The Crickets and Katydids of Burton Wetlands

The Crickets and Katydids
of Burton Wetlands:
a 2011 continuation survey and study
of the effects of meadow burning
by Lisa Rainsong
The Crickets and Katydids of Burton Wetlands:
2011 continuation survey and study of the effects of meadow burning
by Lisa Rainsong
Funded by the Research Grant Program of the Geauga Park District
Survey Report:
Purpose and Introduction
Methods, materials and project description
Survey sections and description
Species accounts and changes noted from 2010 to 2011
Methods and Project Description specific to the meadow
burning study
Conclusions
Species Lists
Resources
Additional photos from the field season
CD contents
Spreadsheets
The Crickets and Katydids of Burton Wetlands:
2011 continuation survey and study of the effects of meadow burning
by Lisa Rainsong
Purpose
The initial purpose of this 2011 survey was to compare the cricket and katydid
populations in meadow areas burned in 2010 and 2011 to determine if the results of the
2010 survey would be replicated on opposite sides of the meadow when the burning
pattern was reversed in 2011. However, the very rainy weather of spring 2011
necessitated a revision to this plan, as burning was not possible.
Fortunately, another way of looking at the information would be to compare the areas
burned last year with the populations in those same areas this year. Would the
difference I found between burned and unburned areas last year be eliminated in one
year?
Last year’s report stated that “by determining which insects are present at this time, it
will be possible to track changes in subsequent years. The presence, abundance, or
absence of various species may also be useful indicators for land management
decisions, specifically the frequency of meadow burning.” Previously, no meadow
areas had remained unburned for two consecutive years. How would cricket and
katydid populations fare in those areas that remained unburned for two years? A
second year at Burton Wetlands also would enable me to follow up on species of
interest last year and perhaps find additional species not recorded in 2010.
Black-horned Tree cricket singing on 9-18-11
Introduction: Why a study of crickets and katydids, and why study meadow
burning’s effect on them?
The crickets and katydid species found at Burton Wetlands are an important food
source for many birds, mammals, insects, and spiders. Tree crickets and katydids are
prey for birds and bats, and small mammals eat nymphs and ground crickets. Larger
insects eat both adults and nymphs, and other insects eat their eggs. Because of their
diversity, katydids and crickets are found in almost any habitat I could survey.
Therefore, a study of the Ensifera (crickets and katydids) of a park or preserve can
provide information about a number of different habitats within a park or preserve.
The Ensifera are a suborder of the order Orthoptera, which also includes grasshoppers.
Grasshoppers, too, are an excellent source of food for birds and mammals. However,
most grasshoppers do not “sing” to advertise their presence. Those that do “sing” make
a rather soft sound by scraping a leg against a wing, unlike the louder, more repetitious
songs of the Ensifera.
Bluebird with a Northern Green-striped Grasshopper
(Chortophaga viridifasciata) on 5-23-11.
I have now recorded 18 species of katydids and 14 species of crickets at Burton
Wetlands, including 6 new species added this year. I have noted several southern Ohio
species that appear to be moving north into the Snow Belt. (Not surprisingly, I have
never found northern species that are moving south). Some may simply have not been
recorded here in the past, but others are definitely expanding their ranges northward.
The only non-native cricket or katydid present is the Roesel’s Katydid. This European
katydid was introduced to the NE United Stated in the early 1950s and has been
expanding west since that time. It does not appear to compete with our native katydids,
nor does it seem to cause any problems. They mature much earlier than most of our
native katydids and disappear at the time when the majority of our katydids are reaching
adulthood.
Roesel’s Katydid nymph on 6-8-11. He’ll be an adult soon.
In addition to base line survey data, my study has specifically looked at the effects of
meadow burning on the crickets and katydids that inhabit the Burton Wetlands
meadows. Because these insects are an important food resource, it is useful to include
the effects on these insects when considering how best to manage the health of the
meadows. The first year of the study compared the effects of burning on the north side
of the meadow and Fireweed Meadow with the species numbers and distribution on the
south side of the meadow, which was burned in 2009. Significant differences in some
species were noted last year. Some of these differences diminished over the summer
and fall; others did not.
This year’s study was to examine what happened when the burning pattern was
reversed. The areas burned in 2010 would not be burned in 2011, and those not
burned since 2009 would be burned in 2011. A direct comparison therefore should
have been possible.
However, 2011 has become the wettest year on record for our area. Frequent, and
often heavy, rain washed out any plans for meadow burning this year. Consequently,
the questions posed by this part of the study were changed somewhat to accommodate
the precipitation reality. Instead of comparing areas burned last year with those burned
this year, I compared the same areas in 2010 and 2011 to see how cricket and katydid
populations possibly impacted by burning might have recovered in a year’s time.
Additionally, there were now meadow areas that were unburned for two years instead of
just one. Would additional changes be noted with the longer period between burnings?
More rain is approaching the Burton Wetlands meadow, 9-10-11
Methods and Project Description: baseline survey of 2010 and updates in 2011
1. Habitat Identification and Survey Routes
Because this survey was a continuation of the 2010 project, I continued to use the
primary survey route I followed in 2010. I used the Kettle Trail and the Glacial Trail as
the basis of my route, but also walked the fire breaks as well. I occasionally went into
the middle of each meadow area and also explored parts of the adjoining woods that I
did not investigate last year. I regularly slogged along the edge of the beaver pond in
search of the Long-tailed Meadow Katydid, occasionally walked as much of the Calla
Bog edge as seemed safe. “Fireweed Meadow” on Old Rider Road between the
driveway and Pond Road was a very worthwhile addition to my survey area last year. I
continued to monitor that meadow this year, but the rain and resulting dense vegetation
made exploration much more difficult this year. Much of the vegetation in Fireweed
Meadow this year was well over my head!
2. Duration of the survey
I began looking and listening for the earliest species – Roesel’s Katydids and Spring
Field Crickets – in May. I also began searching for cricket and katydid nymphs. I was
once again able to record the approximate beginning song dates for many species and
watched as the earlier ones became less common and eventually disappeared from the
concert stage in the fall.
By the beginning of October, the temperatures were already becoming too cold to add
additional species. Those Bush Katydids and Coneheads that had survived days of
downpours and chilly temperatures only sang softly and sporadically, as it was only
warm enough to sing during the vulnerable daylight hours. Tree crickets were silent
after dark because of the rapidly-dropping temperatures, though Black-horned and
Four-spotted Tree Crickets continued to sing in the meadows. Ground crickets,
sheltered in vegetation, dead leaves, and close to the warm earth, were still singing.
Evenings had become far too chilly for insects to move their tiny wings fast enough to
sing, and the meadows became silent at sunset. My last survey date was 10-9-11.
3. Frequency
I conducted 41 trips to Burton Wetlands during the course of the 2011survey. I did not
necessarily cover all of the habitats each time, as I wanted to do a more detailed study
of my tiny subjects in their vast areas. I generally allowed two survey visits to cover all
the primary areas of study and would periodically make a visit to explore areas not on
my primary list.
4. Hours
A detailed cricket and katydid survey required afternoon and evening monitoring of
representative habitats, as some species sing only after dark. The mowed paths
through the meadow made night time access quite possible, as did the gravel path and
driveway back to Lake Kelso. Consequently, I was able to survey most areas well after
dark. The beaver pond, Calla Bog, and the woods between them were not safe to walk
after dark, and the height and density of the vegetation in Fireweed Meadow also made
this area inaccessible after dark this year.
Ground fog forming over the meadow, 7-25-11. The night concert is about to begin.
5. Use of recording equipment and photography
My recording equipment was an essential part of this survey. I used my field sound
recording equipment to assist with locating the singers and also to document their
presence. It can be very challenging to pinpoint the location of an individual singer
without the assistance of a highly-directional microphone, and it can also be difficult to
hear the softest singers when species with louder songs are singing. The data I
entered for the sound recordings includes the temperature, as this factor significantly
affects the speed and pitch of cricket and katydid songs.
My recording equipment allowed me to document species that I was not able to locate
visually or photograph clearly. Although I was not able to get a clear photo of the
Slightly Musical Conehead singing at night near Lake Kelso, my diagnostic recordings
conclusively identify this species by its unique song. As was the case with the Roundtipped Conehead last year, this was not a species that I have encountered in NE Ohio
before and would not have expected to find. I had heard the song on the Songs of
Insects field guide recording, and was able to match the song to the species. I
subsequently was able to actually find singing individuals.
I took many photographs throughout the survey and have photo documentation for as
many species at each location as possible.
Materials
The equipment I used for this survey included a Marantz PMD 620 recorder and a
Sennheiser ME67 shotgun microphone, Adobe Audition software for editing sound files,
a Fuji Finepix HS10 camera, plastic containers for catching insects to identify and
photograph, a hand lens, and field guides.
I combined visual records with sound recordings for documentation and identification.
These insects often are not easy to locate, but recording their songs was useful both for
identifying them and for confirming their presence. Recording also helped make
distinctions between similar species possible, as visual identification for ground crickets
and Conocephalus meadow katydids is notoriously difficult.
Sonogram of the first Cuban Ground Cricket song of the year on 8-13-11.
Survey Areas: how the park habitats were determined and described
Names, spreadsheet abbreviation, and area descriptions
Kettle Trail and adjoining areas on the west side of Old Rider Road
Meadow area 1 (M1)
Primarily tall grassy area near Old Rider Road on either side of the mowed path. Most
of the meadow areas are goldenrod and asters; this area is different because of the tall
grasses.
Meadow area 2 (M2)
Primarily goldenrod and asters, this meadow section extends from the first firebreak to
the tree line.
Meadow area 3 (M3)
This meadow area has far more asters than goldenrod. It extends from the tree line up
to the beaver pond.
Meadow area 4 (M4)
This is the small meadow encountered as one emerges from the woods and begins the
descent back down the hill. It is surrounded by the woods on two sides and tree
lines/hedge rows on the other two and is primarily goldenrod with some blackberry. In
some areas, the goldenrod is taller than anywhere else on the west side of Old Rider
Road. The wet conditions of 2011 produced dense patches of smartweed and even
taller vegetation than 2010.
Meadow area 5 (M5)
Primarily goldenrod, this meadow extends from the M4 firebreak down to the next
firebreak line.
