Aglaothorax ovata

Scudder, 1899

ovate shieldback, ovate shield-back katydid

Aglaothorax ovata is a of in the , commonly known as the ovate shieldback. It is found in North America and is characterized by its short and thickened that forms a shield over the . are active in late summer and fall. The species includes six recognized with varying distributions and morphological traits.

Aglaothorax ovata by Alex Heyman. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Aglaothorax ovata: /ˌæɡlioʊˈθɔːræks oʊˈveɪtə/

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Identification

Distinguished from other by the combination of its ovate body shape, short , and green- coloration with possible mottling. The thickened, shield-like is diagnostic for the Tettigoniinae. Among the six , differences in size and structure exist: A. o. gigantea and A. o. longicaudus are notably larger or have longer appendages, while A. o. ovata represents the nominate form.

Images

Appearance

-sized measuring 25–40 mm in length. Body coloration is green and , sometimes with mottling. The is enlarged and thickened, forming a shield-like structure that extends over the . are short and do not extend to the tip of the . The overall body shape is ovate (-shaped), giving rise to the name.

Distribution

North America. The six have more specific ranges: A. o. ovata (nominate subspecies), A. o. armiger, and A. o. segnis described by Rehn & Hebard (1920); A. o. gigantea, A. o. longicaudus, and A. o. tinkhamorum described by Rentz & Birchim (1968) from western regions.

Seasonality

are active in late summer and fall.

Similar Taxa

Other Aglaothorax speciesShare the shield-backed but differ in body shape, coloration patterns, and geographic distribution
Other Tettigoniinae genera (e.g., Atlanticus, Neduba)Similar shield-like but differ in body proportions, length, and coloration

More Details

Subspecies

Six are recognized: Aglaothorax ovata ovata (Scudder, 1899), A. o. armiger Rehn & Hebard, 1920, A. o. segnis Rehn & Hebard, 1920, A. o. gigantea (Rentz & Birchim, 1968), A. o. longicaudus Rentz & Birchim, 1968, and A. o. tinkhamorum Rentz & Birchim, 1968. The latter three were described from western North and exhibit size and structural differences from the nominate form.