch in Arrolla and its absence in Wirritina. Can't see this in your photo but perhaps you have others that may show the frons.
AMR wrote:
   31 Jan 2023
Do we now think this is also Cooraboorama canberrae (another species with a long ovipositor)? Is Arrolla longicauda an alpine species? I'd like a copy of the Rentz and John paper if possible, I'm guessing it is: Studies in Australian Gryllacrididae: Taxonomy, biology, ecology and cytology. DCF Rentz and B John. Invertebrate Taxonomy 3(8) 1053 - 1210. Published: 1989. (would cost me $60).

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