Meadow area 6 (M6)
This area extends from the central firebreak down to Old Rider Road. Primarily
goldenrod.
Meadow area 7 (M7)
The central meadow area between M3 and M5. It was not burned in 2010. Goldenrod
and asters. My spreadsheet data specifies M7/3 for the southern edge of this area,
M7/5 for the northern edge, and M7 or “M7 across” for the western edge bordering the
tree line.
Meadow area 8 (M8)
The central meadow area between M2 and M6. It was not burned in 2010. Goldenrod
and asters.
Beaver pond (P)
The edge of the beaver pond. Many buttonbushes, dogwoods, and plants typical of wet
areas.
Calla woods (CW): Dry woods between the beaver pond and meadows on the east end
and Calla Bog on the west. Some areas of the woods have very little understory,
although there are shrubs and generally more vegetation on the edge near the beaver
pond. The woods are generally dry with a few damper areas and a tiny brook that
almost dried up in2010. As noted previously, all areas were much wetted in 2011.
Calla bog (C): The edge of the bog: Buttonbushes, deciduous holly, bog and wetland
plants.
Glacier Trail and adjoining areas on the east side of Old Rider Road
Parking Lot (PL): Circumference of the parking lot, including mowed area and pines.
Parking Lot Meadow (PLM): Successional meadow with goldenrod and other
herbaceous plants, shrubs such as dogwoods, and small fruit trees. This dense,
tangled area is difficult to walk through. It descends to a swale and is bordered on the
west by Old Rider Road. This area was not included in the 2011 survey.
Gravel Path (GP): The path back to Lake Kelso, including the open young woods and
edge of the thicket meadow.
Kelso path meadow (KM): Meadow/thicket which runs up small hill from gravel path.
Lake Kelso edge, wet meadow, and observation deck (K).
Driveway between Kelso and Old Rider Road (D).
Fireweed Meadow (FWM) Drier, more open meadow habitat with greater plant diversity.
The vegetation in 2011 was often very tall and dense because of the abundant rainfall.
Map of survey area
The bottom of the page is east and the top of the page is west .
As you look up the page, you are looking up the hill.
Calla Bog
“Calla woods”
M4
Beaver
Pond
Large meadow
and Kettle Trail
Fireweed
Meadow
Parking lot
and path
to lake
Lake Kelso
M4
4Ω
M7
M3
M5
M8
M2
M6
M1
FWM
SM
Meadow sections 1 through 8, Fireweed Meadow,
and the successional meadow next to the parking lot.
Meadow areas 4, 5, 6, and Fireweed Meadow were burned in 2010.
Meadow areas 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 were burned in 2009.
The successional meadow, which is not burned, was included in the 2010 survey
but not the 2011 survey.
Katydid and cricket species present, and differences
in numbers and distribution from the 2010 report
Tettigoniiadae: the Katydids
Katydids are a diverse groups of insects that may not seem even to be related.
Meadow katydids look like small, delicate grasshoppers with very long antennae. Bush
katydids, Anglewing Katydids, Round-winged Katydids, and Oblong-winged Katydids
look like the green leaves on which they live. Shieldback katydids look like little
armored vehicles when compared with meadow katydids, and Coneheads
have…coneheads! Their habitats range from the ground to the tops of trees. Most of
their songs are at high frequencies that sound to humans like scrapes, ticks, and soft
whirrs. Some are barely audible to us, while other can seem loud. The loudest and
most insistent is the well-known Common True Katydid.
Meadow Katydids
Meadow Katydids belong to two genera: Conocephalus and Orchelimum. These small
katydids resemble slender grasshoppers with long antennae. They typically are found
in grasses, sedges, and other herbaceous perennials, though an occasional Blacklegged Meadow Katydid may be found singing in a shrub. Meadow Katydids tend to
prefer damper habitats and some are found almost exclusively around ponds, marshes,
and in other wet areas. Drier areas are far more favorable for grasshoppers.
There are now three confirmed Conocephalus species present at Burton Wetlands. The
expected species are the Short-winged Meadow Katydid (Conocephalus brevipennis)
and the Slender Meadow Katydid (Conocephalus fasciatus). The Slender Meadow
Katydid prefers tall grasses, but Short-winged Meadow Katydids can be found in a
variety of habitats. The Long-tailed Meadow Katydid, (Conocephalus attenuatus) that I
suspected was present at the beaver pond was confirmed this year. The Straightlanced Meadow Katydid, (Conocephalus strictus) is a drier upland species that does not
appear to be present at Burton Wetlands.
The slightly larger Orchelimum meadow katydids are represented at Burton Wetlands
by the Gladiator Meadow Katydid (Orchelimum gladiator) in early to mid-summer
followed by the Black-legged Meadow Katydid (Orchelimum nigripes) of late summer
and fall. A few Common Meadow Katydids (Orchelimum vulgare) were found in 2010
but not in 2011.
Meadow Katydids: Conocephalus
One would expect that meadow katydids would be quite common in the large meadow
areas of Burton Wetlands, but this was not the case in 2010. In fact, I found
Conocephalus meadow katydids in only a few specific, limited locations. This is quite a
contrast to the Geauga Park District preserves I surveyed in 2009: Observatory Park’s
Gas Well and Pond Parcels, and Oakton Park Preserve.
Short-winged Meadow Katydids (Conocephalus brevipennis) are our most frequentlyencountered and adaptable meadow katydids in NE Ohio. Surprisingly, they were far
less common at Burton Wetlands last year than I would have expected. I only found
them in the Lake Kelso vicinity, the fire break edge between the upper (west) edge of
the large meadow, and in Fireweed Meadow. I do not know if they were limited by lack
of grassy habitat or by the regular burning of the meadows – or perhaps both. They
would prefer a diverse meadow habitat that includes more grassy vegetation than the
consistently tall goldenrod/aster mix in the Burton Wetlands meadows. Because
Fireweed Meadow is burned on alternate years but has more diverse vegetation, I
wondered if meadow katydids were limited more by habitat than by the direct effects of
burning.
In 2011, however, Short-winged Meadow Katydids were much more common and at
times, actually abundant! The big surprise for me was the numbers I saw in the
meadows at night on timothy! I did not observe this on either side of the meadow last
summer. However, there was also less timothy – and timothy seed heads was exactly
where I found them. In addition, there were more Short-winged Meadow Katydids in the
small, wet meadow area near the Kelso observation deck and they were also present
well off the path near the lake. Others were at the beaver pond and a few by the edge
of Calla Bog. There were only a few in these areas, but I did not see them in either
location last year. I found them in Fireweed Meadow in 2010, and they were there this
year as well.
The big difference for this species was their numbers and widespread presence in the
large meadow. I did not find them in the meadow at all in 2010 and only found a few
across the firebreak boundary near the tree line. I felt as though I were looking at a
different meadow this year!
Short-winged Meadow Katydids at Lake Kelso. Male (left), 10-8 and female (right), 9-25
Short-winged Meadow Katydid on timothy, 8-8-11
Slender Meadow Katydids (Conocephalus fasciatus) definitely prefer grassier areas
than the goldenrod/aster meadows of Burton Wetlands. I only found them in two places
last year: the small wet meadow by Lake Kelso and in an open, grassy area of Fireweed
Meadow. They still were not common but were in the areas noted last year and also
near the beaver pond.
Slender Meadow Katydid by the beaver pond on 8-19-11
Slender Meadow katydid female on 8-16-11, also found near the beaver pond
On 10-8-10 I spotted an unfamiliar meadow katydid in the cutgrass at the beaver pond:
he was…red! Although insects in autumn can take on the changing color of the plants
they consume, I have never seen a uniformly red meadow katydid. His cerci appeared
a little longer and flatter than the Short-winged Meadow Katydid, and I had never seen
any Conocephalus meadow katydids around the pond in the past. The only probable
species was the Long-tailed Meadow Katydid: Conocephalus attenuatus. There is little
information available on this species, although it has been recorded in a number of
counties in Ohio including in our area. It lives specifically in wet areas such as marshes
and pond edges and is brown or reddish brown rather than green.
Although The Singing Insects of North America web site (see my resources list) did not
have photos of this species last year, Illinois naturalist Carl Strang, Forest Preserve
District of DuPage County, has recently provided pictures of this species to the SINA. I
was determined to find this katydid in 2011.
I made numerous trips in dense vegetation and 12” of water at the edge of the beaver
pond in search of these katydids, and my persistence was rewarded on 8-16-11!
Although the red color and habitat are in themselves a distinctive combination, the
male’s cerci also have an unusual paddle shape. Even more dramatic, however, is the
very long ovipositor of the female. Only the Straight-lanced Meadow Katydid
(Conocephalus strictus), found in dry, upland areas, has such a long ovipositor.
Female Long-tailed Meadow Katydid in context at the beaver pond, 8-30-11
Conocephalus songs are very light and high, and I can’t imagine the good fortune
necessary to get close enough to record one while standing in a foot of water. If a male
ever sang in my presence, I was not able to hear his song. Consequently, I wanted
photos for documentation.
These wary, vigilant katydids are not numerous, however, and I never saw more than
three on any given day. Notoriously difficult to catch for photographs, they quickly
escape by jumping not just once, but two or three times through the cattails, bulrushes,
and cutgrass.
.
Male Long-tailed Meadow Katydid at the beaver pond on 8-30-11.
No, I couldn’t catch him.
Repeated trips were required to catch first a female, then finally a male so that I could
obtain good documentation. While not a rare species, the Long-tailed Meadow Katydid
appears to me a species that occurs occasionally but is not widespread. Since sending
out photos to naturalists and photographers, I’ve gotten two reports of other locations
for this species: one in eastern Cuyahoga County and one in Summit County.
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid female (above), 9-10-11 and male (below), 9-20-11
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid male’s cerci.
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid female’s face.
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid female back at home after the photo shoot on 9-10-11
Meadow Katydids: Orchelimum
Meadow katydids in this genus are larger than Conocephalus meadow katydids and
have a slightly different body shape. Their songs are also a little louder and easier to
detect.
Gladiator Meadow Katydids (Orchelimum gladiator) are wet meadow and marsh
residents who mature earlier than other meadow katydids. In 2010, they were
numerous for a rather brief time around the beaver pond, which is an excellent habitat
for them. They were also in the nearby south meadow areas (M3 and M2), becoming
more common closer to the beaver pond. At no time did I hear or see any in the areas
burned in 2010, but these areas are also farther from the beaver pond. I first recorded
them on July 4th, and my last date for this species was August 1st.
In 2011, I found Gladiator Meadow Katydids on the north side of the meadow in M6 as
well as the areas where they were present last year. A small group of them was
established on either side of the path that forms the boundary between the area burned
last year and two years ago.
Two views of a male Gladiator Meadow Katydid near the beaver pond on 7-14-11
Black-legged Meadow Katydids (Orchelimum nigripes) are found specifically in wet
areas and around ponds. I found them last year as expected at Lake Kelso, the Beaver
Pond, and Calla Bog. Their habitats are never burned so this would not be a factor in
their populations. This year, their numbers were even higher. Could the wet weather
have been a factor?
The population density by Kelso was quite impressive, and I also found them in
numerous additional locations this year. They were along the driveway from Old Rider
Road back to Lake Kelso, and one was in the jewelweed at the bottom on the meadow
in M1. I even found one in the goldenrod at the edge of M4 (the small, upper meadow).
I was quite surprised by this, but I did see some water across the property border. The
upper (western) edge of M4 had a great deal of smartweed this year, possibly because
everything was much wetter due the large amount of rain this spring, summer, and fall.
Female Black-legged Meadow Katydid,
in the sun at Calla Bog, 8-24-11
Male Black-legged Meadow Katydid,
Lake Kelso, 9-24-11
Common Meadow Katydids (Orchelimum vulgare) actually are NOT a species I
commonly find in Geauga, Lake, Summit, and Cuyahoga Counties. I recorded two
individuals in widely-separated locations within the large meadow in 2010 but did not
hear this species at all in 2011.
Conehead Katydids: Neocononcephalus
Conehead Katydids are large insects that can be identified to species by their songs
and by the shape and amount of black on the tips of their “cones.” The Sword-bearing
Conehead is extremely common in NE Ohio meadows, and I have found the Nebraska
Conehead west of the Cleveland area. Burton Wetlands, I have learned, also has two
more southern Conehead species whose documented ranges do not include NE Ohio.
Sword-bearing Coneheads (Neoconocephalus ensiger) were plentiful in the meadows.
Their typical habitat is meadows and pond edges, so their abundance is not surprising.
These seed-eating katydids were numerous in all meadow areas. Perhaps because
they oviposit in the crowns of plants rather than leaves or stems, they did not seem at
all affected by the burning on the north side of the meadow in 2010. Not surprisingly,
they were every bit as common in 2011. After dark, the mowed paths through the
meadow often seemed to be lined on either side with singing coneheads; they were
audible at all times. They began singing by July 17th and continued to do so until the
evenings were too chilly for them to sing. A few still sang softly during the late
afternoon on October 9th.
Sword-bearing Coneheads in the meadow at night on 8-1-11 and 7-30-11
Sword-bearing Coneheads love grass seeds. 7-30-11
This Sword-bearing Conehead can be identified by the shape
and amount of black on the tip of his cone. 8-13-11
Round-tipped Coneheads (Neoconocephalus retusus) were a most unexpected
discovery at Burton Wetland in 2010, as range maps do not show this species in the
northern half of Ohio. After my initial discovery of this species at Burton Wetlands in
2010, Geauga Park District naturalist Linda Gilbert found one on her property in South
Russell. Although not numerous, in 2011 I found Round-tipped Coneheads singing at
locations all around the meadow. Some were still singing in October.
Additionally, Linda Gilbert had more Round-tipped Coneheads on her property than last
year and also heard them at Swine Creek and the West Woods. I found them at Squire
Valleevue Farm in Hunting Valley. This species does indeed appear to be moving north
and getting established in NE Ohio.
Probable Round-tipped Conehead
female nymph on 9-1-11
Adult male Round-tipped Conehead, 9-2-11
A new species for Burton Wetlands this year was the Slightly Musical (or “Longbeaked”) Conehead: Neoconocephalus exiliscanorus. This is another Conehead
species whose documented range includes the southern half of the state, but not NE
Ohio. As with the Round-tipped Conehead last year, I discovered this species by ear. I
had not heard this song “in person” before but remembered hearing it on The Songs of
Insects CD. I had not paid close attention to the recorded song previously because the
insect was supposedly not in our range.
However, there he was. He was singing in a large clump of Boneset next to the gravel
path near the Kelso observation deck on July 31st. I was able to obtain very clear
recordings of his distinctive song. My flash photos in the dark were far less clear, but
the unusually long “cone” is apparent. I had hoped to obtain better photos, but he was
not there on subsequent evenings. Did he move to another less-accessible location, or
was he simply some fortunate bird’s meal?
Slightly Musical Conehead by the Kelso path on 7-30-11.
Note the very long cone!
Shieldback Katydids: Metrioptera
The only shieldback I found was the non-native Roesel’s Katydid (Metrioptera roeselii).
This European introduction has rapidly been expanding in the northeastern United
States since the early 1950s and can be found west to Illinois. This species matures
earlier than most of our native katydids and prefers damp areas of tall grasses or
sedges rather than the goldenrod/aster meadows more typical of Burton Wetlands.
Roesel’s Katydids nymphs were present in early June and adults were singing on July
14th. They generally disappeared as our native katydids became more numerous; the
last individual I saw was on July 25th. (This katydid was on the north side of the
meadow in M6 - a new area for this species.) Their early maturation dates could make
them more vulnerable to meadow burning. They are not widespread, however, so it
would be difficult to determine the extent to which meadow burning affected them last
year.
Male Roesel’s Katydid, 7-4-11
Although native shieldback katydids may be present in the woodland areas and wooded
edges, I did not encounter them during the survey in either 2010 or 2011. They do not
sing until dusk and these brown, ground-dwelling katydids blend perfectly with their leaf
litter habitat. Their songs are soft, high rattles that are easily covered up by other
species; consequently, detection of these katydids seems to require luck as well as
diligence! The Least Shieldback does occur in at least two other Geauga Park District
properties, but it is difficult to search for them in the woods after dark. They may not be
present or they may simply remain undetected.
The majority of Roesel’s Katydids have short wings. However, long-winged males and
females occur, and these are the individuals who are able to fly to new areas and
expand the range. Roesel’s Katydid, a European species, was first discovered in
Montreal around 1950. It can now be found in the Northeastern US west to eastern Iowa
and north into Canada.
Short-winged female and long-winged female Roesel’s Katydid, 7-4-11
Common True Katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia)
The Common True Katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia) is a large, leaf-shaped, green
insect with an easily-identifiable loud, raspy call that seems to suggest “Katy did! Katy
didn’t!” It is raucous singer whose song is generally heard in taller trees. This species is
in wooded areas, tree lines, and even individual tall trees in the meadows at Burton
Wetlands.
I heard this common treetop species from July 30 through late September. After
September, evening temperatures dropped too quickly for them to sing. One bold
individual sang briefly at 1:45 PM on October 6th near Lake Kelso and some were still
singing at 3:00 PM in the woods by Calla Bog on October 23 rd.
They were in all the taller trees from the woods to the tree lines and even isolated
individual trees out in the meadow. These treetop residents do not fly, and if a storm
knocks them down they must climb all the way back to the treetops. Because of their
habitat, they are not be affected by meadow burning. A particularly rousing chorus was
in residence in a large oak at the bottom of the meadow not far from the path. Half
would sing together from one side of the tree, only to be immediately answered by the
other half on the opposite side of the tree.
I found this female Common True Katydid on the side of our house on 8-29-07.
False Katydids: Microcentrum, Amblycorypha, and Scudderia.
Resembling Common True Katydids are the so-called “False Katydids.” These include
the genera Microcentrum, Amblycorypha, and Scudderia. Some, such as the Greater
Anglewing (Microcentrum rhombifolium), are common in trees while katydids in the
genus Scudderia are found in meadow vegetation and shrubs. The meadows at Burton
Wetlands provide extensive habitat for four Scudderia species: the Broad-winged Bush
Katydid, Curve-tailed Bush Katydid, Fork-tailed Bush Katydid, and Texas Bush Katydid.
Two Amblychorypha species – the Oblong-winged and Rattler Round-winged Katydids
– are present at Burton Wetlands as well.
Bush Katydids: Scudderia
Bush Katydids generally are found in meadows, around ponds, wetlands, and edge
habitats. All of the four Scudderia species common in meadows were present at
Burton Wetlands, including one that I was unable to confirm in 2010. They can be
distinguished by their songs and males can be identified by their tail plates, if visible.
Dew-covered Broad-winged Bush Katydid male at 10:30 PM, 8-1-11
The Broad-winged Bush Katydid (Scudderia pistillata) matures earlier than the others
and was singing in the meadows from July 14th through the second week of September
– later than I would have expected for this species. I found them in almost every
relatively open area I surveyed, and they were quite numerous throughout the meadow.
Scudderia oviposit in plant material and therefore could be impacted by meadow
burning. Although last year’s survey found them to be far more common in the areas
burned in 2009 than those burned in 2010, there was no apparent difference this year.
Broad-winged Bush Katydids were very well established on both sides of the meadow.
Broad winged Bush Katydid male (above, 8-4-11) and female (below, 8-29-11)
Curve-tailed Bush Katydids (Scudderia curvicauda) are the bush katydids I most
commonly encounter in NE Ohio. They are named for the female’s curved ovipositor.
They began to sing at Burton Wetlands by July 25th, and a few were still singing into
October. They are most prevalent bush katydid in the meadows. Last year, Curvetailed Bush Katydids eventually became as common in the areas burned in 2010 as in
those burned in 2009. Because these katydids are strong fliers, they could conceivably
have moved more easily into other areas than many other species. In 2011, however,
there never appeared to be a difference on either side of the meadow.
Female Curve-tailed Bush Katydid, 8-7-11. Notice the long, narrow wings. Also, these
katydid often have pink legs. The ovipositor is strongly curved. Other Scudderia
females also have curved ovipositors, but the angle is a little different.
The Texas Bush Katydid (Scudderia texensis) shares the same habitat as the other
Scudderia, but they are far less common at Burton Wetlands than the Broad-winged
and Curve-tailed Bush Katydids. Texas Bush Katydids mature later in the season and
generally seem to replace the Broad-winged Bush Katydids in the meadows. There
were occasions in early September when both species were present – an auditory
challenge, as their songs are similar.
