Conocephalus fasciatus, the slender meadow katydid, is a species of katydid of the family Tettigoniidae that is native to the United States and Canada.[1]
Habitat
Conocephalus fasciatus is commonly found year-round throughout the United States and in the southern parts of Canada.[1] They are commonly found in grassy and weedy areas in a large range of habitats including pastures, open pine woods and roadsides.[2]
Diet
The diet of C. fasciatus mainly consists of grasses and grass seedheads, which are readily available in their habitats.[3]
Identification
It is a small, slender katydid with long, narrow wings that extend beyond its posterior.[4] On average, C. fasciatus are 18–26 mm in length[2] and are usually a combination of brown and green in color.[4] In males, the cerci are green and have a stout tooth on the inner border as well as a tip that is weakly flattened. They have a straight ovipositor that is two-thirds the length of the hind femur. The Slender Meadow Katydid has a soft song that is a sequence of alternating ticks and buzzes that vary in duration from 1–20 seconds.[2]
