''Orchelimum pulchellum'', the handsome meadow katydid, is a species of meadow katydid in the family

Tettigoniidae Insects in the family (biology), family Tettigoniidae are commonly called katydids (especially in North America) or bush crickets. They have previously been known as "long-horned grasshoppers". More than 8,000 species are known. Part of the subo ...

. It is found in North America.

Description

The body length of the handsome meadow katydid is . This katydid is distinguished from '' Orchelimum nigripes'', its western relative, by the shape of the caudal portion of its lateral pronotum, which is arcuate inferior to the humeral sinus in ''O. pulchellum'', while the same portion is sinuate or sub-sinuate in ''O. nigripes''. The medial tooth on each of the paired male cerci in ''O. pulchellum'' is positioned at a less acute angle to the sinuate sinus of the cercus in ''O. pulchellum'' when compared to that of ''O. nigripes''. In females, the ovipositor is long and sickle shaped. The tibiae are brown in ''O. pulchellum'', while they are typically black in ''O. nigripes''. ''O. pulchellum'' typically has no spines on the inner carinae of the hind femora, which distinguishes it from another relative, ''O. carinatum''. It is distinguished from its Texas relative, ''O. bullatum'', by virtue of its narrower fastigium and by having spines on the outer ventral carinae of the hind femora, generally numbering at least six total when both sides are counted. ''O. pulchellum'' commonly has blue compound eyes, a trait it shares with '' O. erythrocephalum'', on its white or yellow face. At rest, its folded wings appear to have a turquoise stripe, while the body is green with reddish marks around the head. The song of the handsome meadow katydid is very similar to that of '' Orchelimum nigripes''. It consists of a series of paired and occasional single clicks leading into a short buzz.

Distribution

The handsome meadow katydid is found east of the

Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, are a mountain range in eastern to northeastern North America. The term "Appalachian" refers to several different regions associated with the mountain range, and its surrounding terrain ...

, as far north as New York state. Its range extends south to Florida and west to Mississippi.

Ecology

This katydid is found in moist forests and in wetlands. It consumes pollen from flowering plants and foliage. In Alabama, it is active from mid-July until mid-November.

Evolution

According to Shapiro (1998), zones of hybridization have been established by ''O. pulchellum'' and ''O. nigripes'' in Mississippi and Alabama and along the

Potomac River The Potomac River () is in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and flows from the Potomac Highlands in West Virginia to Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography D ...

, near the confluence of the

Anacostia River The Anacostia River is a river in the Mid-Atlantic states, Mid Atlantic region of the United States. It flows from Prince George's County, Maryland, Prince George's County in Maryland into Washington, D.C., where it joins with the Washington Ch ...

with the Potomac below the

fall line A fall line (or fall zone) is the area where an upland region and a coastal plain meet and is noticeable especially the place rivers cross it, with resulting rapids or waterfalls. The uplands are relatively hard crystalline basement rock, and the ...

Notes

References

External links

* pulchellum Articles created by Qbugbot Insects described in 1909 {{tettigoniidae-stub