Texas Bush Katydid (male), 8-29-11
I suspected that I may have heard an occasional Fork-tailed Bush Katydid (Scudderia
furcata) in M3 last year but could not confirm this species. Its song is a short, singlesyllable “Pffft!” that is not at all distinctive. Other bush katydids have call notes that are
comparable to this “song.” Although I did not see a single individual in 2010, I found a
number of Fork-tailed Bush Katydids this year beginning on August 1st. To what extent
was meadow burning a factor? They certainly were scattered over both sides of the
meadow area this year. However, I also found this species near Lake Kelso this year
and did not observe them there last year.
Fork-tailed Bush Katydid female (above, 8-24-11) and male (below, 8-13-11)
Both the female’s ovipositor and the male’s tail plate are purple rather than green.
Other “False Katydids”: Microcentrum and Amblychorypha
Greater Anglewings (Microcentrum rhombifolium) are treetop residents that generally
seems to mature later in August. I only heard them last year at the entrance to the
Kettle Trail, when there was much singing and calling on the night of August 31st in the
larger maple and nearby apple tree. I did not hear them again and did not hear them
elsewhere. This year, I listened for them in last year’s location but did not hear them.
Linda Gilbert heard one in the trees between the parking lot and the driveway on the
evening of 9-12-11. Because they are an arboreal species, they would not be affected
by burning.
Oblong-winged Katydids (Amblychorypha oblongifolia) are residents of smaller trees
and shrubs; if found in meadow areas, they will probably be along the edges of the
meadow. Although this species was present in a variety of Burton Wetlands habitats in
2010, their numbers were greatly reduced in 2011. This appears to have been true
elsewhere as well. I heard one on July 30th and then on only four dates in August.
Perhaps the wind and downpours of so many storms reduced their numbers, though
Scudderia numbers were quite good.
This Oblong-winged Katydid was the only one I saw anywhere this year. He was at the
Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Cathedral Woods on 9-17-11. Although I heard
this species on a few occasions at Burton Wetlands, I was very surprised that I never
saw one and that their numbers were so low.
The Rattler Round-winged Katydid (Amblychoripha rotundifolia) is a delightful little
katydid that begins singing around the third week of July (July 17th this year). While not
quite as numerous and widespread as in 2010, they were still fairly common on both the
north and south sides of the meadow. Their songs seemed to drop off in the second half
of August, but a rather surprising resurgence occurred in September when
temperatures were already getting chilly. This supposedly cold-sensitive species could
still be heard singing softly from deep within the meadow vegetation even on 10-9-11.
This female Rattler Round-winged Katydid is on Queen Anne’s Lace on 8-8-11
No “tapping katydid” this year: the mystery remains unsolved!
The song of last year’s mysterious “tapping katydid” was not repeated at Burton
Wetlands this year. I had recorded this song in later September of 2010 in the tree line
separating M4 from M5. Although I had this singer isolated to a specific tree, there was
no way to reach him. The tree line is bordered on both sides by blackberry, roses,
grape vines, and dogwoods. He was up too high to access - especially as he only sang
after dark. His distinctive song sounded like the rhythm and tempo of a Common True
Katydid, but was a tapping sound rather than a scraping sound. Also, the groupings of
“taps” were 4, 5, and even 6 compared to the comparable groupings of 2, 3, and
occasionally 4 of the Common True Katydid. I had hoped to have another opportunity
to find this unknown singer this year, but I never heard the song in 2011.
Grillidae: the Crickets
This report documents four kinds of crickets that are visually quite distinct: Field
Crickets, Ground Crickets, Tree Crickets, and Sword-tailed Crickets (also known as
Trigs, as they are in the subfamily Trigonidiinae). All are small insects with long
antennae. Like the katydids, these insects can be found from the ground to the
treetops. Their songs are generally perceived as having pitch rather than simply being
percussive sounds like those of the katydids. This is because their songs are actually
lower in pitch than most katydids; consequently, they are easier for humans to hear and
typically sound more musical to us.
Jumping Bush Crickets (Orachoris saltator), which are common in urban and suburban
areas, do not appear to be present in rural Geauga County. This species appears to be
gradually moving north, however, and I have found them in Bainbridge, Chesterland,
and at Routes 87 and 306. For the first time this year, one was singing close to Burton
Wetlands on GPD naturalist Linda Gilbert’s property in South Russell, so this species
may be gradually moving into the Snow Belt. Jumping Bush Crickets already are very
common in the woods of Pond Brook Conservation Area in the Twinsburg/Aurora area
of Summit County. It seems very possibly that their beautiful bell-like trills will someday
become part of late summer evenings throughout Geauga County.
Spring and Fall Field Crickets
Although seldom seen, Field Crickets are considerably larger than our tiny ground
crickets. They generally sing from hidden locations under leaves, stones, branches,
and other inaccessible places that create good resonance while still keeping the singers
safely hidden. They are easy to hear but very difficult to find!
Prime Fall Field Cricket habitat in Fireweed Meadow
The Spring Field Cricket (Gryllus veletis) and Fall Field Cricket (Gryllus pennsylvanicus)
are distinguishable only by the time of year in which they sing. Once thought to be a
single species, they share the same habitat and their songs are identical. Spring Field
Crickets typically begin singing in late April or early Mary and finish their season in early
July. Fall Field Crickets begin to sing later that month and continue through
September. They do not seem to overlap, and there is a period of a few weeks when
no field crickets sing. As both prefer drier habitat with some open areas, Fireweed
Meadow should be an excellent location for field crickets.
Although Fall Field Crickets were common at Burton Wetlands last year – especially in
Fireweed Meadow - I did not hear a single Spring Field Cricket in 2010. They were in
the area, though, as I did hear them in the corn stubble of a nearby field on Pond Road.
I believe that meadow burning could profoundly impact this species, as they overwinter
as nymphs and reach maturity in May. It seems likely that burning could eliminate those
almost-grown nymphs, so I was very curious to observe if this species might be able to
establish itself if appropriate habitat were not burned.
And they did! Spring Field Crickets were singing in Fireweed Meadow on May 23rd. In
addition, a few were also present along the firebreaks in the large meadow. They sang
throughout the appropriate time for their species, with the last singers noted on July 1st.
I heard the first Fall Field Crickets singing in Fireweed Meadow on July 25th. They
were well established in the center of Fireweed Meadow where the vegetation was not
as dense. Although scattered elsewhere, they were not quite as numerous or as
widespread as in 2010.
Fall Field Cricket on my finger at Ottawa Wildlife Refuge on 8-5-11. I was able to record
Burton Wetlands field crickets, but I didn’t actually see one long enough to photograph!
Ground Crickets
Ground crickets are the common small, dark crickets found on paths, in grasses, and
around low vegetation. The Carolina Ground Cricket (Eunemobius carolinus) is the
most abundant and can be found almost anywhere. Theirs are the last NE Ohio insect
songs heard in the fall. Also fairly common are the Allard’s Ground Cricket
(Allonemobius allardi), which prefers open, drier habitats, and the Striped Ground
Cricket (Allonemobius fasciatus), which prefers a somewhat damper environment.
Although the Cuban Ground Cricket (Neonemobius cubensis) does not yet appear in
our area on range maps for the species, it is actually quite abundant throughout
Geauga, Cuyahoga, Lake, and Summit Counties. This tiny cricket - an eastern and
southern species - is actually one of the most common crickets encountered at the
Burton Wetlands.
Ground crickets oviposit in the soil and no species seemed directly affected by meadow
burning in 2010. In spite of the repeated downpours of spring and summer, ground
cricket numbers remained quite strong again in 2011. Ground Crickets in general
began singing much earlier than usual in 2010 because of the very warm temperatures.
Their dates of first songs were one to two weeks later this year.
Carolina Ground Crickets, as expected, could be heard everywhere. I heard the first
individual’s song on July 20th, and these tough little crickets were still singing in great
numbers in October.
Allonemobius ground crickets began singing just a few days after the Carolina Ground
Crickets. Striped Ground Crickets were present as expected in the damp locations
beginning July 23rd, but they were also common in the dry habitat of Fireweed Meadow.
Allard’s Ground Crickets began singing on July 25th and eventually were heard in almost
every meadow area. Striped Ground Crickets were quite common near Lake Kelso and
the beaver pond and Allard’s could generally be heard in the parking lot area. They
were still very active in early October, as the warm earth helped compensate for the
falling temperatures.
Allards Ground Cricket in his habitat on 10-6-11
Allard’s Ground Cricket male on 8-16 (left); Striped Ground Cricket male on 9-25 (right)
It is much easier to tell them apart when they sing!
It is not uncommon for crickets and katydids to lose a leg to a predator or competitor.
Back legs are used for jumping, but they climb and walk with their four front legs. A
cricket, katydid, or even grasshopper who is missing a back leg can still jump. Females
occasionally lose a back leg, but I see this much more often in males.
Antennae provide important, continuous sensory input. A missing antenna is probably
much more significant than a missing leg, and it is very sad to see a cricket or katydid
that has had both its antennae broken or bitten off.
The Cuban Ground Cricket (Neonemobius cubensis) is one of the most common
crickets at Burton Wetlands. I found them in every area except the woods, including
every section of the large meadow. I heard the first one on August 13th, and a great
many of them still were singing in early October. When temperatures dropped sharply
in the evening, these tiny crickets and the Carolina Ground Crickets were the only
insects still singing. Cuban Ground Crickets were common along the mowed paths and
even at the base of clumps of grass hidden among the towering goldenrod.
Cuban Ground Cricket, 10-9-12. I took him home to confirm his identity by his song.
Burton Wetlands Cuban Ground Cricket (“Burt”) now in my terrarium, 10-22-11.
The terrarium gave me the opportunity to get more detailed photos of this species.
Tree Crickets
Very different in appearance from ground and field crickets, tree crickets are more
elongated and generally pale green instead of brown or black. This coloration
corresponds with the trees and shrub they generally inhabit. All but the Two-spotted
Tree Cricket (Neoxabea bipunctata) are in the genus Oecanthus. Although several tree
cricket species are found in trees and shrubs, the Black-horned Tree Cricket
(Oecanthus nigricornis) and the Four-spotted Tree Cricket (Oecanthus quadripunctatus)
are common inhabitants of goldenrod-filled meadows.
