dcsimg
 
  en  
names in breadcrumbs
Image of Pine Katydid
Creatures » … » Animal » … » Arthropods » … » Hexapods » Insects » Winged Insects » … » Grasshoppers And Relatives » … » Katydids » …

Pine Katydid

Hubbellia marginifera (Walker & F. 1869)

Singing Insects of North America (text)
show all Singing Insects of North America (text) wikipedia NL

Pine Katydid (Hubbellia marginifera)

provided by Singing Insects of North America (text)
"

Identification: Length 33-37 mm. Camouflaged for life among pine needles--wings green with thin longitudinal light stripe and white margins. Brown dorsal stripe extending from top of head to near tips of forewings, including male stridulatory area.

Habitat: Tops of pines of species having medium to long needles (e.g. loblolly, slash, longleaf).

Season: June-Oct;

Similar species: The larger meadow katydids (Orchelimum) are similar in form and color but lack the white margins on the wings. The only species that lives in pine trees is smaller (length less than 27 mm).

Remarks: This species is among the most rarely seen of our native katydids. Prior to 1940 it was known from two specimens and no more than 40 have been collected since. Nevertheless it is widespread in most of the southeastern United States and hundreds can be heard in an evening by driving through pinewoods. The problem is that individuals seldom occur closer to the ground than 20 feet. They usually are much higher and in trees that have the first limbs above 30 feet. Those seeking specimens should first learn the song and then search for individuals calling from low, easy-to-climb trees. Once spotted with a light, specimens are usually not difficult to collect--if they can be reached. At least they don't fly away! (They apparently can fly but don't do so when pursued.) The few females that have been collected have ovipositors 25-33 mm long. Where they deposit their eggs is unknown. A European relative with a similar ovipositor is said to lay its eggs in crevices in the soil. Perhaps our species deposits eggs in crevices in the upper limbs or trunk of pine trees.

References: Hebard 1927, Hubbell 1940, Rehn 1943, Uvarov 1940.

"

"

References

  • Hebard M. 1927. A remarkable new genus and species of decticid from Liberty County, Florida (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae). Trans. Am. Entomol. Soc. 53: 1-4.
  • Hubbell TH. 1940. Supplementary notes on Hubbellia marginifera (Walker). Fla. Entomol. 23: 12-13. [229 KB] [continues Uvarov 1940]
  • Rehn JWH. 1943. Notes on Hubbellia marginifera (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). Entomol. News 54: 191-192.
  • Uvarov BP. 1940. The synonymy, systematic position and biogeographical importance of a Floridan tettioniid. Fla. Entomol. 23: 10-12. [342 KB] [this article is continued by Hubbell 1940.]

license
cc-by-3.0
copyright
Thomas J. Walker
original
visit source
partner site
Singing Insects of North America (text)
EOL is hosted by: