Southern Oak Bush-Cricket
Meconema meridionale
This record describes Meconema meridionale (species). Recorded family: Tettigoniidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Like Meconema thalassinum , but with tiny wings as an adult. This species has apparently not been noticed before 2017 in North America, individuals photographed and perhaps collected before this having been mistaken for nymphs of Meconema thalassinum . So far it is apparently rather rare in North America, except in the Seattle area. [note by David Ferguson, 10-24-17] It is interesting that it has appeared in both New York and Washington at roughly the same time. I suspect that it is simply a short-winged variant of Meconema thalassinum (this is pure supposition at this point though).
Wikipedia reference for Meconema meridionale: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meconema_meridionale.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Ensifera
- Family
- Tettigoniidae (Katydids)
- Subfamily
- Meconematinae
- Genus
- Meconema
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Originally south of Alps in Europe, but since 1960 has expanded far north of this, and was first reported in England in 2001. It has now shown up in North America in New York and Washington.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Meconema meridionale. 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 Southern Oak Bush-Cricket (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by James Bailey
Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Oak Bush-Cricket
What is Southern Oak Bush-Cricket?
Southern Oak Bush-Cricket (Meconema meridionale) is a species in the family Tettigoniidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Southern Oak Bush-Cricket?
Like Meconema thalassinum , but with tiny wings as an adult.
Where is Southern Oak Bush-Cricket found?
Range: Originally south of Alps in Europe, but since 1960 has expanded far north of this, and was first reported in England in 2001. It has now shown up in North America in New York and Washington.