Plants and Animals

Orchelimum concinnum Red-faced meadow katydid

Key Characteristics

The red-faced meadow katydid is a medium-sized meadow katydid with a reddish brown vertical stripe on the side of the face. All species in the genus have tegmina (leathery front wings) that extend beyond the abdomen.

Status and Rank

US Status: No Status/Not Listed
State Status: SC - Special Concern (rare or uncertain; not legally protected)
Global Rank: GNR - Not ranked
State Rank: S2S3 - Rank is uncertain, ranging from imperiled to vulnerable

Occurrences

CountyNumber of OccurrencesYear Last Observed

Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.

Habitat

The red-faced meadow katydid inhabits prairie fens, marl flats, and marsh edges where it is found on sedges and rushes.

Natural Community Types

For each species, lists of natural communities were derived from review of the nearly 6,500 element occurrences in the MNFI database, in addition to herbarium label data for some taxa. In most cases, at least one specimen record exists for each listed natural community. For certain taxa, especially poorly collected or extirpated species of prairie and savanna habitats, natural community lists were derived from inferences from collection sites and habitat preferences in immediately adjacent states (particularly Indiana and Illinois). Natural communities are not listed for those species documented only from altered or ruderal habitats in Michigan, especially for taxa that occur in a variety of habitats outside of the state.

Natural communities are not listed in order of frequency of occurrence, but are rather derived from the full set of natural communities, organized by Ecological Group. In many cases, the general habitat descriptions should provide greater clarity and direction to the surveyor. In future versions of the Rare Species Explorer, we hope to incorporate natural community fidelity ranks for each taxon.

Management Recommendations

Maintain and restore suitable moist, open, wetlands. Avoid dredging, filling, and other hydrologic alterations. Fire management may be an appropriate habitat management tool but care should be taken to not burn all of suitable habitat at once. Remove invasive plants that could alter habitat quality such as giant reed (Phragmites australis), reed canary grass (Phaleris arundinacea), and glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula).

Active Period

Active from second week of August to fourth week of September

Survey Methods

Conduct sweep net surveys in appropriate habitat.

Sweep net

Survey Period: From second week of August to fourth week of September

References

Survey References

  • Borror, D.J. and R.E. White. 1970. A Field Guide to the Insects of North America and Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 404pp.
  • Martin, J.E.H. 1977. The Insects and Arachnids of Canada (Part 1): Collecting, preparing, and preserving insects, mites, and spiders. Publication 1643. Biosystematics Research Institute, Ottawa.

Technical References

  • Bland, R.G. 2003. The Orthoptera of Michigan: Biology, Keys, and Descriptions of Grasshoppers, Katydids, and Crickets. Michigan State University Extension, East Lansing. Extension Bulletin E-2815. 220pp.