Black-horned Tree Crickets (Oecanthus nigricornis) could be called the “Voice of the
Meadow.” This cricket is extremely numerous on goldenrods and blackberries, and can
also be found on dogwoods. (It could also be found in viburnums before the arrival of
the Viburnum Leaf Beetle.) The Black-horned Tree Crickets’ loud songs resonated in a
massive chorus throughout all the meadow areas and near Lake Kelso.
Black-horned Tree Cricket singing on 10-9-11
Four-spotted Tree Crickets (Oecanthus quadripunctatus) have a similar song – in fact,
at warm temperatures it is virtually identical. The difference between the species’ songs
is a bit more apparent at colder temperatures, as the Four-spotted’s song has fewer
wing strokes per second. At very warm temperatures, I do not assume a cricket is a
Four-spotted unless I could actually see it. At moderate and cool temperatures,
however, I have often found a slight, but detectable difference. I confirmed Fourspotteds in a number of meadow areas, especially in their preferred drier, more upland
areas.
Burning did seem to have a noticeable effect on these crickets in 2010, and those
differences did not exist in 2011 when no areas were burned. I will discuss this in
greater detail later in the report.
Four-spotted Tree Cricket singing in M6 (north side of meadow), 10-7-11
As was true last year, Pine Tree Crickets (Oecanthus pini) could be heard beginning on
July 20th wherever there were pine trees. There seemed to be fewer of them in the
parking lot pines this year, but their numbers near Lake Kelso were comparable to
2010. They also sang in the pines of the Calla Woods and the evergreens at the
beginning of the Kettle Trail near Old Rider Road.
Davis’s Tree Cricket (Oecanthus exclamations) was common in the woods, at the
woodland edges and hedge row areas, and around Lake Kelso beginning July 30th. .
I was able to photograph one individual singing in a poison ivy leaf up in one of the large
trees at the bottom of the meadow and was able to practically touch him with my
shotgun microphone! They are found in trees and shrubs – especially dogwoods – and
were therefore not affected by meadow burning in 2010. One cricket was still singing
on October 9th.
Davis’s Tree Cricket singing through a hole in a poison ivy leaf in M1 on 9-2-11.
Two-spotted Tree Crickets (Neoxabea bipunctata), one of the earlier tree crickets, were
singing up in the trees by July 30th through mid-September. I was rather surprised not
to hear them a little earlier. Although primarily a resident of trees and tangles such as
grape vines, Wendy Partridge and I found two of them actually in the edge of the
meadow at night. One was even feeding on Queen Anne’s Lace! The photo below
illustrated how their coloration is perfect for their primary habitat.
Female Two-spotted Tree Cricket on 8-8-11
Trigonidiinae: the Trigs
Two species of trigs, or “sword-tailed crickets,” are found in NE Ohio; the Say’s Trig
(Anaxipha exigua) and the Handsome Trig (Phyllopalpus pulchella). The gorgeous red
and black Handsome Trigs are more likely to be found in shrubs such as dogwoods and
viburnums, while more subtle, but beautiful Say’s Trigs inhabit both shrubs and low
vegetation. Say’s Trigs are common in wet areas and seem to be quite fond of
buttonbushes.
The diminutive Say’s Trigs sang from the shrubs surrounding the beaver pond, Lake
Kelso, and Calla Bog, and some were along the gravel path back to Lake Kelso and in
the willows in M1/M2. They were common in their preferred habitat through September,
and some were still singing by Lake Kelso on October 8th. Their numbers and
distribution was similar to 2010; because of their habitat, they would not be affected by
meadow burning.
Female Say’s Trig, 8-30-11
NE Ohio is at the northern edge of the range of the Handsome Trig; therefore, I am
especially careful in my investigation of this species. In the recent past, I have found
them in northern Cuyahoga County, along Lake Erie in Lake County, and in very limited
numbers at Frohring Meadows and Orchard Hills in Geauga County. They are,
however, abundant south of Geauga County in Summit and Portage Counties.
Although I searched Burton Wetlands with great care last year, I did not find a single
Handsome Trig.
Suitable habitat certainly exists for the Handsome Trig, and this year there were actually
Handsome Trigs present in patchy areas around the edges of the meadow. I
recognized their song immediately when I heard them on August 17th in a rose
bush/grape vine/dogwood tangle at the bottom of M1 but could not see any of these tiny
red and black crickets. They sing from very well-hidden locations, and I did not actually
observe one until days later. I subsequently heard a few in M4 and a few more at the
southern edge of the meadow, locations rather close to the borders of the preserve.
Are they finally continuing their northward movement into the Snow Belt?
Female Handsome Trig in M1 shrubs and vines, 8-30-11
Mole Cricket (Neocurtilla hexadactyla)
On July 30th, bad human behavior led to a good cricket discovery. While standing in a
foot of water, dense cattails, and tall bulrushes at the beaver pond, a vehicle stopped by
the Pond Road edge of the water. A man got out and hurled three bags of garbage into
the water. I tried to photograph him, but the vegetation around me was just too high!
I decided to stop at the water’s edge on my way home to see if there was any chance of
dragging the bags of garbage out of the pond. The water and mud were too deep, but
while pondering and photographing the situation - I heard a Mole Cricket! In fact, he
was singing right by the road. Mole crickets live in burrows at the edge of ponds, and
this one undoubtably was singing from his burrow. I only heard him sing on a few
occasions, and his low, rich song resonated all around the beaver pond and the entire
south side of the meadow.
The beaver pond on 5-25-11
Methods and Project Description specific
to the meadow burning study
My goal for this aspect of the study was to determine if meadow burning affects any of
the cricket and katydid species at Burton Wetlands. Are there species that should be
present but are not? If so, is burning the reason, or are there other factors such as
habitat? Are habitat requirements compromised by burning?
Where species were reduced or eliminated in the areas burned in 2010, what happened
in 2011? Did their populations rebound the following year when those areas were not
burned? Other than the smaller, shrubby successional meadows near the parking lot
and the gravel path back to Kelso, no meadow areas were left unburned for two
consecutive years. Were there differences noted in areas unburned for two years?
The primary areas I compared were M4, M5, and M6 (burned in 2010) with M1, M2, and
M3 (burned in 2009). I also noted similarities and differences between M5/M6 (burned
in 2010) and M7/M8 (burned in 2009), as they are adjacent. Fireweed Meadow was
burned in 2010 but it is considerably different from the other meadow areas. Although it
was not on my original survey route, I added this meadow area when I realized that
there were significant orthopteran song differences in that particular “concert hall.”
There was no equal meadow area for a control; the meadow areas listed above are
typically burned on alternate years. The successional meadows do not appear to be
burned at any time. However, their small trees, shrubs, and tangles result in somewhat
different habitat that is also logistically difficult to survey. I had initially thought they
might provide a reasonable control, but as they grew increasingly dense it became clear
that they would not. For those reasons, they are not included in the 2011 survey.
Comparison of 2010 observations with those of 2011
As soon as the Gladiator Meadow Katydids matured in 2010, I immediately saw a
difference between M2/M3 and M5/M6. Gladiators were not present in M4,5, and 6 at
all. Is this because they like wetter areas and M3 is close to the beaver pond, or is this
a result of M4,5, and 6 being burned that year?
In 2011, Gladiators were present in the same areas as last year. However, a small
population was also noted in M6, where no Gladiators were found last year. While the
question of proximity to the beaver pond is not conclusively addressed, it does seem
interesting that some were now also found in the area burned last year.
In 2010, Broad-winged Bush Katydids were initially more common in M2/M3 than in
M5/M6. They are less tied to wet areas than Gladiator Meadow Katydids, so burning
could be a factor. In 2011, Broad-winged Bush Katydids flourished all over the
meadow, and there was no difference in their populations between the north and south
sides.
Rattler Round-winged Katydids and Sword-bearing Coneheads were equally common in
the areas burned in 2009 and 2010. Sword-bearing Coneheads oviposit in the crowns
of plants and their eggs may therefore be more protected from burning. No difference in
populations was observed between north and south sides of the meadow in 2010 or
2011.
Ground crickets, not surprisingly, oviposit in the ground. In 2010, their populations
seemed no different in the areas burned different years. Additionally, no differences
were noted in between 2010 and 2011.
Black-horned and Four-spotted Tree Crickets were a very different story. Black-horned
Tree Crickets oviposit in plant material such as goldenrod stems, blackberry canes, and
dogwood stems. 2009’s goldenrod stems and blackberry canes would have been
burned in M4, M5, and M6 in spring, 2010. How could their eggs survive?
It seems likely that they did not. When Black-horned and Four-spotted Tree Crickets
began to sing in late July and early August of 2010, M4, M5, and M6 were silent. Only a
few tree crickets sang on the absolute edge, where perhaps the vegetation on the path
line did not burn. All of the ground crickets were comparable on both sides of the
meadow, as were Sword-bearing Coneheads and Rattler Round-winged Katydids. The
tree crickets simply were not there.
However, their numbers gradually, but steadily increased in the burned areas that year,
and by mid-September both sides of the meadow sounded comparable. The
determining factor later in the 2010 season was no longer burned/unburned, but where
there was the most goldenrod! The fire that presumably destroyed last year’s eggs
also could have encouraged the growth of this year’s goldenrod, which if a highlydesirable plant for Black-horned Tree Crickets.
My 2011 observations indicated considerable contrast to those of 2010. At no point
could I tell which side of the meadow had been burned in 2010. There was no
difference. Black-horned and Four-spotted Tree Crickets appeared at the same time on
both sides of the meadow and the populations were strong in all areas. Although Blackhorned Tree Crickets especially like goldenrod, they were singing- and ovipositing- in
the asters as well.
Black-horned Tree Crickets: male (left) on 10-7-11 and female (right) on 9-10-11
Black-horned Tree Crickets mating in goldenrod on 9-10-11
It is not clear to me whether Roesel’s Katydids are affected by meadow burning, as they
appeared in very limited numbers and areas in 2010. This species matures in June,
and they live in damp, grassy or sedge meadows. Parks and preserves with more
favorable habitat, such as Orchard Hills, have large populations of these non-native
shieldback katydids. Neither habitat is common at Burton Wetlands, however, so I
would not expect to find many Roesel’s Katydids.
