Plants and Animals
Neoconocephalus lyristes Bog conehead
Key Characteristics
The bog conehead is a large, slender winged katydid with a prominent, conelike forward extension on the top of the head that is black underneath. Slender tegmina (thickened, leathery front wings) are 4.2 to 4.7 times longer than their greatest width, and extend beyond the ovipositor. The song is a continuous "zeeee" sounding buzz.
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: S1S3
Occurrences
| County | Number of Occurrences | Year 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 bog conehead inhabits calcareous fens, shallow bogs, and flat expanses of moist ground with tall grasses, rushes, and sedges. Elsewhere in its North American range, it is found in fresh and saltwater marshes.
Natural Community Types
- Bog
- Emergent marsh
- Lakeplain wet prairie
- Lakeplain wet-mesic prairie
- Prairie fen
- Southern wet meadow
- Wet prairie
- Wet-mesic sand prairie
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, grassy habitat. Avoid hydrologic alterations. Fire management may be appropriate to control woody vegetation 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 second week of September
Survey Methods
While surveyors may be able to detect this species by song if familiar with its call, a specimen in hand may be necessary for positive ID.
Sweep net, auditory
Survey Period: From second week of August to second 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.