Subfamily Meconematinae
quiet-calling katydids

Key to families and subfamilies of katydids.

This subfamily is represented in the United States by a single species, Meconema thalassinum, introduced from Europe. About 200 species occur worldwide, including three that are known to make wholly ultrasonic songs--that is, the songs can only be heard by human ears with the help of an ultrasonic detector.

The U.S. species has no male stridulatory apparatus of the usual kind. There are, however, minute teeth on the forewings that may substitute in a quiet way. In addition it has another method of calling, as indicated by its common name, drumming katydid.


References

Gurney AB. 1960. Meconema thalassinum a European katydid new to the United States (Orthoptera: Tettigonidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 62: 95-96. [181 KB]

Hoebeke ER. 1981. The European katydid Meconema thalassinum: new locality records for North America (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). J. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 89: 170-171.

Ingrisch S. 1985. Effect of hibernation length on termination of diapause in European Tettigoniidae (Insecta: Orthoptera). Oecologia 65: 376-381. [Meconema thalassinum]

Johnstone DE. 1970. Notes on the Palaearctic grasshopper Meconema thalassinum (De Geer) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae established in Long Island New York. Entomol. News 81: 62-65.

Shapiro L. 1995. A new katydid for Long Island, NY: first record of Orchelimum silvaticum east of Ohio, with notes on two adventive katydids from Long Island. J. N Y. Entomol. Soc. 103: 114-120. [539 KB] [Meconema thalassinum]

Sismondo E. 1978. Meconema thalassinum (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) prey of Sphex ichneumoneus (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) in Westchester County, New York. Entomol. News 89: 244.

Sismondo E. 1980. Physical characteristics of the drumming of Meconema thalassinum. J. Insect Physiol. 26: 209-212. [429 KB]

Vahed K. 1996. Prolonged copulation in oak bushcrickets (Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae: Meconema thalassinum and M. meridionale). J. Orthop. Res. 5: 199-204.

Walker, TJ. 1997. Chapter 13. Meconematinae: quiet-calling katydids (prepared for Handbook of Crickets and Katydids, an inactive project). [68 KB]