Orthoptera of North Carolina
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View Tettigoniidae Members: NC Records

Pyrgocorypha uncinata (Harris, 1841) - Hook-Faced Conehead

Pyrgocorypha uncinataPyrgocorypha uncinataPyrgocorypha uncinata
Taxonomy
Family: Tettigoniidae Subfamily: Copiphorinae Tribe: Copiphorini
Comments: This is the sole species in this genus in North America, with 15 other species found in the Neotropics and eastern and southern Asia (Cigliano et al., accessed 2024)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: BugGuide, Google Images,  iNaturalist, GBIFSINA 201a.htm                                                                                  
Comments: This species is similar in appearance to the members of Neoconocephalus but has a sharply pointed fastigium with a downward pointing, hooked-shaped tip rather than a blunt-tipped or rounded cone. Males are uniformly brown but females can be either brown or green. The mandibles are black, unlike the orange ones possessed by Neoconocephalus triops.
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: Body Length: 32-34 mm, males; 32-37 mm, females (Blatchely, 1920)Forewing Length: 37-42 mm, males; 42-46, females (Blatchely, 1920)
Structural Features: The fastigium is flattened above and highly rugose. The disk and lateral lobes of the pronotum are also rugose-punctate (Blatchely, 1920). Overall, this species is less gracile than the Neoconocephalus and has shorter legs; the hind femur usually does not reach past the end of the abdomen. In lateral view, they are somewhat hump-backed, with the pronotum with a strong downward slope to the head. The cerci of the males are stout, subcylindrical, incurved, and ending it two claw-like appendages. The ovipositer is slender, straight, and of uniform width. It is also relatively short, not reaching the end of the tegmina.
Singing Behavior: Songs consist of continuous trains of amplitude-modulated pulses. The frequency ranges from around 9.5 kHz to over 20 kHz. Only the lower portion is audible to the human ear and sounds (to the author at least) like a series of faint shuffling notes.
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: Adults and juveniles can be found in low herbaceous vegetation. Males are also reported to sing from the tops of trees (Blatchely, 1920)
Diet:
Observation Methods: Adults and juveniles can be collected by sweeping herbaceous vegetation or can be occasionally attracted to moth sheets. Although the songs are distinctive, they are usually too high-pitched to be heard easily.
Abundance/Frequency:
Adult Phenology: There is only a single brood per year, with adults maturing in late summer and overwintering in that stage. Reproductive activity occurs in the early spring, with males heard singing in April and May in North Carolina (Fulton, 1951)
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
State Protection:
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Image Gallery for Pyrgocorypha uncinata - Hook-Faced Conehead

Recorded by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
McDowell Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
McDowell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
McDowell Co.
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Recorded by: David George and Steve Hall
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall, Dee Stuckey, and Savannah Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Waveform showing amplitude-modulated pulses. Taped using a voice recorder
Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Hart
Alamance Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Granville Co.
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Recorded by: Pat Momich
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Pat Momich
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan
Craven Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan
Craven Co.
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Recorded by: Scott Snide
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Scott Snide
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Scott Snide
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: Specimen collected in a light trap		 Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall and Ed Corey
Surry Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: J. Wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J. Wyche
Gates Co.
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Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: E. Corey
Wake Co.
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