California Angle-winged Katydid
Microcentrum californicum
This record describes Microcentrum californicum (species). Recorded family: Tettigoniidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Appearance similar to Greater Angle-winged Katydid, Microcentrum rhombifolium , but songs are different. Compare audio files at these Web pages: California Angle-wing: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/buzz/033a.htm Greater Angle-wing: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/buzz/031a.htm Very similar to M. retinerve , but found in a different region.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Ensifera
- Family
- Tettigoniidae (Katydids)
- Subfamily
- Phaneropterinae
- Genus
- Microcentrum (Angle-wing Katydids)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California and Arizona
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Microcentrum californicum. 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 California Angle-winged Katydid (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Abigail Parker; Additional contributions by David Ferguson , metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About California Angle-winged Katydid
What is California Angle-winged Katydid?
California Angle-winged Katydid (Microcentrum californicum) is a species in the family Tettigoniidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify California Angle-winged Katydid?
Appearance similar to Greater Angle-winged Katydid, Microcentrum rhombifolium , but songs are different. Compare audio files at these Web pages: California Angle-wing: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/buzz/033a.htm Greater Angle-wing: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/buzz/031a.htm Very similar to M. retinerve , but found in a different region.
Where is California Angle-winged Katydid found?
Range: California and Arizona