California Angle-wing Katydid - Microcentrum californicum

for a few reasons

I'm pretty sure this is M. californicum. The most obvious trait (but it only works in males) is the darkened stridulatory area. In M. rhombifolium, as far as I've seen, this is always the same color as the rest of the insect. Females are tougher, but they tend to have slightly different venation in the tegmina, and a slightly different "look". the pronotum is slightly different in shape at the front edge (at least usually), but this is usually hard to see in profile shots. I have to admit that this one is a bit puzzling, because it appears to be female, but has the dark coloring at the base of the tegmina.

Microcentrum are difficult, and I will be the first to admit that I could be wrong on this one.

Moved from Angle-wing Katydids.

… David J. Ferguson, 27 November, 2013 - 1:54pm

Thanks!

Thanks for the correction! I was under the impression that M. californicum was smaller, but I guess sizes are similar? I have a non-profile up on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44150996@N06/9571853683/sizes/l/, if it helps clarify things, I can post it here as well. I took a fair number of shots so if there's a particular angle or feature that would help for ID let me know and I can go through my photos.

… Alice Abela, 27 November, 2013 - 2:43pm

Goof

I think I may have goofed on sex, I went through my pics and I've found one that seems to make it look male. I posted it along with a dorsal shot.

… Alice Abela, 27 November, 2013 - 2:44pm

yup

definitely male

I've also wondered just how distinct M. californicum and [i]M. retinerve are. At least they are different places (but what happens in Mexico?).

… David J. Ferguson, 27 November, 2013 - 5:56pm

Songs

Maybe their songs are distinct? That could maintain separation. I wonder if they get moved around on nursery stock too?

… Alice Abela, 27 November, 2013 - 7:04pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… David J. Ferguson, 24 November, 2013 - 2:46am

If it helps...

Fullsize: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44150996@N06/9571823499/sizes/o/

… Alice Abela, 24 November, 2013 - 2:04pm