Orchelimum
(The Larger Meadow Katydids
)
By
Jason Hill
Higher Taxon
The genus Orchelimum is a member of the subfamily Conocephaline. Conochephaline is one of the subfamilies that makes up the large family known as Tettigoniidae. This family’s common name is Katydids. There are currently over 5000 species and this number grows every year (Gwynne 1996).
Identifying the Orchelimum genus
This genus contains medium-sized (more than 18 mm) katydids which are more robust than the other two genera. The Orchelimum are a color of green and have rather large eyes. The antennae are slender and exceed the length of the body. The ovipositor is distinctly curved upwards (Helfer 1963). These Katydids have wings and tegmina (the front hard cover of the wings) which are well developed. These wing characteristics maybe used to distinguish Orchelimum from the two other genera. In the Conocephalus genus, the tegmina are not developed fully and the wings are not as long as the body. In the Odontoxiphidium genus, the wings are usually absent or very short (Bratchley 1920).
Species List
Scientific name Common name
Agile Meadow Katydid |
|
Orchelimum bulliatum |
|
Orchelimum bradleyi |
Bradley’s Meadow Katydid |
Orchelimum calcaratum |
Long-spurred Meadow Katydid |
Orchelimum campestris |
Dusky-faced Meadow Katydid |
Orchelimum concinnum |
Stripe-faced Meadow Katydid |
Orchelimum delicatum |
Delicate Meadow Katydid |
Orchelimum erythrocephalum |
Red-Headed Meadow Katydid |
Orchelimum findicinium |
|
Orchelimum gladiator |
Gladiator Meadow Katydid |
Orchelimum militare |
Military Meadow Katydid |
Orchelimum minor |
Pine tree Meadow Katydid |
Orchelimum nigrapes |
Black-legged Meadow Katydid |
Orchelimum pulchellum |
Handsome Meadow Katydid |
Orchelimum superbum |
Superb Meadow Katydid |
Orchelimum volantum |
Nimble Meadow Katydid |
Common Meadow Katydid |
Identification Guide
To distinguish all the different species from one another refer to these helpful guides:
W.S. Blatchley’s Orthoptera of Northeastern America contains invaluable information on the Orchelimun genus. The Nature Publishing Company published it in 1920, refer to pages 533-562.
Vincent G. Dethier’s Cricket & Katydids, Concerts and Solos has a less complex key and covers most of the common species. Published by Harvard University Press in 1992, refer to pages 128-136.
Jacques R. Helfer’s The Grasshopper, Cockroaches and their Allies serves as a good overall guide to distinguish families. It was published by WM. C. Brown Company in 1963.
General Information
Orchelimum is Greek for "I dance in the meadows" (Dethier, 1992). These katydids are commonly found making music in prairies and meadows throughout the summertime. Therefore, unlike some katydid species, the Orchelimum are not destructive to agriculture. It has been observed that members of this genus change their tunes from day to night and that a cloud passing overhead is enough to trigger the same response (Scudder 1868). The Orchelimum blend in well with the grasslands, which provide a place to hide from birds and a safe breeding ground. Their eggs are deposited between the stems and root leaves of grass (Bradley 1920). Katydids have an incomplete metamorphous (egg-nymph-adult). This means that they undergo a series of molts to reach adulthood. Nymphs look like smaller versions of the adults, but they are sexually immature (Pratt and Kent 1990).
Links to Other Interesting Web Sites
Orthopterists' Society Home Page
Orthoptera Page at University of Toronto
Entomology Home Page at Iowa State