Montana Field Guide

The following is taken from Blatchley (1920), Alexander et al. (1972), Vickery and Kevan (1985), Bland (2003), and Scott (2010). The genus Orchelimum is categorized as the “greater meadow katydids” due their more stout, robust body size rather than body length, which separates them from the more slender “lesser katydids," Conocephalus genus.

The Delicate Meadow Katydid is small, pea-green (brown forms do occasionally occur), and the face is sometimes flecked with red spotting. The male 8th and 9th segments, supra-anal plate and cerci are a buttery-yellow. The tegmina (forewings) are brownish to greenish and slightly shorter than the hind wings, extending beyond the abdomen. The female ovipositor measures more than half the length of the hind femur and curves slightly upward. A dorsal dark stripe occurs only on the head and pronotum. Dorsal surface of the abdomen tends to be light yellowish and bordered only on the lateral side, anteriorly, by a short, merged edge dark stripe.

Calling song description
Verbal descriptions are: (1) “Its stridulation nearly identical to O. concinnum (which does not occur in MT) …consist of soft, rhythmic ticks and buzzes, typically two to four ticks per second followed by a buzz that lasts 1 to 2 seconds” (Bland 2003). (2) “Buzz changing speed, alternately slowing and speeding up about every 15-30 seconds; in grassy and weedy areas…” (Alexander et al. 1972). (3) “…The song consists of ticks and buzzes…the ticks are strong and audibly double” (Vickery and Kevan 1985).

This species overwinters in the egg stage. Adults occur from the third week in July to late September (Vickery and Kevan 1985, and Bland 2003).

The following comes from Blatchley (1920), Alexander et al. (1972), Vickery and Kevan (1985), Bland (2003), and Scott (2010). The body length to end of forewings is 16 mm for males, and 17.5 mm for females. The male pronotum is 3.8 mm, and female is 4 mm. The male tegmina is 19 mm, and female is 20 mm. The male hind femur is 14 mm, and female is 15 mm, and the ovipositor is 10.5-13 mm. The ovipositor is stout and slightly curved upward. Male cercus is long with a heavy tooth (see illustration box to compare male cerci and female ovipositor morphology and size).

All the Meadow Katydids can be confused with each other. The best method for identification is to compare the measurements and forms of the female ovipositors and male cerci. Refer to the illustration above and the “diagnostic characteristics” above.

The Delicate Meadow Katydid inhabits wet meadows, wet prairies, marsh edges and damp, low areas adjacent to sandy shorelines or dunes. It favors stands of Slimstem reedgrass (Calamagrostis stricta), and Blue-joint reedgrass (C. canadensis) (Vickery and Kevan 1985, and Bland 2003).

To date, no detailed studies nor observations specific to this species’ food habits have been found within the published literature. Its diet is probably similar to that of other species in the subfamily Conocepahlinae.

To date, no detailed studies nor observations specific to this species have been found within the published literature.