Orthoptera of North Carolina
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View Tettigoniidae Members: NC Records

Inscudderia walkeri Hebard, 1925 - Eastern Cypress Katydid

Taxonomy
Family: Tettigoniidae Subfamily: Phaneropterinae Tribe: Scudderiini
Comments: One of three species of this strictly North American genus (Cigliano et al., 2018), and the only one that occurs in North Carolina
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Capineira et al. (2004; gives a range map but no illustrations or detailed description)Online Photographs: BugGuide, OSF (shots of specimens), Google ImagesTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Hebard (1925)SINA 022a.htm                                                                                  
Comments: A narrow-winged, long-legged, boldly patterned katydid. The head, thorax, and abdomen are dark green and marked with yellowish-green to whitish green streaks and spots, particularly along the sides of the body. The tegmina are very narrow, brown on the dorsal surface, but green on the upper sides and transparent on the lower half. This species is somewhat similar to Scudderia species in size and shape but none of that genus has the pattern of spots found in Inscudderia.
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: Body length: 18.3-18.8 mm, males; 19.2-24.7 mm, females. Tegmina length: 28-30.4 mm, males; 28-31.8 mm, females (Hebard, 1925)
Structural Features: The tegmina are very narrow, with a width to length ratio ranges is about 1:6. The hind legs are also particularly long and narrow, with the hind femur longer than the length of the body (excluding tegmina). Male reproductive structures are distinctive and are described by Hebard (1925; illustrations from which are provided by Cigliano et al., 2018).
Singing Behavior: Songs consist of single lisps, separated by pauses of a couple of seconds (see SINA, 2018).
Nymphal Stages and Development: Apparently not described, but a photograph by Doug Biegler shown on BugGuide indicates that the nymphs have a similar coloration to the adults
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: Our records come primarily from stands of Bald Cypress growing in river swamps or old millponds. Our one Sandhills record comes from a stand of swamp forest containing Atlantic White Cedar but no Cypress, either Bald or Pond.
Diet: May be monophagous on Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum); its possible use of Pond Cypress needs to be investigated
Observation Methods: This species is well-camouflaged during the day and hard to find, but is easy to spot using flashlights on the tips of cypress branches after dark, where they are easy to collect (Hebard, 1925). This species has also been seen around building lights but has not been collected using blacklight traps despite numerous moth surveys conducted in cypress-containing habitats.
Abundance/Frequency: We have too few records to estimate either its frequency of occurrence or population density
Adult Phenology: North Carolina records come from late July to early November
See also Habitat Account for Cypress Swamps and Savannas
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: W3
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SU
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands
Comments: We have very few records for this species, but that may be due to its excellent camouglage during the day and few, if any, attempts to survey this species after dark. More information is needed on its distribution, frequency of occurrence and exact habitat associations before its conservation status can be accurately assessed.

Image Gallery for Inscudderia walkeri - Eastern Cypress Katydid

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: E. Corey, S. Cameron, M. Frazer
Robeson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: J. Wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: D. Lequire
Washington Co.
Comment: