Bush-crickets with very special ears and songs - review of the East African Phaneropterinae genus Dioncomena Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878, with notes on its biogeography and the description of new species Author Hemp, Claudia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9170-7113 University of Bayreuth, Department Plant Systematics & Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center, Frankfurt, Germany claudiahemp@yahoo.com Author Montealegre-Z, Fernando https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5186-2186 University of Lincoln, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Lincoln, UK Author Woodrow, Charlie University of Lincoln, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Lincoln, UK Author Heller, Klaus-Gerhard https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3331-3228 Triesdorf Bahnhof 8, 91732 Merkendorf, Germany text Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 2023 2023-07-10 70 2 221 259 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/dez.70.100804 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/dez.70.100804 1860-1324-2-221 2824CBF6C72A4397B944262D324AF5D6 7EB2FB6659E4538C811B62C9D8009E3D Dioncomena tanneri Ragge, 1980 Figs 2H , 13D , 15C, D , 19 , 21 , 22N , 26G, H , 28D , 30 , 36 Notes on biogeography and phenology. Dioncomena tanneri is exclusively found in the Usambara Mountains. Despite extensive screening of various forests in the West Usambara Mountains (such as Magamba, Shagayu, Ambangulu, and Lutindi forest remains), D. tanneri individuals were only found in Mazumbai Forest Reserve, where they were observed in forest clearings and in tall herb vegetation and low bushes along a sunny road through the forest. The reserve was screened for almost all months of the year, but D. tanneri individuals were only captured during the warm period between December and April. A single female that was either conspecific or closely related to D. tanneri was discovered in the montane elevations of the Nilo Forest Reserve in the East Usambara Mountains. Further investigation is required to determine whether D. tanneri is present at montane elevations in the East Usambara Mountains, or if a closely related species has evolved in these forests. Biology. Females caught in March 2021 along a road passing through Mazumbai Forest Reserve laid numerous eggs onto thin branches in early April 2021. The first nymphs hatched in mid-September 2021 and became adult at the beginning of December 2021. Development took roughly two and a half months from L1 to the adult. When placed together in captivity, D. tanneri fed on each other once individuals became weak or died. This indicates that Dioncomena species are partly carnivorous, despite the fact that nymphs were solely reared on herb vegetation such as Taraxacum officinale . In the field, individuals were frequently found clustered, with several males and females located in close proximity to one another. However, no individuals were observed in other suitable locations along paths or on clearings. Habitat and distribution. Dioncomena tanneri is typically found along open forest paths and clearings in the montane zone. It is restricted to the Usambara Mountains.