Orthoptera of North Carolina
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View Tettigoniidae Members: NC Records

Microcentrum retinerve (Burmeister, 1838) - Lesser Angle-Wing



Male

Female
Taxonomy
Family: Tettigoniidae Subfamily: Phaneropterinae Tribe: Microcentrini
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: BugGuide, Google Images,  iNaturalist, GBIFSINA 032a.htm                                                                                  
Comments: Both of our species of Microcentrum are excellent leaf-mimics and are very similar in appearance. Microcentrum retinerve is generally a paler shade of green than the dark leaf-green characteristic of rhombifolium, with the head and undersides often shaded with yellowish, and a brown cross line on the stridulatory area of the male (Blatchely, 1920). The structural characteristics described below are, however, probably more reliable in distinguishing the two species.
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: 20-22mm, males; 24-26mm, females (Blatchely, 1920)Forewing Length: 36-38mm, males; 38-41mm, females (Blatchely, 1920)
Structural Features: The front edge of the pronotum is straight in retinerve but sinuate in rhombifolium, with a slight forward projection at the midpoint (Blatchely, 1923). A good photograph of the pronotum in dorsal view should show this diagnostic feature. The cerci of the males also differ between the two species, with those of retinerve fairly straight and with a blunt tip and those of rhombifolium incurved and mucronate at the tip . The females differ in that the apex of the ovipositor is attenuate or narrowly rounded in retinerve but subtruncate or broadly rounded in rhombifolium (Blatchely, 1920).
Structural photos
Singing Behavior: Songs consist of short series -- three to seven -- of closely spaced, shuffling notes, similar but not as resonant as those of True Katydids, which are often singing at the same time. The songs of rhombifolium are very different, consisting either of a series of well-spaced clicks or single clicks given at longer intervals.
Recording playback at normal speed.

Download Video: "MP4"

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:
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See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [GNR] S5
State Protection:
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Image Gallery for Microcentrum retinerve - Lesser Angle-Wing

Recorded by: J. Stark
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: J. Stark
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Zoey Niebuhr
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Zoey Niebuhr
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: C. Teague
Beaufort Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall, Carol Tingley, Van Cotter, and Meriel Goodwin
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan
Moore Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Michael P. Morales
Sampson Co.
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Recorded by: Michael P. Morales
Sampson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
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Recorded by: Owen McConnell
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan and Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan and Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Michael P. Morales
Cumberland Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Steve Hall
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall and Ed Corey
Bladen Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: J. Mickey
Wayne Co.
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Recorded by: J. Mickey
Alleghany Co.
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Recorded by: J. Mickey
Alleghany Co.
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Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof
Beaufort Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof
Beaufort Co.
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Recorded by: T. DeSantis
Camden Co.
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Recorded by: J.Williams
Vance Co.
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Recorded by: J.Williams
Vance Co.
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Recorded by: J.Williams
Vance Co.
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Recorded by: J. Davidson
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: E. Corey and C. Dykstra
Beaufort Co.
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MP3 Gallery for Microcentrum retinerve - Lesser Angle-Wing

1 Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
2023-10-10
2 Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
2019-08-19
4 sharp outbursts in the 2nd second followed by 3 in the 4th, Common True Katydid and a cricket calling continuously