Spot-legged Meadow Katydid
Conocephalus stictomerus
This record describes Conocephalus stictomerus (species). Recorded family: Tettigoniidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Distinctive color pattern, usually green with back (including wings) light brownish; with head most often buffy to orangey with darker red mid-stripe; end of abdomen yellow to orange; hind femur usually with red-brown spots on outer face, usually with several spines on lower margin; ovipositor usually brownish, barely curved, longer then hind femur. Conocephalus aigialus is similar, but with head usually green; hind femur with brownish spots absent or weak; ovipositor proportionately thicker and shorter (usually somewhat shorter than hind femur). Has wider distribution southward and westward along coast to Louisiana or perhaps into Texas.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Ensifera
- Family
- Tettigoniidae (Katydids)
- Subfamily
- Conocephalinae
- Tribe
- Conocephalini
- Genus
- Conocephalus (Lesser Meadow Katydids)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
described as occuring in Switch Grass ( Panicum virgatum ) areas associated with marshes (at least sometimes brackish) near coast.
Geographic Range
near coast from New Jersey to North Carolina
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Conocephalus stictomerus. 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 Spot-legged Meadow Katydid (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by metrioptera , Tyler Hedlund
Frequently Asked Questions About Spot-legged Meadow Katydid
What is Spot-legged Meadow Katydid?
Spot-legged Meadow Katydid (Conocephalus stictomerus) is a species in the family Tettigoniidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Spot-legged Meadow Katydid?
Distinctive color pattern, usually green with back (including wings) light brownish; with head most often buffy to orangey with darker red mid-stripe; end of abdomen yellow to orange; hind femur usually with red-brown spots on outer face, usually with several spines on lower margin; ovipositor usually brownish, barely curved, longer then hind femur. Conocephalus aigialus is similar, but with head usually green; hind femur with brownish spots absent or weak; ovipositor proportionately thicker and shorter (usually somewhat shorter than hind femur). Has wider distribution southward and westward along coast to Louisiana or perhaps into Texas.
Where is Spot-legged Meadow Katydid found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | described as occuring in Switch Grass ( Panicum virgatum ) areas associated with marshes (at least sometimes brackish) near coast. |
| Range | near coast from New Jersey to North Carolina |