Mountain-dwelling short-winged katydid
Obolopteryx oreoeca
This record describes Obolopteryx oreoeca (species). Recorded family: Tettigoniidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Male cercus has a spoon-shaped thumb, nearly identical to D. catinata . More or less restricted to two populations in Texas (see below). The population in the Chisos Mountains has thick conspicuous white lateral stripes, but this character isn't typically present in the Davis Mountains population. Texas considers this a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Ensifera
- Family
- Tettigoniidae (Katydids)
- Subfamily
- Phaneropterinae
- Genus
- Obolopteryx (Short-wing Katydids)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
w TX / Mex ( Map ): Essentially two discrete populations, one in the Chisos Mountains in the Big Bend (Brewster County) and one in the Davis Mountains (Jeff Davis County).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: oreioikos (G). 'mountain-dwelling' (Rehn & Hebard, 1914)
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Obolopteryx oreoeca. 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 Mountain-dwelling short-winged katydid (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by drswanny; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Mountain-dwelling short-winged katydid
What is Mountain-dwelling short-winged katydid?
Mountain-dwelling short-winged katydid (Obolopteryx oreoeca) is a species in the family Tettigoniidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Mountain-dwelling short-winged katydid?
Male cercus has a spoon-shaped thumb, nearly identical to D. catinata . More or less restricted to two populations in Texas (see below). The population in the Chisos Mountains has thick conspicuous white lateral stripes, but this character isn't typically present in the Davis Mountains population.
Where is Mountain-dwelling short-winged katydid found?
Range: w TX / Mex ( Map ): Essentially two discrete populations, one in the Chisos Mountains in the Big Bend (Brewster County) and one in the Davis Mountains (Jeff Davis County).