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Calendar
BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
Details...
 
Photos from the last gathering (Minnesota 2007)

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Genus Neoconocephalus - Common Coneheads

Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
Suborder Ensifera (Long-horned Orthoptera)
Family Tettigoniidae (Katydids)
Subfamily Conocephalinae (Coneheads and Meadow Katydids)
Genus Neoconocephalus (Common Coneheads)
Size
body length 37-74 mm
Identification
Wings extend beyond abdomen. Cone is separated from face by a gap and does not have a sharp point. Female has very long ovipositor. This genus has green and brown color phases.
Range
Most species occur in eastern North America.
Habitat
Grassy areas, thickets, marshes, sometimes cornfields
Season
July-October (North Carolina, most species), September-May (North Carolina, N. triops). July-September, October (Michigan)
Food
Adults feed mostly on seeds of grasses, sometimes sedges. Nymphs feed on grass flowers, developing seeds. N. robustus is known to feed on forbs.
Life Cycle
Oviposit into crowns of grass clumps. Most overwinter as eggs, have one generation per year in north. Some species overwinter as adults in south, have two periods of breeding activity. Males perch on plants and sing at night.
Remarks
May bite when handled.
Print References
Helfer, pp. 268-271 (2)
Brimley, pp. 19-20 (3)
Bland, pp. 151-154 (4)
Milne, p. 433, fig. 282--N. nebrascensis (5)
Capinera, pp. 170-174, fig. 59 (6)
Internet References
Singing Insects of North America has a key to species of this genus, range maps, excellent discussion of life histories.
pinned and live images of N. ensiger (Insects of Cedar Creek, U. of Minnesota)
classification plus literature citations and included taxa (Orthoptera Species File)