Neoconocephalus ensiger? - Neoconocephalus

late comment

Is she still alive? If you still have her, try and get a photo that clearly shows the underside of her head (the underside of the "cone" - the pattern and shape - are helpful in determining species). I don't have a distribution map handy, but North Carolina may be a bit south for N. ensiger. Several other species are common down that way. I expect that N. ensiger would be common in New York? Size would be awfully small for N. triops, but good for N. ensiger.

… David J. Ferguson, 17 December, 2008 - 12:05am

Hi, I'm afraid she is no more

Hi, I'm afraid she is no more. I don't think she was common for New York, at least not for NYC. I've certainly never seen anything like it anywhere... Beautiful creature.

… Bambellini, 17 December, 2008 - 1:07am

not much habitat

in the city, but out in more open spaces there should be plenty. I'll still see if I can pin it down to species - I haven't really tried yet. Here in central NM not much habitat either (too dry), but they (N. ensiger) live in the river valleys in irrigated grass hay fields.

… David J. Ferguson, 17 December, 2008 - 12:50pm

Location

Are we sure if it came from New York or North Carolina?

… John R. Maxwell, 17 December, 2008 - 12:56pm

Nothing's certain

Again, I am in NYC, but it came crawling out of my mustard greens, which according to the super market were shipped from North Carolina.

It's entirely possible that the store owner got it wrong, and also that it crawled from a different vegetable (that came from somewhere completely different) into the mustard greens. After all, many vegetables from all over the world are kept in the produce aisle. Especially at this gourmet super market, where they also sell a lot of exotic produce.

The only thing I am fairly certain of, is that it didn't come from outside. It had been way too cold in NYC for this type of insect to have survived.

Other than that, anything's possible.

… Bambellini, 17 December, 2008 - 5:44pm

Care.

My goodness, I am shocked this thing is still alive at this time of year. Well, Neoconocephalus feed mostly on grass seeds, which they crack with those strong jaws (don't get yourself bit). They are also opportunistic predators, so you can try the odd, injured mealworm now and then. Good luck!

… Eric R. Eaton, 10 December, 2008 - 2:23pm

Grass seeds? Hm. Have to see

Grass seeds? Hm. Have to see where I could get those here in NYC... Thanks!
I can try to get a mealworm from the pet store and see if it likes it... I was also told to try any kind of lettuce (I am going to the healthfood store later to get some without insecticides, lol).
It seems to be doing ok, a little lethargic compared to last night, but I understand they are mostly nocturnal?
Also, I was able to trace the lettuce back to North Carolina. This baby is a long way from home!

… Bambellini, 10 December, 2008 - 2:31pm

Explains a lot:-)

LOL! I didn't realize it had been shipped from down south. Might be N. triops in that event, one of the most common species down there....Most orthopterans are not picky when it comes to diet.

… Eric R. Eaton, 10 December, 2008 - 2:37pm

Data

Should the location be removed or changed to fix the data map?

… John R. Maxwell, 10 December, 2008 - 11:08pm