Meadow Katydid - Orchelimum minor

Moved

Moved from Handsome Meadow Katydid. I have these in my yard and I photograph them ALL the time. I just had to move this, because they all look like this.

… John R. Maxwell, 9 October, 2008 - 9:34pm

Orchelimum pulchellum

T. Walker says he thinks Orchelimum pulchellum based on color and ovipositor. He also says the eye color can be variable and the short wings and odd coloration may be due to it maturing under cold conditions resulting in abnormal development.

… Lynette Schimming, 2 January, 2006 - 5:07pm

Interesting

This is interesting. I have images of very similar katydids in my yard Aug - Sept. I had always assumed that they were lesser pine katydid Orchelimum minor Bruner 1891, only because I live in the NJ pine barrens.
http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=2535
http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/256a.htm
The ovipositor seemed to match pretty well (I thought that pulchellum curved up too much).
http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/g248a.htm
Now I'm confused, maybe I should upload some of my images. So far I just have a bad view of an early instar on BG. I have a late instar female, and an adult female. Not great images though.

… John R. Maxwell, 23 January, 2008 - 9:38am

yes, interesting

I don't think this ID is 100%. So, keep me posted on when you load yours...I can always send them to T. Walker again with comments on why we think it may be something else.

… Lynette Schimming, 23 January, 2008 - 11:20am

See what you think

Let me know what you think, maybe we can get this figured out.

… John R. Maxwell, 23 January, 2008 - 2:52pm