Identification
Wings narrow, straight, legs long. S. furcata is widespread, male has unique forked subgenital plate. Compare to Microcentrum, which has broader, angled wings. Also compare the more local Inscudderia, associated with southern, southeastern cypress swamps; Insara, southwestern.
Nymphs of this genus have black and white banded antennae (see comment on
this image and in
this forum discussion).
Range
Much of North America in deciduous forests. S. furcata is widespread. Several species in east, southeast.
Habitat
Deciduous forests, woodlands.
Season
Noticed in late summer to fall, when active, singing.
Food
Leaves of deciduous trees, shrubs.
Life Cycle
Eggs are laid on twigs and leaves, in an overlapping pattern like shingles on a roof. Eggs overwinter, hatch in spring. One generation per year.
Remarks
Common names of various species, range summary, from
Singing Insects of North America:
Scudderia cuneata - Southeastern Bush Katydid, SE US, Florida
S. curvicauda - Curve-Tailed Bush Katydid, E. North America
S. fasciata - Treetop Bush Katydid, NE US, south in Appalachians
S. furcata - Fork-Tailed Bush Katydid, US and southern Canada
S. mexicana - Mexican Bush Katydid, S. Arizona, S. California
S. pistillata - Broad-Winged Bush Katydid, N. US, S. Canada
S. septentrionalis - Northern Bush Katydid, NE US, south in Appalachians, upper midwest
S. texensis - Texas Bush Katydid, Eastern North America
Details on occurrence of species in North Carolina, from Brimley, p. 19
(2). This should be helpful for several southeastern states.
S. cuneata: sandhills, coastal plain
S. curvicauda: Fayetteville (sandhills), west
S. furcata: whole state
S. septentrionalis: mountains, July, August
S. texenis: coastal plain, August-October
Print References
Arnett, p. 161, fig. 11.14--
S. furcata (1)
Helfer, pp. 277-280, ill.
S. furcata,
S. texenis (3)
Milne, pp. 435-436, figs. 283, 284--
S. furcata (4)
Arnett and Jacques, #22--
S. furcata (5)
Drees, p. 21, plate 15
(6)
Swan and Papp, p. 74, fig. 36--
S. furcata (7)Internet References
Insects of Cedar Creek--shows details of male caudal appendages:
S. curvicauda, S. furcata, S. texensis.
SINA--has species accounts, maps, for all members of genus.
