The auditory-vibratory system of the bushcricket Polysarcus denticauda (Phaneropterinae, Tettigoniidae). I. Morphology of the complex tibial organs.

The structure of the complex tibial organs in the fore-, mid- and hindlegs of the bushcricket Polysarcus denticauda (Tettigoniidae, Phaneropterinae) is described comparatively. As is common for bushcrickets, in each leg the tibial organs consist of the subgenual and intermediate organs and the crista acustica. Only in the forelegs are sound-transmitting structures present. They consist of the spiracle, acoustic trachea, and two tympana; the latter are not protected by tympanal covers. The tympana in P. denticauda are extremely thick, not only bordering the two tracheal branches to the outside but also forming the outer wall of the hemolymph channel. The morphology of the tracheae in the mid- and hindlegs is significantly different, causing structural differences, especially in dimensions of the hemolymph channel. The number of scolopidia of the crista acustica of the foreleg is extremely high for a bushcricket. Approximately 50 receptor cells were found, about half of them being located in the distal quarter of the long axis of this organ. Some of the receptors are positioned in parallel on the dorsal wall of the anterior tracheal branch. The number, morphology and dimensions of the scolopidia within the crista acustica of the mid- and hindlegs differ significantly from those of the forelegs, decreasing in both legs to eight and seven receptor cells, respectively. Although the dimensions of the subgenual and intermediate organs are considerably larger in the mid- and hindlegs, the number of receptor cells is approximately the same in the different legs, being somewhat higher in both receptor organs than in those of many other bushcricket species studied previously.