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Species Neoconocephalus triops - Broad-tipped Conehead
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)
Species triops (Broad-tipped Conehead)
Other Common Names Three-eyed Conehead Katydid Explanation of Names 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. Size Head to tip of folded wings: 43-60 mm (male), 51-67 mm (female), body length circa 32 mm. Identification 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.
The hook-faced conehead, Pyrgocorypha uncinata also overwinters as adult, has similar phenology. Cone has hooked tip. Range Southern United States: Long Island south to Florida. Across south to southern California. Habitat 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. Season 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.) Food Herbivores, largely on seeds of grasses. Occasionally eat other insects. Life Cycle 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. Print References Helfer, p. 270, fig. 419, fig. 420K (2)
Capinera, p. 171, plate 37, fig. 59 (3)
Taber, pp. 166-167, fig. 143 (4)Internet References SINA: Species account, Calling season--with latitude, a nifty graph. Contributed by Cotinis on 5 October, 2004 - 1:13am Last updated 17 April, 2005 - 6:16am |
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