Insect · GBIF taxon 5095783
Straight-lanced Meadow Katydid
Conocephalus strictusAlso known as Straight-lanced Katydid
Female straight-lanced meadow katydids carry an extraordinary egg-laying organ that often exceeds the entire length of their slender, green body. Most adults possess shortened wings and spend late summer creeping through dry fields, pastures, and prairie remnants. Males produce a faint, high-frequency buzzing song from grass stems to attract mates before autumn frosts arrive.
GrasslandInsectsCamouflaged
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Grasses
- Seeds
- Aphids
Predators
- Birds
- Spiders
- Robber flies
ThreatsHabitat conversion, agricultural pesticide exposure, and frequent mowing
HabitatsDry grasslands, tallgrass prairies, old fields, and pastures
Life span1 year
Classification
- OrderOrthoptera
- FamilyTettigoniidae
- GenusConocephalus
- SpeciesConocephalus strictus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Listen closely: Locate singing males by tracking their high-pitched, faint buzzing song in dry fields during late summer.
- Look for females: Search low vegetation for females displaying needle-straight, elongated ovipositors.
- Approach slowly: Move gently through tall grass to prevent them from slipping down plant stems out of sight.
Co-occupant (c) Marlo Perdicas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Marlo Perdicas · cc-by
Competitor (c) Matt Pelikan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Judy Gallagher · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Mystic Meadows
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