This conehead has been stridulating very loudly the last few nights from some low bushes next to my yard. The singing starts when it gets really dark, say 9:30 p.m. I finally caught him in the act last night. I see why, perhaps, he was not quite so wary--he's missing a leg and his wing tips. Perhaps he's on a program of "mate or die trying"!

(A few nights later I came upon a potential predator. While attempting to stalk another singing male with my camera, I startled a large black cat, apparently stalking the same conehead by ear.)

I believe this is the only Neoconocephalus singing now in my area. The adults of this species overwinter, and sing starting in April. The song is an ear-splitting buzz, reminding me of the hum of a defective electrical transformer. The song really stands out against the softer calls of various crickets and tree-crickets, which are the only other nocturnal insects I have been hearing calling lately.