The common true katydid is a common species in North America. This nocturnal creature is the one that sings distinctive loud, rhythmic chirping during the summer nights that you often hear. Let’s dive into the world of this species and discover more about its unique behaviors and adaptations.
Scientific name: Pterophylla camellifolia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Ensifera
Family: Tettigoniidae
Subfamily: Pseudophyllinae
Genus: Pterophylla
Common true katydid appearance
The common true katydid is a large katydid species known for its hefty build, measuring between 1.5 to 2 inches in length. Often referred to as the true katydid, northern katydid, or rough-winged katydid, this insect stands out with its bright green color and leaf-like wings. You can miss this species if you don’t look at them carefully.
You can recognize this insect by its distinctive feature: the cup-like shape formed by its wings, highlighted by numerous prominent veins and two horizontal grooves on the pronotum—the plate that connects the head to the wings. This clever design helps them blend seamlessly into their leafy environments.
Their wings are rounder than those of most katydids, with males displaying a dark patch at the base of their wings. Although they have large forewings, they cannot fly. Instead, they move slowly and use their wings like parachutes to soften their landing after jumping.
Habitat
The common true katydid is arboreal, spending its life in the treetops, living high in the forests, woodlots, and backyard trees. This insect is a master of mimicry, blending seamlessly into its surroundings. Due to its leaf-like appearance, you often hear it rather than see it. They fill the night with their loud, repetitive chorus, which sounds like they’re debating, “Katy did! Katy didn’t!”
You can find this katydid in North America, from the eastern United States to southern Wisconsin. Distinct regional populations of this species are identified by their unique mating calls. For example, in the northern parts of its range, the katydid’s mating call can consist of two, three, or four pulses. Meanwhile, in the southeastern US, these insects form large synchronized choruses that feature a quicker, more rapid song. In the southwestern US, the mating call simplifies to one or two pulses, and in central Iowa, it becomes a more complex song with 8 to 15 pulses.
Diet
The common true katydid mainly feeds on the leaves of the trees where it lives. It also eats flowers, stems, and fruits from various plants. While they don’t typically cause major damage to gardens since they don’t strip plants of their leaves extensively, they can pose issues in citrus orchards.
These bugs are eaten by many snakes, birds, and other predators that hunt in the treetops. To protect themselves, they mostly rely on their impressive camouflage to blend in with leaves.
Life cycle
The lifespan of a common true katydid is about one year. During the summer mating season, males attract females by making sounds with the organs on their front wings. After mating, females lay around 20 eggs in safe places like bark or plant stems. The adult katydids usually die by the first autumn frost. However, in warmer areas where frost doesn’t occur, they can live for several years.
The eggs remain dormant through the winter and hatch into nymphs in the spring next year. These nymphs look like miniature versions of the adults, though they don’t have fully developed wings or reproductive organs yet. Over the course of 3-4 months, the nymphs molt several times, each stage bringing them closer to adulthood by gradually developing their wings. By July or August, they are fully grown and ready to mate.
Reference: Wikipedia