I also wrote in 2010 that Short-winged and certainly Slender Meadow Katydids prefer
grassier areas than the tall, dense, goldenrod/aster meadows at Burton Wetlands. If
burning encourages these taller, heavier plants, is it possible that burning indirectly
limits the available habitat for meadow katydids?
Roesel’s Katydids still occurred in limited areas in 2011, but they were a few more of
them and they had expanded a bit from the very small areas they occupied in 2010. I
found slightly more Slender Meadow Katydids in 2011, but the dramatic difference was
in Short-winged Meadow Katydids. I saw very few of these little meadow katydids in
2010, and most of those were near Lake Kelso. I found an occasional individual along
the firebreak borders with the tree lines where there were taller grasses, but I did not
find them in the large meadow.
What a difference in 2011! At times I found myself laughing out loud at all the Shortwinged Meadow Katydids up high on the timothy stems and seed heads at night! But
wait…there was an important clue: timothy. There appeared to be much more timothy
this year than last year. Was that because no areas were burned? I generally saw a
little timothy along the edges of the mowed path last year. The very edge of the burned
areas does not appear to be affected by fire, and the timothy remained there in 2010. In
2011, timothy was spreading farther into the meadow, and there was a lot more of it.
And…it was full of crickets and katydids! I was amazed by the number of species I
found in the timothy when I surveyed at night. I knew that Sword-bearing Coneheads
are grass seed eaters, but I even found tree crickets that typically live in trees and large
shrubs! My immediate questions were:
1. Is the amount of timothy observed a direct result of less burning?
2. Does more timothy result in more katydids? This would initially appear to be
the case.
3. Would the increased numbers of katydids – an excellent food source for birds
and bats – be a reason to encourage more diversity in the meadow?
Katydid and cricket species observed on timothy included:
Gladiator Meadow Katydids: female (left) on 8-4-11 and male (right) on 8-1-11
B
Short-winged Meadow Katydids: male (left) on 8-4-11 and female (right) on 8-8-11
Roesel’s Katydid, 7-25-11
Rattler Round-winged Katydid, 8-8-11 and Sword-bearing Conehead, 8-4-11
Probably a Four-spotted Tree Cricket, 8-14-11. Curve-tailed Bush Katydid, 8-29-11.
Yet another Short-winged Meadow Katydid, 8-8-11
Conclusions
Burton Wetlands supports a diverse list of crickets and katydids, though meadow
katydid numbers and distribution seemed very low in 2010. Available habitat for them is
limited, and any present in the meadow would likely be adversely affected by burning.
Short-winged Meadow Katydids are generally the most widely-present meadow katydids
in our region. They typically live in areas from meadows to wetlands and woodland
edges – even weedy vacant lots and parking lot edges. Numbers increased
substantially in 2011, when these katydids were found almost exclusively on timothy.
Slender Meadow katydids seem to have more specific requirements, and their preferred
grassy habitat is not widely available at Burton Wetlands. Where it is, however, they
can be found there. Straight-lanced Meadow Katydids are a species that might find the
drier, more open areas of Fireweed Meadow to their liking but I found no individuals of
this species. The apparently uncommon Long-tailed Meadow Katydid, a marsh and
lake edge inhabitant, can be found in limited numbers at the edge of the beaver pond.
Black-legged Meadow Katydids live in marshes and pond edges, and they are doing
very well in the appropriate habitats. The wet weather of 2011 following the very warm
weather of summer, 2010 seemed to encourage their expansion at Burton Wetlands, as
I found them in areas where they were not noted in 2011. Gladiator Meadow Katydids
were found as expected by the beaver pond but limited in the meadows burned in 2009
and not present in those areas burned in 2010. In 2011, a small population was found
in an area burned the previous year where none was present in 2010. Only a few
Common Meadow Katydids were present in 2010. I found two individuals each in two
separated meadow locations in 2010 and none in 2011.
Orthoptera species that oviposit in the ground or crowns of plants (i.e. Sword-bearing
Coneheads, Rattler Round-winged Katydids, ground crickets, and grasshoppers) seem
to be relatively unaffected by burning. Those that oviposit in plant material such as
leaves and stems are impacted by this management process. This would include the
tree crickets that live on herbaceous meadow plants and at least two of the Scudderia
bush katydid species. The limited, localized numbers of meadow katydids, as stated
above, may be at least partly a result of meadow burning.
The numbers of some impacted species, such as Black-horned Tree Crickets, seemed
to rebound over the course of the 2010 season. I would speculate that they move into
the burned areas from neighboring meadow areas and firebreak edges, although they
are small insects that do not seem to move very far. The impact of burning appears
even more likely after observing no difference in population at any time in 2011.
Fireweed Meadow provided contrast to the other meadow areas because of its relative
dryness and its diverse plant species. The majority of Burton Wetlands’ Fall Field
Crickets and Allard’s Ground Crickets are concentrated here, and both Short-winged
and Slender Meadow Katydids have found areas of vegetation that support them.
Fireweed Meadow was the stronghold of the Fall Field Crickets both years. Although
Spring Field Crickets share the same habitat requirements, not a single individual of this
species was heard there in 2010 – the year that Fireweed Meadow was burned. In
2011, however, their songs could be heard from late May through June.
Not surprisingly, the plant diversity of the small, wet meadow area near the Lake Kelso
observation deck supports a healthy species diversity of crickets and katydids. In
addition to the species noted in the 2010 report, the Slightly Musical Conehead
appeared here in 2011.
At the end of my first Burton Wetlands survey I had wondered if the meadow areas that
were to be burned in April, 2011 would look – and sound –similar to the burned areas of
2010. Persistent rain necessitated reframing that question, as burning was not possible
in 2011. My second question - would the areas burned in 2010 rebound in 2011 – was
clearly answered: yes.
The new question for 2011 became: would further changes be noted when areas were
not burned for two years? Possibly yes. The increase in timothy alone seemed to
support many more meadow katydids in just this short time. While walking through the
meadow on October 25th it appeared that there was significantly more timothy on the
south side of the meadow than on the north side. (The south side has not been burned
for two years.)
There was some timothy on the north side, which was burned in 2010. Timothy was
present right along the edges of the paths last year, and I believe that this is because
the actual flames don’t begin until a couple of feet past the paths. If more katydid
habitat is desirable and timothy is not, would native grasses mixing in with the
goldenrod be an option?
While burning is an obvious factor in the population differences I found in 2010 and
2011, weather is also a consideration. 2010 was an outstanding year for Orthopterans
and many other insects. By October 19th, 2011 had already become the rainiest year
on record and it is still raining as I type this report. The amount, intensity, and
persistence of the rainfall may have impacted some of the cricket and katydid species,
though data accumulated over several years would make this clearer.
Two species in particular may have been affected by the rain. There seemed to be
fewer Common True Katydids this year. Were these treetop residents battered by the
frequent storms? They do not fly, so if they are knocked down by storms they must
climb back to their treetops – and would be more vulnerable in the process. The
number of Oblong-winged Katydids, which live in smaller trees and shrubs, was
extremely low. Could weather have been the reason for their dramatic decline?
Obtaining consistent data in a time of increasing climate instability will be an ongoing
challenge. My 2009 survey of Observatory Park and Oakton was greatly impacted by
the unusually chilly weather that year. Species numbers were lower than expected,
they reached adulthood later than usual, and their time as mature, singing adults was
cut short by the cold weather. 2010, on the other hand, was a very warm year and
weather conditions were excellent for insects. 2011’s relentless rain was often one
torrential downpour after another, and it is not entirely clear how that affected some of
our katydids.
Both meadow burning and weather affect vegetation and Ensifera populations. The
connection with burning is even more apparent after a second year of observation.
Weather’s impact may require additional time to assess because of its variability.
Burton Wetlands Meadow, 9-10-11
Timothy in M3 (south side of the meadow: burned in 2009) and then in M6
(north side of the meadow: burned in 2010) Photos taken on 10-25-11
Katydid Species List for Burton Wetlands, 2011
Conocephalus
Short-winged Meadow Katydid (Conocephalus brevipennis) first adult 8-4-11
Slender Meadow Katydid (Conocephalus fasciatus) 7-23-11
*Long-tailed Meadow Katydid (Conocephalus attenuatus) 8-16-11 confirmed this year
Orchelimum
Black-legged Meadow Katydid (Orchelimum nigripes) first adult 8-7-11
Common Meadow Katydid (Orchelimum vulgare) not recorded this year
Gladiator Meadow Katydid (Orchelimum gladiator): nymph, 6-8, adults 7-4-11
Metrioptera
Roesel’s Katydid (Metrioptera roeselii) nymphs 6-8, adults 7-14-11
Neoconocephalus
Sword-bearing Conehead (Neoconocephalus ensiger) nymph 7-7, adults 7-17-11
Round-tipped Conehead (Neoconocephalus retusus) 9-1-11
*Slightly Musical Conehead (Neoconocephalus exiliscanorus) 7-31-11 new species this
year
Pterophylla
Common True Katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia) 7-30-11
Amblychorypha
Rattler Round-winged Katydid (Amblychorypha rotundifolia) 7-17-11
Oblong-winged Katydid (Amblychorypha oblongifolia) 7-30-11
Microcentrum
Greater Anglewing (Microcentrum rhombifolium) 9-12-11
Scudderia
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid (Scudderia curvicauda): nymphs 7-20, adults 7-25-11
Texas Bush Katydid (Scudderia texensis) 8-29-11
*Fork-tailed Bush Katydid (Scudderia furcata) 8-1-11 confirmed this year
Broad-winged Bush Katydid (Scudderia pistillata) 7-14-11
Male Curve-tailed Bush Katydid, 8-29-11
Scudderia tail plates
Broad-winged Bush Katydid
Fork-tailed Bush Katydid
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid
Texas Bush Katydid
Scudderia Bush Katydids can be identified by their songs, although Broadwinged and Texas can sound similar during the brief time period when they
overlap. Males can also be identified by their tail plates – if you can see
them! All photos are of Burton Wetlands katydids in 2011.
Scudderia Bush Katydid ovipositors
Broad-winged Bush Katydid ovipositor
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid ovipositor
The Fork-tailed Bush Katydid’s
ovipositor is purple, and the color
difference is rather easy to spot in
the field .
