Newly discovered species of Central American bactrophorine grasshoppers in the genera Rhicnoderma Gerstaecker, Lempira Rehn (n. stat.) (from El Salvador) and Pararhicnoderma n. genus (from Costa Rica) are reported and/or described. The genus Rhicnoderma is reviewed, and keys provided to the described species of all three genera.

The tribe Viadaniini n. trib. (Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae) is characterized in this paper. It includes twelve genera (two are new): Anaulacomera, Grammadera, Tomeophera, Viadana, Abrodiaeta, Proviadana, Bolivariola, Agennis, Parapyrrhicia, Pleothrix, Montealegrezia n. gen., and Tenellulus n. gen. A diagnosis of the tribe is provided and a key to its genera. Special consideration is given to the genus Anaulacomera Stål, 1873; its problematic history is outlined, and organization into species groups based on males' characters provided, as well as a key to these new groups. The genera Pararota Piza, 1973 n. syn. and Paracora Piza, 1977 n. syn., are synonymized under Anaulacomera. A. darienica Griffini, 1896 n. syn., is synonymized with A. furcata Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878. A. pizai n. nom. & n. comb. is the new name for Pararota gracilis Piza, 1973 n. syn. The new species described are as follows: A. alexanderi n. sp., A. ferchoi n. sp., A. hernandezi n. sp., A. sarmientoi n. sp., A. ludivinae n. sp., A. parisae n. sp., A. juanchoi n. sp., A. davidi n. sp., A. chirivii n. sp., A. didieri n. sp., A. richteri n. sp., A. valentinae n. sp., A. franciscoi n. sp., M. amacayacu n. sp., T. ariasi n. sp., all from Colombia. The male of V. difformis is here reported and described. With this re-organization the tribe Viadaniini is made up of 153 valid species.

The meadow katydid Orchelimum superbum was previously known from scattered localities along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of North America. We found this species to be widespread and locally common on the Great Plains in a variety of habitats, including tallgrass prairie, wetlands, and roadsides. We found no evidence for cryptic species after studying the morphology of the male terminalia, comparing body size, and analyzing 14 calling song characters. Individuals from the Great Plains are consistently larger in body size than individuals from the historical range. From patterns of body size variation and abundance, we hypothesize that the eastern Great Plains is the center of distribution for O. superbum and that the coastal localities, including the type locality, are peripheral populations. We compare the songs of O. superbum and O. vulgare, showing that these two sympatric but allochronically separated species share most buzz-mode characters including statistically indistinguishable syllable repetition rates of 60 s^-1 at 25°C.

A new species of Oecanthus Serville, 1831 is described from Texas. Oecanthus walkeri n. sp. Collins & Symes occurs in southern Texas on Seep Willow (Baccharis salicipholia), Tepejuage (Leucaena iveruienta) and Sugar Hackberry (Celtis laevigata) trees. O. walkeri is currently known only from the Rio Grande Valley. Song analysis revealed a pulse pattern of constant trilling, similar to other constant trillers of the O. nigricornis species group, although the early evening calling pattern shows characteristics of the O. niveus group. This species was only found in trees, which is uncommon for the O. nigricornis group. The antennal markings are consistent with the O. nigricornis group; however, this is the first species of that group to have a pale abdomen, pedicel and scape, while also having black flagellae. Notes are provided on physical morphology, phenology, habitat and song pulse rates at given temperatures.

A detailed redescription and review of the north Central American genus Paracalynda Zompro, 2001 is presented, which presently contains only two known species. A re-description is provided for the type-species P. picta (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907), which is only known from the unique male holotype. P. utilaensis (Zompro, 1998) was originally described as a subspecies of P. picta (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) but obviously represents a distinct species, hence it is here raised to species rank (n. stat.). Both species are illustrated and detailed figures show the significant genital morphology of Paracalynda. A detailed study of genital features has proven Paracalynda was previously misplaced in the “Bacteria group” (tribe Diapheromerini) and as a result the genus is transferred to Eusermyleformia Bradler, 2009. A discussion on Sermyleformia: Eusermyleformia is provided, which includes a list of the seven genera now contained in Eusermyleformia as well as an extended and more comprehensive diagnosis of this supposedly monophyletic rank-free taxon.

