Orthoptera of North Carolina
Scientific Name: Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
« »
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 pulses separated by distinct but short pauses. Each pulse consists of an initial low amplitude buzz followed abruptly by one that is much higher in amplitude. 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.
Recording playback at half-speed. (Slower, lower-pitched, usually more audible version.)

Download Video: "MP4"

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Pyrgocorypha uncinata
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:
Comments:

Image Gallery for Pyrgocorypha uncinata - Hook-Faced Conehead

Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Mark Basinger
McDowell Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Mark Basinger
McDowell Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Mark Basinger
McDowell Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: David George and Steve Hall
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Steve Hall, Dee Stuckey, and Savannah Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: Several adults observed moving around and stridulating in a mixed patch of blackberries and poison ivy located at the edge of a field. Recorded using a mp3 voice recorder
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Paul Hart
Alamance Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Granville Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Pat Momich
Madison Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Pat Momich
Madison Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan
Craven Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan
Craven Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Scott Snide
Wake Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Scott Snide
Wake Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Scott Snide
Wake Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin
Madison Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin
Madison Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin
Madison Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: Specimen collected in a light trap
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Stephen Hall and Ed Corey
Surry Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Orange Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: J. Wyche
Gates Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: J. Wyche
Gates Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment:
Pyrgocorypha uncinata Recorded by: E. Corey
Wake Co.
Comment: