Conocephalus Explained

Conocephalus is a genus of bush crickets, known as coneheads (a term also sometimes applied to members of the related genus Ruspolia). It was described by Carl Peter Thunberg in 1815.[1]

Description

Conocephalus range from 10 to 27 mm in length, measured from head to wingtip. They can be distinguished from the related genus Orchelimum by being smaller and slimmer in general, the face usually being green and the ovipositors of females usually being straight.[2]

The forewings vary in length. Some species always have short forewings, some usually have short forewings but occasionally have individuals with forewings longer than the abdomen, and some always have long forewings.[3]

Species can be distinguished by the shapes of the cerci (males) and ovipositor (females).

Ecology

Bush crickets of this genus live in fields and meadows, where they feed on leaves, flowers, pollen and seeds of grasses and forbs. They also sometimes prey on other insects. Females lay their eggs in grass stems.

Subgenera and species

The Orthoptera Species File lists the following species, grouped into subgenera:[4]

Conocephalus (Amurocephalus)

- subgenus: Storozhenko, 2004 (China)

Conocephalus (Anisoptera)

- subgenus: Latreille, 1829 (Worldwide) - synonym Xiphidium Burmeister, 1838

Conocephalus (Aphauropus)

- subgenus: Rehn & Hebard, 1915 (central America)

Conocephalus (Chloroxiphidion)

- subgenus: Hebard, 1922 (Africa, Australasia: probably incomplete)

Conocephalus (Conocephalus)

- subgenus: Thunberg, 1815 (Worldwide)

Conocephalus (Dicellurina)

- subgenus: Rehn & Hebard, 1938 (eastern USA)

Conocephalus (Megalotheca)

- subgenus: Karny, 1907 (southern Africa, Madagascar)

Conocephalus (Opeastylus)

- subgenus: Rehn & Hebard, 1915 (southern America)

Conocephalus (Perissacanthus)

- subgenus: Rehn & Hebard, 1915 (Paraguay)

Conocephalus (Xenocerculus)

- subgenus: Rubio & Braun 2024 (Argentina)

subgenus not assigned

Notes and References

  1. Thunberg CP (1815) Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. St. Peterburg 5:214, 218, 271.
  2. Web site: Genus Conocephalus - Lesser Meadow Katydids . 2023-03-08 . bugguide.net.
  3. Web site: Genus Conocephalus (lesser meadow katydids) . 2023-03-08 . sina.orthsoc.org.
  4. http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=1133373 Orthoptera Species File: Conocephalus Thunberg, 1815 (Version 5.0/5.0; retrieved 11 June 2021)