# Diversity of Leaf Katydids of Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo, Central Tropical Africa (Insecta: Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

## TL;DR

This paper describes new species of leaf katydids in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park, highlighting the region's biodiversity and the need for conservation.

## Contribution

The study introduces a new genus and six new species of Tettigoniidae, emphasizing the high endemism and conservation importance in Central Tropical Africa.

## Key findings

- A new genus, Phanreticula, and six new species of leaf katydids were discovered in the park.
- The study found a high endemism rate of 16.0% in the region, indicating unique biodiversity.
- Previously unknown or rediscovered species, including Pleothrix conradti and Griffinipteryx mukonja, were documented.

## Abstract

Central tropical Africa is one of the richest areas in animal species in the world; regrettably, much of the primary African forest has been lost, and very probably many species became extinct before they had been discovered, mainly among insects. However, unknown taxa still live in these areas, demonstrating the present species richness and the urgence of conservation. This paper deals with the study of the Insecta Orthoptera Tettigoniidae found in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo. This group of insects contains phytophagous, saprophagous, as well as predatory species, and occurs mainly within the vegetation characterizing tropical forests, being a good example of biological indicators. They were collected during three expeditions carried out by the African Natural History Research Trust (UK) and studied by the present author. The results show the high diversity of species that may be found in tropical Africa, mainly in the protected areas; a certain number of unknown species still lives in these forested areas, and a high endemism rate (16.0%) has been found in this wide Congolese area and conservation actions are requested for them.

The study of specimens collected during the night at a lamp allowed for the description of one new genus Phanreticula n. gen., and six new species, namely Phanreticula fenestrata n. sp., Habrocomes piotri n. sp., Conocephalus (Anisoptera) mollyae n. sp., Phlaurocentrum armatum n. sp., Tetraconcha danielae n. sp., and Tetraconcha fuscopunctata n. sp. Further, females of Paraeulioptera emitflesti Massa, 2020 (known only from the male sex) have been collected and characteristics of its ovipositor allowed for the inclusion of this species in the tribe Catoptropterigini. In addition, Pleothrix conradti (Bolívar, 1906) has been rediscovered after 118 years from its description from material collected in Cameroon, and the male of Griffinipteryx mukonja (Griffini, 1908), known only from three females collected in Cameroon in 1800s, is described for the first time. Finally, an updating of the species belonging to the genus Tetraconcha Karsch, 1890 has been carried out; presently, 24 species are known, including 2 other new species from the Ivory Coast (west tropical Africa), Tetraconcha alberti n. sp., and Tetraconcha tonkouiensis n. sp. Overall, 108 species of Tettigoniidae are listed here.