Species Neoconocephalus triops - Broad-tipped Conehead

Three-eyed Conehead Katydid

Neoconocephalus triops (Linnaeus, 1758)

Species name "triops" is Greek, meaning "three eyes". Also a character from Greek mythology, an offspring of the sea-god Poseidon and Kanake. (Based on Internet searches.) This refers to the black spot on the cone, having the appearance of a third eye.

Head to tip of folded wings: 43-60 mm (male), 51-67 mm (female), body length circa 32 mm.

Song is a buzz interrupted at one second intervals, then switches to a continuous buzz. Males call from low bushes or from high intrees. Active earlier in the season than others in the genus. Large conehead, green or brown. Cone wider than long. Length 43-60 mm for males, 51-67 for females. This is measured from head to wingtips, or tip of abdomen, whichever is longest. (Ovipositor is excluded in females.) Round-tipped Conehead, Neoconocephalus retusus, is similar, but smaller. See SINA (link updated 19 March 2011).

Southern United States: Long Island south to Florida. Across south to southern California.

Calling males found in a variety of habitats, including suburban areas. Juveniles and feeding adults occur in open areas with grass. Overwintering adults occur in thickets and forests.

Fall, then April-June in northern part of range, most of year farther south. September-May in North Carolina according to Brimley, p. 20 (1). Males sing March-May in North Carolina (SINA--see Internet references.)

Herbivores, largely on seeds of grasses. Occasionally eat other insects.

Females lay eggs in grass stems. Two generations per year in southern part of range, one farther north. Adults overwinter and are found in spring, unlike other members of genus. Males sing February-May and July-August in Florida. Both sexes come to lights.