This species is also somewhat
smaller than the other Scudderia.
Like the female’s ovipositor, the
male’s tail plate is purple.
Fork-tailed Bush Katydid ovipositor.
Photos taken on 8-29, 8-7, and 8-24-11
Conocephalus and Orchelimum ovipositors
Black-legged Meadow Katydid (8-24-11)
Gladiator Meadow Katydid (8-4-11)
Orchelimum ovipositors are curved, and Conocephalus ovipositors are straight.
Short-winged Meadow Katydid (9-25-11)
Slender Meadow Katydid (8-16-11)
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid, 9-10-11
Cricket Species List for Burton Wetlands, 2011
Gryllus
*Spring Field Cricket (Gryllus veletis) 5-23-11 until 7-1-11 new species this year
Fall Field Cricket (Gryllus pennsylvanicus) 7-25-11
Eunemobius
Carolina Ground Cricket (Eunemobius carolinus) 7-20-11
Allonemobius
Allards Ground Cricket (Allonemobius allardi) 7-25-11
Striped Ground Cricket (Allonemobius fasciatus) nymphs 7-11-11, adults 7-23-11
Neonemobius
Cuban Ground Cricket (Neonemobiius cubensis) 8-13-11
Oecanthus
Black-horned Tree Cricket: nymph (Oecanthus nigricornis) nymph 7-23, adults 8-7-11
Pine Tree Cricket (Oecanthus pini) 7-20-11
Four-spotted Tree Cricket (Oecanthus quadripunctatus) 7-30-11
Davis’s Tree Cricket (Oecanthus exclamationis) 7-30-11
Neoxabea
Two-spotted Tree Cricket (Neoxabea bipunctata) 7-30-11
Neocurtilla
*Northern Mole Cricket (Neocurtilla hexadactyla) 8-17-11 new species this year
Anaxipha
Says Trig (Anaxipha exigua) 8-4-11
Phyllopalpus
*Handsome Trig (Phyllopalpus pulchellus) 8-17-11 New species this year.
Black-horned Tree Crickets mating and female subsequently ovipositing, 10-7-11
Singing male Black-horned Tree Cricket and female ovipositing in aster on 9-18-11.
Four-spotted Tree Crickets mating on 10-8-11
In the close-up below, the spermatophore is visible below the female’s
ovipositor. She eats a secretion from the base of the male’s wings
while the spermatophore is being absorbed into her sperm receptacle.
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid, 8-29-11
Resources consulted
Bland, Robert G. 2003. The Orthoptera of Michigan – Biology, Keys, and Descriptions
of Grasshoppers, Katydids, and Crickets. Michigan State University Extension, East
Lansing, Michigan. 220 pages.
Carpina, John L., Ralph D. Scott, and Thomas Walker, 2004. Grasshoppers, Katydids,
and Crickets of the United States. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. 249
pages.
Dethier, Vincent G. 1992. Crickets and Katydids, Concerts and Solos, Harvard
University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 142 pages.
Elliott, Lang and Wil Hershberger, 2006. The Songs of Insects, Houghton Mifflin
Company, Boston and New York. 226 pages.
Gwynne, Darryl T. 2001 Katydids and Bush-crickets: Reproductive Behavior and
Evolution of the Tettigoniidae. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. 317 pages.
Himmelman, John, 2008. Guide to Night-singing Insects of the Northeast, Stackpole
Books, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. 151 pages.
Web resources:
Walker, Thomas J. and Thomas E. Moore. Singing Insects of North America
http://www.entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/buzz/
Additional photos from the field season
Black-legged Meadow Katydid in goldenrod, M4 on 9-13-11
Black-legged Meadow Katydid in bulrushes, 9-10-11
More Black-legged Meadow Katydids from Burton Wetlands.
Singing male Black-legged Meadow Katydids on 9-20 and 9-24-10 and
male eating goldenrod flowers on 9-13-11. Katydids often eat flowers.
Short-winged meadow Katydid on the floating dock at Lake Kelso on 10-4-11
Slender Meadow Katydid in Fireweed Meadow, 9-22-11
Note the difference in wing length!
Curve-tailed Bush Katydids as they age….
On 8-29-11, this male’s wings are getting some brown spots.
By 9-25-11, this Kelso male’s wings were breaking off like dry leaves.
However, he was still singing very well! Is it just old age, or is there an element of
seasonal camoflage as well? I saw a few others with crumbling wings like this.
Conocephalus meadow katydid nymphs: even when
they are very young, they already have huge antennae!
6-21-11 (above) and 9-20-11 (below)
Tree Crickets
Two-spotted Tree Cricket females on 8-17-11 and 8-13-11
Say’s Trig female investigating a leaf on 8-30-11
Four-spotted Tree Crickets
In my hand on 9-10-11(above) and female on 10-9-11 (below)
Male Four-spotted Tree Cricket (above, 10-6-11) and
Black-horned Tree Cricket (below, 8-16-11)
Singing Black-horned Tree Cricket’s wings
illuminated by my flashlight at night on 9-1-11
Striped Ground Cricket female on floating dock at Lake Kelso on 10-4-11
This lovely female is probably an Allard’s Ground Cricket.
Since it’s a female, I won’t hear the song! 8-16-11
Best grasshopper of the year: pink color form of the Green-striped
Grasshopper (Chortophaga viridifasciata) on 6-8-11
Burton Wetlands 2011 Cricket and Katydid CD
This year’s Burton Wetlands cricket and katydid CD begins with the first species to sing
in later spring and adds each new katydid or cricket as its songs begin during the
course of the season. Instead of organizing the songs by species as I did in 2010, I’ve
chosen this year to present the progression of songs as they actually occur during the
summer and fall.
The tracks for each individual species occasionally include two individuals recorded at
different temperatures. The one that is higher and/or faster will be the one singing at a
warmer temperature. I’ve also included some species comparison tracks at the end and
a few duets as well.
1. Introduction
2. Spring Field Cricket
3. Roesel’s Katydid
4. Gladiator Meadow Katydid
5. Broad-winged Bush Katydid
6. Sword-bearing Conehead
7. Carolina Ground Cricket
8. Pine Tree Cricket
9. Rattler Round-winged Katydid
10. Striped Ground Cricket
11. Allard’s Ground Cricket
12. Fall Field Cricket
13. Curve-tailed Bush Katydid
14. Common True Katydid
15. Oblong-winged Katydid
16. Two-spotted Tree Cricket
17. Davis’s Tree Cricket
18. Four-spotted Tree Cricket
19. Slightly Musical Conehead
20. Say’s Trig
21. Black-horned Tree Cricket
22. Black-legged Meadow Katydid
23. Mole Cricket
24. Cuban Ground Cricket
25. Handsome Trig
26. Round-tipped Conehead
27. Gladiator Meadow Katydids with bird songs, then with Broad-winged Bush Katydids
after sunset.
28. Broad-winged Bush Katydid soloist with Common True Katydid chorus.
29. Broad-winged and Curve-tailed Bush Katydids alternate songs with Common True
Katydids and sword-baring Coneheads in the background.
30. Allard’s Ground Crickets and Striped Ground Crickets in Fireweed Meadow.
31. Four-spotted and Black-horned Tree Cricket comparison. These insects are very
close to each other, so they are singing at the same temperature.
32. Say’s Trig and Black-horned Tree Cricket duet at Lake Kelso on 10-6-11.
33. Gladiator Meadow Katydid at the beaver pond on July 4 th followed by a Blacklegged Meadow Katydid by Lake Kelso on October 6th.
2011 Survey Spreadsheets
(If you are reading this document from CD,
the spreadsheets are saved as a separate Excel file)
Burton Wetland Katydids 2011
Date, survey time
5/23
Weather conditions
Common Names
P Cldy
6/8
Sunny, 93
6/15 4:45-7:15
sun 76
Latin Names
nymphs BP
Short-winged Meadow Katydid
Conocephalus brevipennis
Slender Meadow Katydid
Conocephalus fasciatus
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid?
Conocephalus attenuatus
Black-legged Meadow Katydid
Orchelimum nigripes
Common Meadow Katydid
Orchelimum vulgare
Gladiator Meadow Katydid
Orchelimum gladiator
Sword-bearing Conehead
Neoconocephalus ensiger
Round-tipped Conehead
Neoconocephalus retusus
nymph BP
nymph BP
Slightly-musical Conehead
Common True Katydid
Pterophylla camellifolia
Rattler Round-winged Katydid
Amblycorypha rotundifolia
Oblong-winged Katydid
Amblycorypha oblongifolia
Greater Anglewing
Microcentrum rhombifolium
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid
Scudderia curvicauda
Texas Bush Katydid
Scudderia texensis
Fork-tailed Bush Katydid
Scudderia furcata
Broad-winged Bush Katydid
Scudderia pistillata
Roesel's Katydid
Metrioptera roeselii
nymphs M1,othersnymph BP
Katydids 2011 p. 2
Date, survey time
6/17 2:30-6:15 6/21 3:10-6:30 6/27 3:15-7:30
Weather conditions
Sun 74
7/1 2:30-5:45
7/4 1:45-8:00
Cld-sun wet 83 81 PC-MC humid Sun 81-84 calm PS-shwrs-clrng
7/7 3:45-7:15
mstly cldy 80
Common Names
nymphs FWM
nymphs FWM
nymphs FWM,K
Short-winged Meadow Katydid
Slender Meadow Katydid
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid?
Black-legged Meadow Katydid
Common Meadow Katydid
Gladiator Meadow Katydid
two nymphs BP nymphs BPond
M3 adults singing M7/M3 path
Sword-bearing Conehead
nymph M2
Round-tipped Conehead
Slightly-musical Conehead
Common True Katydid
Rattler Round-winged Katydid
Oblong-winged Katydid
Greater Anglewing
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid
Texas Bush Katydid
Fork-tailed Bush Katydid
Broad-winged Bush Katydid
Roesel's Katydid
nymphs M1,M3 nymphs M1, BP nymph M1
M1, bottom M8
FWM, M1
Katydids 2011 p. 3
Date, survey time
7/11 2:15-3:00 rained out 7/14 1:30 - 4:30
7/17 7:00-11:00 PM
7/20 8:00-11:15 PM
Weather conditions
88 cldy, then thunderstorm78-81 mstly sunny
clear, 85 drop to 69
PC to clear, 84 to 77 humid
Common Names
Cono nymphs FWM, M1
cono nymphsM1,M2,M4,K cono nymphs FWM,K,M1
cono nymphs FWM
Short-winged Meadow Katydid
Slender Meadow Katydid
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid?
