Spacing and Movement of Singing Neoconocephalus nebrascensis Males (Tettigoniidae: Copophorinae)1

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Abstract
Movement of Neoconocephalus nebrascensis (Bruner) males was studied by marking and relocating singing males. Spacing was studied by marking the exact location of all singing males in a specified area over periods of l½-2 mo for 2 summers. Choruses of 2-11 synchronizing males form shortly after sunset. Males may remain in the same chorus night after night or may leave and enter another chorus. During the 1st 1-2 h of synchrony, individual males intermittently stop calling and fly, usually changing position within their chorus but occasionally leaving the chorus. Occasionally, a flying male lands within 30 cm of a singing male and an aggressive encounter ensues between the synchronizing males. The follower (male who initiates calling after his synchronizing partner, the leader) eventually flies or crawls away. After the 1- to 2-h period of intermittent male flights, males remain in ca. the same position for the remainder of the night moving within a one-m radius to feed. Males within choruses seem to space themselves on the basis of aggressive interactions and distances necessary for maintaining synchrony. Such spacing mechanisms should result in a tendency toward uniform spacing within a chorus. Uniform spacing of synchronizing N. nebrascensis males was verified stastistically.

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