Cattail Conehead
Bucrates malivolans
This record describes Bucrates malivolans (species). Recorded family: Tettigoniidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
body either brown or green, with short or long wings; cone round-tipped without prominent gap between it and face; wings cover most or all of abdomen; ovipositor very long, at least 1.5 times as long as hind femur ( see drawing at OSF)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Ensifera
- Family
- Tettigoniidae (Katydids)
- Subfamily
- Conocephalinae
- Tribe
- Copiphorini
- Genus
- Bucrates
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
freshwater marshes on cattails, sawgrass, and other tall grasses; also in moist thickets and tangled vegetation along wet or flooded ditches
Geographic Range
coastal southeastern states, north to Long Island, west to Gulf coast of Texas
Seasonal Activity
July to September (except April to January in southern Florida)
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Bucrates malivolans. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Orthoptera includes ~28,000 described species of grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. Desert locusts can form swarms covering 460 square miles containing up to 80 million individuals per square kilometer.
Ecological role of the group
Grasshoppers and crickets are a primary food source for birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Cricket farming is a growing industry - crickets require 12× less feed than cattle to produce the same amount of protein, using 2,000× less water.
Economic and practical significance of the group
A single large locust swarm can consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people. The 2019-2021 East Africa locust crisis affected food security for 42 million people across multiple countries. Global crop losses from locusts can reach billions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, UN World Food Programme, research publications. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Cattail Conehead (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Cattail Conehead
What is Cattail Conehead?
Cattail Conehead (Bucrates malivolans) is a species in the family Tettigoniidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is Cattail Conehead?
body length 29-35 mm and 46-56 mm for short-winged and long-winged males; 34-46 and 57-70 for short-winged and long-winged females; ovipositor 37-38.5 mm
How do you identify Cattail Conehead?
body either brown or green, with short or long wings; cone round-tipped without prominent gap between it and face; wings cover most or all of abdomen; ovipositor very long, at least 1.5 times as long as hind femur ( see drawing at OSF)
Where is Cattail Conehead found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | freshwater marshes on cattails, sawgrass, and other tall grasses; also in moist thickets and tangled vegetation along wet or flooded ditches |
| Range | coastal southeastern states, north to Long Island, west to Gulf coast of Texas |
When is Cattail Conehead active?
Cattail Conehead: seasonal activity - July to September (except April to January in southern Florida).