Black-legged Meadow Katydid
Common Meadow Katydid
Gladiator Meadow Katydid
M2, M7 by M3, M3, BP,
Sword-bearing Conehead
M2, M3, M7/3, BP, possM7 M1,2,3,7/3,6,BP many
M3
M3
maybe-not sure M7
M1/6 edge
Round-tipped Conehead
Slightly-musical Conehead
Common True Katydid
Rattler Round-winged Katydid
Oblong-winged Katydid
Greater Anglewing
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid
nymphs M1, BP
Texas Bush Katydid
Fork-tailed Bush Katydid
Broad-winged Bush Katydid
M2,M7 by M3, M8 by M6 M1,2,3,4,5,7,8,BP 22 heard M1,2,3,6,7/3,8,BP 24 heard
Roesel's Katydid
Two singing FWM
Katydids 2011 p. 4
Date, survey time
7/23 3:30-7:20 87-70
7/25 8:45-12:30AM
7/30 8:45P-12:30AM
8/1 9PM-1AM
Weather conditions
Sunny,humid-thndrstrmclear w/ground fog 73-68clear, 71-66
clear,humid,72-69
Cono nymphs FWM
Cono adult M4
Common Names
Cono nymph M5
Short-winged Meadow Katydid
Slender Meadow Katydid
Adult FWM
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid?
Black-legged Meadow Katydid
Common Meadow Katydid
Gladiator Meadow Katydid
M2,M3 many at Bpond Bpond
Sword-bearing Conehead
FWM,BP, M1 thru M8
M6 photo
FWM, M1,6,8
M1-8 all, BPond
Slightly-musical Conehead
Kelso in Boneset
not there, nor on 7-31
Common True Katydid
Everywhere with trees Everywhere with trees
Round-tipped Conehead
Rattler Round-winged Katydid
KM,M2,45,5,6,all7,8
Oblong-winged Katydid
M5,6,8
M2,4,5,7/3,Bpond
Kelso
M4
FWM,K
M1,2,4,5,7
can't confirm
can't confirm
Greater Anglewing
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid
M1,2,3,4,7,7/3edge
Texas Bush Katydid
Fork-tailed Bush Katydid
Broad-winged Bush Katydid
Roesel's Katydid
M7/3
PL2,FWM1,M1,2,3
PL,M1,2,3,4,5,all7,8
M6
K,M1,M5,M6,M8
M1,2,3,5,6,7,7/3
Katydids 2011 p. 5
Date, survey time
8/4 4:45PM - 12:00 AM 8/7 4:30 - 8:00
8/8 8:50PM - 12:10-AM 8/13 9:30PM-12:45AM
Weather conditions
P.C. 80 - 67
sunny-cloudy 81-75clear-PC, 70-68
clear, 68-65
K, M1,2,5
Calla
K,M1,2,3,6,7,
nymph K
K, nymph at Bpond K, Driveway, M7 edge K, M1, BPond
M1,2,3,5,6,7,7/3,7/5,8
not singing in day K, M1,2,3,5,7,7/5
Common Names
Short-winged Meadow Katydid
K, Driveway, M2
Slender Meadow Katydid
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid?
Black-legged Meadow Katydid
Common Meadow Katydid
Gladiator Meadow Katydid
Sword-bearing Conehead
Round-tipped Conehead
K, M1,2,3,4,6,7,7/3,7/5,8
possibly M7/3
Slightly-musical Conehead
Common True Katydid
Rattler Round-winged Katydid
K,Driveway,M1,2,6,7
K, Kpath,M1,2,7
M7/73/75/8
not singing in day K, M3,6,7
M2,3,7
M1,2,3,5,7,7/5,8
M7
K, M1,2,3,5,7,7/5
K, M1/2/3/7/3.7/5
M7
K, M3
K, M2,3,5,7,8
K,M1,3,6,7,7/3,7/5,8
Oblong-winged Katydid
Greater Anglewing
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid
Texas Bush Katydid
Fork-tailed Bush Katydid
K, M7
Broad-winged Bush Katydid
K,M1,2,3,5,7,7/3,8
Roesel's Katydid
M5
Katydids 2011 p. 6
Date, survey time
8/16 3:10-7:40PM
8/17 6:00-11:00PM
8/24 3:45-7:30PM
8-29 4 :30-7:15
Weather conditions
P Cloudy 80-64
P Cloudy 80-64
Sun,windy, 80-77
PC, 74-65
Common Names
Just did M1,2,3
Short-winged Meadow Katydid K
M1, BP, M7,4,5
K
BP
BP
M1
K, BP, Calla
Slender Meadow Katydid
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid?
BP
Black-legged Meadow Katydid
Common Meadow Katydid
Gladiator Meadow Katydid
Sword-bearing Conehead
daylight
M1,2,3,7/3,7,4,5,7/5,6,8 daylight
daylight
M1,2,7,4,8
daylight
daylight
M4, M8
daylight
M2,3,7/3,BP, M7.5
Kelso
Round-tipped Conehead
Slightly-musical Conehead
Common True Katydid
Rattler Round-winged Katydid
Oblong-winged Katydid
Greater Anglewing
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid
Texas Bush Katydid
M7/3
Fork-tailed Bush Katydid
M4
K, M2,4
Broad-winged Bush Katydid
M2,3,7/3,4,7/5,8
M1,2,3,4
Roesel's Katydid
M1,3,7/3
M1
Katydids 2011 p. 7
Date, survey time
8/30 4:30-7:15
9/1 8:45 - 12:00AM
9/2 9:15 - 12:30AM
9/10 3:15 – 10:00PM
Weather conditions
PC, 73 - 70
Ground fog, 73-68
Ground fog 76-72
71-65 var clds trstm in area
Common Names
continuation from 9/1additional species noted
Short-winged Meadow Katydid
BP
Slender Meadow Katydid
M2,4,5
K
M3
M4
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid
BP
Black-legged Meadow Katydid
K
BP
Common Meadow Katydid
Gladiator Meadow Katydid
Sword-bearing Conehead
M3, 7/3, 6
Round-tipped Conehead
M1,2,3,7/3, 7,4,5, 7/5,6,8
M2 - 8
M7
M5, 7
M6,7, 7/5
Common True Katydid
M1,7,4
KP. K
M1, 2, 4, FWM
Rattler Round-winged Katydid
M7,4
Slightly-musical Conehead
Oblong-winged Katydid
K
Greater Anglewing
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid
M7/3 and 7/5
M2,3, M7/3,7,8
Texas Bush Katydid
Roesel's Katydid
M3, 7/3, 7, 4, 5, 8
possibly M7
Fork-tailed Bush Katydid
Broad-winged Bush Katydid
K
M1,2,3,7/5
M7,4
M4
M2,7
M7, M4, M7/5
Katydids 2011 p. 8
Date, survey time
9/12 5:15 – 10:30 PM
9/13 1:45 - 5:54
9/18 2:40 - 5:30
9/20 12:30-1:15,5:30-9
Weather conditions
mstly cldy humid 71-64 sun-cldy windy 79-75 p sunny, brzy, 66
p. cloudy 68 - 60
Short-winged Meadow Katydid
K
K
Slender Meadow Katydid
FWM
Common Names
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid
Black-legged Meadow Katydid
BP
K,M1
M4
Common Meadow Katydid
K, BP
Gladiator Meadow Katydid
Sword-bearing Conehead
M3,7,4,7/56,8
M5
M1,2,3,7/3,7,4,5,6,8
Round-tipped Conehead
M7/3,7 (3 of them)
M2,M6
M7
Slightly-musical Conehead
Common True Katydid
M1,2,7,4,5
PL, M1,M4, M6
Rattler Round-winged Katydid
M7,4,7/5,8
M3, 4, 5
Oblong-winged Katydid
Greater Anglewing
PL
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid
K,M1,2,3,7,
K,M4,M3
M2,M3,M7/3,M6
Texas Bush Katydid
M7
M4
M2,
Fork-tailed Bush Katydid
M3
Broad-winged Bush Katydid
Roesel's Katydid
M7 (two? Or Texas?)
K, M2,3,7/3,BP,
Katydids 2011 p. 9
Date, survey time
9/22 2:30 - 6:45
9/24 2:30 - 5:30
10/4: 3:15 - 6:15
10/6 1:45 - 5:25
Weather conditions
p. cloudy, 73 - 64
PC. 65
Sunny, breezy, 64 – 58Sun, 74 - 68
Short-winged Meadow Katydid
FWM
Kelso
Kelso
Slender Meadow Katydid
FWM
FWM
Kelso. Beaver pond
Kelso
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid?
Black-legged Meadow Katydid
Common Meadow Katydid
Gladiator Meadow Katydid
Sword-bearing Conehead
M1
Round-tipped Conehead
Slightly-musical Conehead
Common True Katydid
Kelso 1:45 PM
Rattler Round-winged Katydid
Oblong-winged Katydid
Greater Anglewing
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid
M3
Kelso. FWM. M2
Texas Bush Katydid
M4
M3
Fork-tailed Bush Katydid
Broad-winged Bush Katydid
Roesel's Katydid
Kelso, M2
Katydids 2011 p. 10
Date, survey time
10/7 4:15 - 6:30
10/8 3:00 - 6:45
10/9 3:30 - 6:30
Weather conditions
Sunny, 72 - 62
Sunny, 77 - 66
Sunny, 76-65
Short-winged Meadow Katydid
Kelso
Slender Meadow Katydid
Long-tailed Meadow Katydid?
Black-legged Meadow Katydid
Kelso
Kelso
Common Meadow Katydid
Gladiator Meadow Katydid
Sword-bearing Conehead
M2,6,8
M7/5
Round-tipped Conehead
M4
M3,4,5
M4
M7
Slightly-musical Conehead
Common True Katydid
Rattler Round-winged Katydid
Oblong-winged Katydid
Greater Anglewing
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid
Texas Bush Katydid
Fork-tailed Bush Katydid
Broad-winged Bush Katydid
Roesel's Katydid
M6
M4