Montana Field Guide

The following comes from Rehn and Hebard (1914), Blatchley (1920), Helfer (1971), Alexander et al. (1972), Vickery and Kevan (1985), Bland (2003), Capinera et al. (2004), Elliott and Hershberger (2007), and Himmelman (2009). This species has the largest body size within the Conocephalus genus and is darker green compared to other meadow katydids. The top of the head is black or dark brown. There is a reddish-brown stripe, edged by white or buff, that traverses the dorsal body surface from the pronotum (thorax) to the abdominal tip. The lateral side of the abdomen, bordering the stripe, is black, merging ventrally into the sides and segments making them very distinct. The tegmina (forewings) are short, in males covering about one-third the length of the abdomen, and in females one-fourth the length.

Calling song description
Verbal descriptions are: (1) “A faint, continuous purr…often with a pulsating quality. Difficult to hear, but in a dense colony the combined sounds of individuals in a chorus can be impressively loud, even overwhelming” (Elliott and Hershberger 2007). (2) “Soft, buzzy, continuous whir” (Himmelman 2009). (3) “Buzz changing speed, alternately slowing and speeding up about every 15-30 seconds…” (Alexander et al. 1972). (4) “The song is a very faint, continuous fluttery buzz, sometimes alternating long periods of a fast, regular pulsation rate with shorter periods of a slower, somewhat irregular, pulsation rate” (Capinera et al. 2004). And (5) “Males perch on vegetation about 1/3 meter above the ground and produce a very soft, continuous buzz that alternately speeds up and slows down 15 seconds” (Bland 2003).

This species overwinters in the egg stage. Adults are present from late-July to early-October, depending upon killing frost occurrence (Vickery and Kevan 1985, and Bland 2003).

The following is taken from Rehn and Hebard (1914), Blatchley (1920), Helfer (1971), Alexander et al. (1972), Vickery and Kevan (1985), Bland (2003), Capinera et al. (2004), Elliott and Hershberger (2007), and Himmelman (2009). The male body length is 14-15 mm, and for females 17-18 mm. The pronotum (thorax) for males is 3.5-4 mm, and females 4-4.5 mm. The tegmina (forewing) for males is 5-6 mm, and females 3.5-4.5 mm. The female ovipositor is 18-32 mm. Refer to the illustration to compare the male cerci shape and female ovipositor length.

The Straight-lanced Meadow Katydid could be confused with the Prairie Meadow Katydid (Conocephalus saltans), as both species have wings shorter than their abdomens. Refer to the illustration to compare the male cerci shape and female ovipositor length (Scott journal note, 2021).

Inhabits mixed grass and forb areas of dry upland fields, pastures, roadsides, and open pine stands (Vickery and Kevan 1985, and Bland 2003).

No specific information relative to food habits for this species can be found. However, in view of its habitat, it is probably that of the other Conocephalus species.

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