Pterophylla camellifolia
Lang Elliot, naturesound.com
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. Herbert A. "Joe" Pase
III, Texas Forest Service T.J. Walker, University
of Florida 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.