The two Central American genera Hypocyrtus Redtenbacher, 1908 and Rhynchacris Redtenbacher, 1908 (Xerosomatinae: Hesperophasmatini) are revised at the species level. Extended redescriptions of both genera are presented along with keys to the species contained. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of all seven known species are provided.

Hypocyrtus Redtenbacher, 1908 is here confirmed as a valid genus and now contains three distinct species, all of which are restricted to southern Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Ocnophila ornatissima Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907 is removed from Ocnophila Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907 and transferred to Hypocyrtus (n. comb.). H. postpositus Redtenbacher, 1908 is removed from Lamponius Stâl, 1875 and returned to Hypocyrtus (rev. stat.). Two new synonyms are established in Hypocyrtus: Anophelepis vittatus Westwood, 1859 = Anophelepis scythrus Westwood, 1859 (n. syn.) and Hypocyrtus substrumosus Redtenbacher, 1908 = Hypocyrtus postpositus Redtenbacher, 1908 (n. syn.). The male and egg of H. ornatissimus (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) and the egg of H. scythrus (Westwood, 1859) are described and illustrated for the first time.

Rhynchacris now contains four known species distributed throughout southern Central America (Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama) and northeast Colombia. The monotypic genus Pseudoceroys Hebard, 1923 was previously misplaced in Diapheromerinae: Diapheromerini: “Clonistria-group” and is here shown to be a synonym of Rhynchacris Redtenbacher, 1908 (n. syn.). The type-species P. harroweri Hebard, 1923 automatically becomes a member of Rhynchacris (comb. n.). R. chocoense n. sp. from the Choco Province is described from the female and is the first record of the genus from Colombia; the holotype is preserved in the Natural History Museum, London (BMNH). Ceroys bigibbus Rehn, 1904 was previously misplaced and is here transferred to Rhynchacris (comb. n.). Hesperophasma lobata Redtenbacher, 1908 is a synonym of the type species Rhynchacris ornata Redtenbacher, 1908 (n. syn.). The male of R. ornata Redtenbacher, 1908 is described and illustrated for the first time.

Lectotypes are designated for Anophelepis scythrus Westwood, 1859 and Hypocyrtus substrumosus Redtenbacher, 1908.

The tribe Bactrophorini of the Bactrophorinae is briefly reviewed. Two new genera are erected: Mayalina, and Hylaezentia. Three new species (M. cohni, M. teapensis and M. chajulensis) of Mayalina are described. A key to the genera of the tribe is included.

A cladistic analysis of morphological characters indicates that the Bactrophorini genera fall into two well-supported clades. The first, (“Hyleacrae”, after its most basal member) has as its basal branches, the exclusively Amazonian Hyleacris and the Amazonian and Central American Bactrophora; as its crown group it contains all the remaining Central American genera except Mezentia. The Central American genera of the Hyleacrae fall into two lineages: first, the sister genera Cristobalina and Mayalina (the “Cristobalina genus group”) of Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, and secondly the “Rhicnoderma genus group”, composed of four genera (Rhicnoderma Gerstaecker, 1889, Lempira (Rehn, 1938) and Pararhicnoderma Rowell, 2012, which occur from Southern Mexico south to Panama, plus the Panamanian endemic Panamacris Rehn, 1938, which is apparently the sister genus of Rhicnoderma).

The second clade of the tribe (“Borae”, after its most basal member, Bora) contains four exclusively Amazonian genera, plus the fifth and most derived genus, Mezentia, which has both Central American and Colombian species. In the Borae there is a second basal genus, Silacris, and then a crown group consisting of three very closely related genera, Mezentia, Andeomezentia and Hylaezentia, here referred to as the “Mezentia genus group”.

Aegimia Stål, 1874, a Neotropical katydid genus of the Phaneropterinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), is revised based on the examination of 106 specimens from Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Brazil. The genus is recognized by a long sword-shaped fastigium, mid- and hindtibiae strongly flattened, and leaf-shaped tegmina. The following species are redescribed: A. catharinensis Piza, 1950, A. cultrifera Stål, 1874 and A. elongata Rehn, 1903. Two new species are described: Aegimia maculifolia sp. nov. (from Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia) and Aegimia venarecta sp. nov. (from Costa Rica). Geographic distribution of A. cultrifera is expanded to Costa Rica. The female of A. catharinensis remains unknown. A pictorial key to all species is presented and details of the male genitalic characters described and illustrated.