Orthoptera of North Carolina
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View Gryllidae Members: NC Records

Anaxipha tinnulacita Walker & Funk, 2014 - Fast-tinkling Trig

Taxonomy
Family: Gryllidae Subfamily: Trigonidiinae Tribe: TrigonidiiniSynonym: Anaxipha scia
Comments: One of thirteen species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (SINA, 2017); nine have been recorded in North Carolina. Tinnulacita belongs to the Exigua Species Group, which also includes exigua, tinnula, thomasi, and tinnulenta in North Carolina (Walker and Funk, 2014).
Species Status: Fulton (1956) described three song types used by members of what was then considered Anaxipha exigua, his "fast-tinking" form was later described as tinnulacita by Walker and Funk (2014)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: SINA, Google Images,  iNaturalist, GBIFTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Walker and Funk (2014)SINA 631a.htm                                                                                  
Comments: A very small, brown Trig. Like other members of the exigua group, it possess a broad dark stripe on the lateral face of the femur (Walker and Funk, 2014). Structural features -- particularly the number of pegs on the stridulatory file -- must be examined to identify this species; the song is also distinctive.
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: 5.9-6.5mm, males; 6.5-7.6, females (Walker and Funk, 2014)
Structural Features: Stridulatory file with about 190 teeth (range 176-213); ovipositor 2.3-3.3 mm, ratio of length of hind femur to ovipositor 1.7-2.3 (see Walker and Funk, 2014 for additional structural characteristics). Macropterous individuals have been observed but are rare.
Singing Behavior: Walker and Funk (2014) describe the song as "a continuous fast tinkle at ~13 p/s at 6.8 kHz (at 25°C)"
Recording playback at normal speed.

Download Video: "MP4"

Nymphal Stages and Development: Apparently undescribed but unlikely to be distinguishable, particularly from other members of the Exigua Species Groups
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Adult Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: In the Coastal Plain, our recent records come from fairly wet, shrubby habitats, including Pond Pine Woodlands growing on the edge of a Carolina Bay and a tract of Maritime Swamp Forest, where tinnulacita was heard commonly calling from 7-10' tall Ilex glabra. In the Piedmont, we have recorded it both in understory shrubs and low trees along a creek levee and in planted Japanese Hollies growing in an upland residential neighborhood.
Diet: Apparently unrecorded; possibly omnivorous
Observation Methods: Singing males are most easily detected but they may also be captured using sweep netting
Abundance/Frequency: Fairly extensive, if diffuse, choruses of this species have been recorded at locations in both the Piedmont and Coastal Plain; it appears to be one of the more regularly observed members of this genus in North Carolina
Adult Phenology: Fulton (1951) recorded this species as calling from late July to December first.
See also Habitat Account for General Forests and Shrublands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [GNR] S5
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands
Comments: Although we still have too few verified records of this species to be sure of its range within the state, it appears to be regularly observed and fairly common where it has been found. Since it also appears to be generalized in terms of its habitat requirements, we believe it is secure within the state.

Image Gallery for Anaxipha tinnulacita - Fast-tinkling Trig

Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Burke Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Moore Co.
Comment: Heard singing during the day in low ornamental trees
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall and Bo Sullivan
Moore Co.
Comment: Identified based on proximity to singing male
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Identified based on proximity to singing male		 Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Identified based on proximity to singing male
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Identified based on proximity to singing male		 Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Anaxipha tinnulacita heard singing outside the house; no other members of this genus have been recorded at this site
Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Female		 Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Singing from a Boxelder along a creek. Temperature at 16:45 was 79 F (= 26 C); the pulse rate was 11-12 pulses per second.		 Recorded by: Steve Hall
New Hanover Co.
Comment: Trill of one individual with two more singing in the background. The pulse rate was about 9-10 pulses per second at around 65 F, which is more characteristic of tinnulacita than tinnula, which was recorded by Fulton (1956) in marshy habitats at Carolina Beach. In addition to singing at a slightly higher pulse rate, individuals heard on this occasion appeared to be calling from holly thickets (Ilex glabra), although at least a few were also heard along the edge of a marsh.
Recorded by: Steve Hall
New Hanover Co.
Comment: Ten seconds of the same individuals showing similar pulse rates but lack of actual synchrony		 Recorded by: Steve Hall
New Hanover Co.
Comment: Single individual heard singing from Ilex glabra. The pulse rate is 9-10 pulses per second at about 67 F.
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Calling from a Japanese Holly. 12 pulses per sec @ 		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Bladen Co.
Comment: Recorded at dawn in Pond Pine Woodland next to the lake. Song is similar to that of Allonemobius allardi, but the grassy habitat preferred by that species was not present; songs were heard from a dense understory of peatland shrubs. The dominant portion of the song, at about 6.5 kHz, is nearly obscured by a dense chorus of Carolina Ground Crickets, but the overtones of both species show more separation, with the pulse rate of Anaxipha about 13 pulses per second.

MP3 Gallery for Anaxipha tinnulacita - Fast-tinkling Trig

1 Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Burke Co.
2022-09-15
Individuals were calling from shrubs and trees; ca. 60 degrees. 		2 Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
2020-10-02
calling in woodland, hard to pinpoint height, 10 pulses per second, dominant frequency 4.7 Hz, temperature 64 F
3 Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
2020-08-19
Calling from shrubs. 		4 Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
2019-08-20
during daylight hours, 14 pulses per second