Another Nymph - Steiroxys

Moved

… Jeffrey Cole, 30 December, 2007 - 1:53am

Steiroxys

This female appears to belong to the genus Steiroxys. A couple characters diagnose it as Steiroxys: the two distinct, parallel carinae (ridges) on the pronotum (plate of the thorax behind the head) and the widely separated wing pads. As it turns out a species is described from Benton County, Oregon, Steiroxys strepens, but without seeing any specimens I'm not going to positively ID it as that. Hundreds of these things you say?! Wish I was there, I've not seen one of these before! I identified it using the revision of shield-back katydid genera published by Rentz & Birchim, 1968.

… Jeffrey Cole, 30 December, 2007 - 1:52am

Moved

Moved from Grasshoppers, Katydids and Crickets.

… Eric R. Eaton, 5 October, 2007 - 4:11pm

Tettigoniinae.

A katydid, could well be an adult. Many shield-backed katydids tend to be extremely localized in their distributions. This could well be something endemic only to Mary's Peak! Someone at Oregon State (my alma mater) might know.

… Eric R. Eaton, 11 September, 2007 - 1:17pm

Tettigoniinae

Eric, thank you for the ID. I assumed they were nymphs because the wings (beneath the shield?) are almost unnoticeable. Are the adults able to fly? Very interesting that they could be so localized. I'll ask at OSU, my alma mater as well. Go Beavs!

… Sharon Wright, 11 September, 2007 - 2:56pm

Brachypterous.

"Brachypterous" and "apterous" refer to reduced and absent wings respectively. Most of the shield-backed katydids are flightless like this as adults. Males usually have forewings big enough to stridulate, but lack hindwings for flight.

… Eric R. Eaton, 13 September, 2007 - 6:25pm