Handsome Trig
Phyllopalpus pulchellus Uhler, 1864
Handsome Trig: https://marylandbiodiversity.com/species/8162
Synonyms
Red-headed Bush Cricket 
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Source: Wikipedia

Phyllopalpus pulchellus
Handsome trig female. (Lateral view)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Ensifera
Family: Trigonidiidae
Tribe: Phylloscyrtini
Genus: Phyllopalpus
Species:
P. pulchellus
Binomial name
Phyllopalpus pulchellus
Uhler, 1864

Phyllopalpus pulchellus, known generally as the red headed bush cricket, handsome trig or handsome bush cricket, is a species of winged bush cricket in the family Trigonidiidae.[1][2][3] It is found in the eastern United States.[1][4][5]

Description

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The adult has a red head and thorax. Its palp is black, and the last segment is the shape of an oval. Its legs are pale yellow. Its wings are black. The forewings of females are convex and beetle-like, and the male's wings look like that of a typical cricket's. The male's left wing is clear. The average length of Phyllopalpus pulchellus is 7–9mm.[4][6]

Its song sounds like a rattling trill. It is described as being quite loud.[7]

Geographic range

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P. pulchellus is found in Eastern United States. It can be found as north as New Hampshire and as far south as northern Florida. Its range goes as far west as Houston, Texas.

Reproduction

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The males position their bodies in between a curved leaf or two leaves to amplify the sound of their chirps to find a mate.[6]

During courtship, males first provide females a nuptial gift before transferring a larger spermatophore. If the female does not accept the nuptial gift, the male will eat it.[8]

The females deposit their eggs in the trunks of trees.[6]

Phyllopalus pulchellus underneath a leaf.

Diet

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P. pulchellus eats flowers, leaves, smaller insects, and insect eggs. It is an omnivorous species.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Phyllopalpus pulchellus Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  2. ^ "Phyllopalpus pulchellus species details". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  3. ^ "Phyllopalpus pulchellus". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  4. ^ a b "Phyllopalpus pulchellus Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  5. ^ Otte, Daniel; Cigliano, Maria Marta; Braun, Holger; Eades, David C. "Orthoptera Species File Online". Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  6. ^ a b c d "Handsome Trig (Red-Headed Bush Cricket)". Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  7. ^ "Handsome Trig". Songs of Insects. 2013-09-09. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  8. ^ Funk, David. "Mating Behavior of Phyllopalpus pulchellus Uhler (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Trigonidiinae)". Journal of Orthoptera Research. 25: 7–13. doi:10.1665/034.025.0103. Archived from the original on 2020-02-15. Retrieved 2021-07-17.

Further reading

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