Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Draeculacephala delongi (Young & Davidson, 1959)
Explanation of Names
Draeculacephala mollipes (Say, 1840)
mollipes = 'soft-footed'
Identification
One of the smaller members of the genus, this species is morphologically somewhat similar to the more common Draeculacephala robinsoni dorsally and therefor it is important that clear photos are taken of the underside and a length is acquired to distinguish the species. D. mollipes is a yellowish-green species with blue wing venation and a pale/yellow face and underside. The faces of males can occasionally be more fuscous. The species can have somewhat bold blue pronotal lines (these appear more often on mollipes than on robinsoni), but can sometimes lack all but the median blue line.
Note yellow underside in males:
Range
Throughout eastern North America.
Habitat
Mixed hardwood forest, grassy areas, fields, etc.
Remarks
This species is the type species of the genus. For quite some time it was a taxonomic mess (still reflected in numerous collections):
"The original type material of this species is lost, and the confusion concerning its identity did not subside with designation of a neotype by Davidson and DeLong (1943). Because Davidson and Delong's interpretation of T. mollipes Say differed from that of Lawson (1920), who first illustrated the male genitalia, Young and Davidson (1959) rejected the neotype, describing a new species (based on different type material), Draeculacephala delongi Young and Davidson, for the species interpreted as "mollipes" by Davidson and DeLong. Later, Hamilton (1985) accepted Davidson and DeLong's neotype as valid and synonymies D. delongi with D. constricta. Neither Davidson and DeLong (1943) nor Hamilton (1985) satisfied the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, governing the designation of neotypes (Dietrich, 1992). Thus, Tettigonia mollipes (Say), the type species of Draeculacephala Ball, lacks a validly designated name-bearing type. In accordance with Recommendation 75D of the Code and based on previous (Dietrich, 1992) arguments, I hereby designate Davidson and DeLong's invalid neotype specimen as the neotype of Tettigonia mollipes. [...] The "neoallotype" and the series of "neoparatypes" labeled by Davidson and DeLong are invalid because the former is a male specimen of D. robinsoni and the latter is a mixed series of D. constricta and D. mollipes."
This species has not yet been recorded from Texas, but it is likely present there as it has been found in OK and LA.
See Also
Draeculacephala robinsoni — a species that can be nearly identical dorsally with blue wing venation. It is much larger and has a dark underside, particularly in males which have a dark face.
Draeculacephala constricta — a species of similar size with a pale/tan underside, but white wing venation instead of blue. This species shares a long taxonomic history with mollipes
Draeculacephala paludosa — this is a morphologically similar species with darker markings, occurring in the Great Lakes region
