Microcentrum minus

Strohecker, 1952

Texas Angle-wing Katydid, Texas Anglewing

Microcentrum minus, commonly known as the Texas Angle- , is the smallest in the Microcentrum. It is a leaf-mimicking katydid found only in extreme south Texas, making it the most geographically restricted member of its genus in the United States. Like other angle-wing katydids, it exhibits cryptic green coloration and produces sound through .

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Microcentrum minus: //ˌmaɪkroʊˈsɛntrəm ˈmaɪnəs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

range 41-52 millimeters in length, comparable in size to the California Angle- (Microcentrum californicum) and smaller than the Greater Angle-wing (M. rhombifolium) and Lesser Angle-wing (M. retinerve). The male has a area ("shoulders"), similar to M. retinerve. Separation from other Microcentrum relies primarily on geographic range, as this species occurs only in extreme south Texas while occupy distinct, non-overlapping ranges.

Distribution

Extreme south Texas, United States. This is the most restricted range of any Microcentrum in the U.S.

Similar Taxa

  • Microcentrum californicumSimilar small size (41-52 mm), but distinguished by geographic range: California west of the Sierras and Arizona.
  • Microcentrum retinerveSimilar area in males, but distinguished by geographic range: Long Island and New Jersey south to northern Florida and west to Missouri and extreme east Texas/Oklahoma.
  • Microcentrum rhombifoliumLarger size (52-63 mm) and much broader eastern U.S. range; male has green area rather than .
  • Microcentrum latifronsSimilar restricted Texas range (Big Bend area) and adjacent southeast Arizona, but distinguished by that specific geographic location.

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Sources and further reading