Robust Conehead
Neoconocephalus robustus
This record describes Neoconocephalus robustus (species). Recorded family: Tettigoniidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The song is a continuous whirring buzz that is extremely loud. Up close it is ear splitting, and it can sometimes be heard on a still night from as much as a mile away.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Ensifera
- Family
- Tettigoniidae (Katydids)
- Subfamily
- Conocephalinae
- Tribe
- Copiphorini
- Genus
- Neoconocephalus (Common Coneheads)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Mostly associated with tall course grass in Prairies, open old fields, roadsides, river bottoms, coastal dunes, etc. Also fond of corn and Sorghum fields.
Geographic Range
mostly e. US - Map Connecticut to South Dakota, se. Wyoming, e. Colorado, The Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico, and south to north Florida, the Gulf Coast and into ne. Mexico. Also up and down the central valleys of California (where likely introduced?).
Seasonal Activity
July to first frost (sometimes lasting into November or December in southern locations).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Apparently preferring coarse tall members of the Grass family.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Neoconocephalus robustus (Scudder, 1862)
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Neoconocephalus robustus. 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 Robust Conehead (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Ethan Kistler , David Ferguson , James C. Trager
Frequently Asked Questions About Robust Conehead
What is Robust Conehead?
Robust Conehead (Neoconocephalus robustus) is a species in the family Tettigoniidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is Robust Conehead?
53-74 mm
Where is Robust Conehead found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Mostly associated with tall course grass in Prairies, open old fields, roadsides, river bottoms, coastal dunes, etc. Also fond of corn and Sorghum fields. |
| Range | mostly e. US - Map Connecticut to South Dakota, se. Wyoming, e. Colorado, The Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico, and south to north Florida, the Gulf Coast and into ne. Mexico. Also up and down the central valleys of California (where likely introduced?). |
What does Robust Conehead eat?
The diet of the Robust Conehead includes Apparently preferring coarse tall members of the Grass family..
When is Robust Conehead active?
Robust Conehead: seasonal activity - July to first frost (sometimes lasting into November or December in southern locations)..