Common True Katydid

There is an old saying around here that "The first time you hear the Katydid's singing, it will frost 90 days later". This year, the Katydid's were singing very early in the spring time. And we have already had our first frost just a few days ago (October 18, 2009) - extremely early for this area. I have never counted the days since I first heard the Katydid's sing, but I have just noticed over the years that this saying must be pretty close to being true!

We hear these bugs every night at the same time, but this was our first glance at them. They are the coolest looking bugs and seem to be very intelligent. We did catch it in a wide mouthed jar so that we could look closer at it. Since we are new to this area we are not sure what is harmful and what isn't. After "CAREFUL" observation, we then return the insects where we found them. We did learn that the katydid does not fly but glides from limb to limb, so we are not sure if it somehow accidentally got on our porch or that is where it wanted to be. We love the katydid and this one is back again tonight. We DID NOT catch it again, but rather left it to its own accord.

I love the sound of the true katydid but unfortunately they are not heard where I live in central Oklahoma. But they are heard in the forested areas of central and eastern Oklahoma and are only a short drive away!

found one in my garden saturday. it was half dead on the wall. then my dog ate it.

True katydids are flightless or nearly flightless inhabitants of crowns of deciduous trees in oak-hickory forests, parks, and yards. They are leaf green in color and range in length from 1.5 to 2.5 inches. The hind wings are shorter than the leathery, convex, and inflated front wings, which act as coverings known as tegmina. The green tegmina have prominent veins that closely mimic a leaf, including the midrib, and they enclose the abdomen. Most calling males seem to remain at approximately the same place in a tree throughout adult life. Individuals that are disturbed leap clumsily and parachute down to the ground. On the ground they are awkward and slow. They walk to a vertical surface, which they climb. During the first severe frosts of late autumn, they often fall to the ground
<... read morebr /> True Katydids are relatives of grasshoppers and crickets. They grow over two inches long and are leaf-green in color.

Katydids have oval-shaped wings with lots of veins. They resemble leaves.

True Katydids live in forests, thickets, or fields with lots of shrubs or trees. Katydids spend most of their time at the tops of trees where most of the leaves are.

Usually katydids are heard, but not seen.

Unlike grasshoppers and crickets, both male and female katydids make sounds. They rub their forewings (front wings) together to sing to each other. Katydid hear each other with ears on their front legs.

Breeding season is in late Summer and early Fall. Females will lay eggs on stems.

Eggs will hatch the following Spring into nymphs. Nymphs are young katydids not fully grown. Katydid nymphs eat and grow, molting their skin several times. Each time the nymph sheds its skin it looks more like an adult. Finally, after its last molt, the nymph has changed into an adult katydid.

True Katydids eat leaves of most deciduous (lose leaves in Fall) trees and shrubs, especially oaks.

Katydids can fly short distances when threatened, but they prefer to walk and climb. When they do fly, it is more of a downward flutter. If a katydid lands on the ground, it will walk to the nearest tree and climb.

Predators of True Katydids include birds, bats, spiders, frogs, snakes, and other insect-eaters.