7 Katydid Facts and Their Fascinating Leaf-Like Appearance

Katydids, often mistaken for grasshoppers, are fascinating creatures with unique traits and behaviors. Let’s join us to explore some intriguing facts about these leaf-like insects that buzz and chirp their way through the night.

Katydids look like leaves

The katydid, also known as the bush cricket, is an insect from the Tettigoniidae family. With around 8,000 species (around 255 different types in North America), these insects are commonly confused with grasshoppers because they look quite similar. However, you can distinguish a katydid by its long, slender antennae, which are typically longer than its body. The typical grasshopper, on the other hand, owns short and thick antennae.

Katydids are usually large, with body lengths ranging from 1 to over 6 cm. Some, like the predatory bush cricket, can even reach up to 12 cm long. The largest species is the giant Malaysian katydid, native to Malaysia, with a huge size of 15 cm in length and a wingspan of 25 cm in length.

These insects come in a range of colors like bright green, pink, brown, lime, and yellow, helping them blend in with leaves and their surroundings. Many have large wings shaped like green leaves that can cover most of their body, although some species have shorter wings or almost none at all. Their wings usually feature unique markings or patterns. Generally, katydids are not strong flyers; some can only flutter their wings when they jump. These bugs are equipped with strong hind legs that are perfect for jumping. They have hearing organs, known as tympana, on their front legs just below the knee.

There are about 8000 katydid species within 19 subfamilies. Here are some of their subfamilies:

True katydid (Pseudophyllinae): The Pseudophyllinae subfamily includes about 1,000 species found all over the world. Members of this group are masters of disguise, often looking just like fresh or dried leaves. They are usually big, tree-dwelling insects with long, stiff antennae. Their forewings are shaped into two shallow cups that are bigger than their abdomen. They are found throughout North, Central, and South America.

False katydid (Phaneropterinae) is the largest subfamily with more than 2,100 species found on nearly every continent. These katydids are typically large, ranging from 1 to over 6 cm in length, and are mostly bright green, although some are pink or yellow. Wing sizes vary widely; some species have long wings that cover their bodies, while others have short or nearly no wings. An interesting feature of these katydids is their communication style, where males and females perform duets, with females responding to males’ calls with ticks.

Sluggish katydid (Austrosaginae) is native to Australia and thrives in a variety of environments like forests, woodlands, and grasslands. These creatures move slowly and deliberately, blending seamlessly into their surroundings with their typical brown or grey colors.

Conical head katydid (Conocephalinae) is known for its distinct cone-shaped projections on its head, which extend past the base of their antennae. The females in this group, typically larger than the males, have a straight, slender ovipositor without teeth.

Micro katydid (Microtettigoniinae) consists of small katydids, a newer branch within the Tettigoniidae family. It includes seven species, mostly found in Australia. Unlike other katydid subfamilies, this group is considered a distinct lineage with its own unique traits.

Stick katydid (Phasmodinae) is characterized by its slender appearance like the stick grasshopper. Members of this group are native to Australia.

Lipotactinae is a small group of Asian bush crickets or katydids found in Malesia, southern China, and Indo-China.

Tympanophorinae, which mainly resides in Australia, includes the unique genus Tympanophora. Commonly known as balloon-winged bush crickets, Tympanophora is the only currently existing genus in this subfamily.

Predatory katydid (Saginae) or predatory bush-cricket is mostly found in west and central Asia, southern Africa, and Europe. Species in the group are specialist carnivores, which is rare for their kind. They have evolved with specialized digestive systems, powerful, spiny front legs, and large, sharp jaws ideal for a predatory lifestyle. These large insects can grow over 50 mm in length.

Armored katydid or corn cricket (Hetrodinae) has a rugged body, resembling armor. These species are native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.  

Meconematinae can be found all over the world, although they are not commonly in Antarctica and North America. This subfamily contains around 200 species.

Bradyporinae are mostly distributed in North Africa, Europe, and temperate/subtropical Asia.  Its main tribes are Ephippigerini, Bradyporini, and Zichyini.

Pterochrozinae, commonly known as “leaf-mimic katydids,” are found throughout Central and South America. Initially classified within the Pseudophyllinae subfamily, these insects are notable for their remarkable leaf-like appearance. They are a distinctive group within the Neotropical region, perfectly adapted to blend in with their leafy surroundings.

Tettigoniinae includes hundreds of species spread across Australia, Europe—particularly around the Mediterranean—, southern Africa, the Americas, and the Near East. Known as shield-backed katydids or predaceous katydids, members of this group might feed on plants, scavenge dead insects, or even prey on other katydids. Among them are the Mormon crickets, a notable flightless species of shield-backed katydid that can travel long distances and potentially harm agriculture.

Mecopodinae, often known as the long-legged katydids, has a leaf-like appearance. They are found across Asia, western South America, and sub-Saharan Africa. In Asia, their range extends from India and Indochina to Japan, the Philippines, and Malesia, reaching as far as Papua New Guinea, Australasia, and numerous Pacific islands.

Hexacentrinae are a group of predatory bush crickets. Their main genus, Hexacentrus, is often referred to as “balloon-winged” katydids. This group is particularly diverse and can be found across Africa and Asia.

Phyllophorinae subfamily is found from East Malesia to Australia and has also been recorded in Sri Lanka. A standout in this group is the Siliquofera grandis, a big bush cricket that ranges from 10.7 to 13 cm in length, with a wingspan of 25 to 27 cm and weighing over 30 grams.

Listroscelidinae lives in the Americas, Madagascar, and Australia. They are predatory insects with large jaws and long leg spines, which help them catch prey. They are commonly found in pristine areas near water, especially within Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.

Zaprochilinae subfamily, native to Australia, is renowned for its unique twig-mimicking behavior. This adaptation allows them to blend seamlessly into their surroundings.

Habitat

Katydid insects are found all around the world, except in Antarctica. Each species has its own preferred habitat. For instance, the common field katydid thrives in meadows and fields with tall grass, while others might be spotted in the lush Amazon Rainforest.

These bush crickets also live in parks, forests, gardens, and woods, wherever there’s plenty of tall grass or dense vegetation. They like to stay hidden among large grass clumps or climb plants to blend into their surroundings and escape predators. 

They make sound through wings

Just like crickets, katydids are known for their distinctive sounds. Unlike cicadas, which are heard only during the day, katydids make high-pitched chirping noises at night, especially during summer. These insects create a loud, rasping series of two to four notes. Many people say it noises like they’re repeating their own name, mimicking the sounds “ka-ty-did” or just “ka-ty.”

Bush crickets make their distinctive sounds by rubbing their forewings together. Typically, only the males produce these sounds, while females are usually silent. Each species has a unique song. For example, the common true katydid, found in the eastern half of North America, is particularly known for its rasping melody.

The songs that these insects make can be for mating, marking territory, showing aggression, or defending themselves. In some species, particularly those in the Phaneropterinae subfamily, females respond to male songs with ticking sounds, creating a kind of musical duet.

Besides the sounds, they also communicate by sending vibrations. Males do this by shaking their abdomens while perched on branches. This action creates vibrations that travel through the plant, which other katydids can pick up and understand.

However, the wind can sometimes interfere with the way katydids communicate through vibrations, as it causes similar vibrations in the plants around them. To avoid this, the males typically choose to send their signals in the early morning when the wind is quieter. This timing helps ensure that their messages about location and their quality are clearly transmitted and received by potential mates and rivals, without being drowned out by the wind.

Diet

Katydids are mostly herbivorous insects, enjoying a diet that includes seeds, leaves, fruits, nectar, and pollen. They often eat plants like hypericum, oak, hazel, bramble, and butterfly bush. Other species are carnivorous, eating small insects and their eggs. Different species have their own preferred foods. For example, the gum leaf katydid strictly eats eucalyptus leaves. The common garden katydid, on the other hand, consumes foods like young nectar, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, pollen, and even insects.

Despite their appetite, katydids usually don’t cause much harm to crops or decorative plants, as they only nibble on leaves and flowers lightly. They are often seen as beneficial because they help pollinate some flowers.

Predators and defense mechanism

Katydids have several predators like spiders, bats, birds, frogs, lizards, predatory insects, or small rodents. They also face threats from parasites such as the lethal Tachinid fly (Ormia lineifrons), various wasps and flies, nematode, and horsehair worms. Horsehair worms can infect many insects, including katydids, influencing their behavior to make them jump into the water, where the worms can then emerge and reproduce. If you want to know about this parasite, here is information about the horsehair worm.

To protect themselves, katydids have developed several strategies. They use camouflage to blend in, display warning colors to deter predators, emit bad smells, grow sharp spines, and adopt specific behaviors to avoid enemies.

These insects blend in with their surroundings using their colors and postures to look like leaves or even dead leaves, tricking predators. Some have sharp spines for extra protection. Others show off bright colors and spots on their wings or abdomen when threatened, mimicking eyes to startle predators. For instance, the mountain katydid lifts its wings to display warning colors on its abdomen. If that doesn’t work, they might release bitter liquids or regurgitate substances that taste bad to deter predators further.

Moreover, these bugs have developed clever ways to communicate without catching the attention of predators. For example, male Docidocercus gigliotosi katydids can hide their mating calls from bats at night. They do this by sending vibrations through plants, which only the females can sense. Some katydids also use short bursts of song combined with these vibrations to stay under the radar of bats.

While these tactics are great for avoiding predators, they, unfortunately, don’t protect katydids from parasites.

They are not dangerous

Katydids are gentle and not dangerous to humans or pets. These insects are harmless most of the time. If they feel threatened, they might bite, but it feels about as mild as a mosquito bite and isn’t poisonous. They can also be beneficial in gardens because some species eat smaller insects that damage plants, naturally keeping pests under control. These species are even kept as pets. If you’re interested, here are 5 small tips to keep katydids as pets.

Life cycle

Katydids are nocturnal. They typically come out and begin their mating song during the summer. Females pick their partners based on the sounds of the males’ calls, and they usually mate just once. The design and size of a male’s wings are crucial because they affect how well his mating call reaches the female. Males make these calls to show off the quality of their territory.

 During mating, the male gives the female a special gel-like gift called a spermatophylax, which may help prevent other males from mating with her and also seems to boost her lifespan and the number of eggs she can lay. After mating, the female loses interest in further mating and actively avoids other males. She then uses her flat, curved ovipositor at the end of her abdomen to lay eggs in plant stems or bark.

These eggs are laid in late summer or early fall, remain dormant through the winter, and hatch into nymphs by late spring. These wingless young go through several molts as they grow, shedding their outer shells until they develop wings and become adults. Once they become adults, these species spend their days blending into plants and treetops and find mates at night. Typically, adult katydids don’t survive the winter, living for about a year. However, in tropical climates, the lifespan of katydid can last for several years, and they might produce 2 generations each year.