Meet the pink katydid, a rare and remarkable deviation from the typical green of the species. Though their bright coloration might seem like a disadvantage in the wild, pink katydids still find their ways to survive in nature. In this article, we’ll explore how these extraordinary creatures challenge the norms of their species and their adaptability and evolution in the natural world.
Scientific name: Amblycorypha oblongifolia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Ensifera
Family: Tettigoniidae
Subfamily: Phaneropterinae
Genus: Amblycorypha
The pink katydid appearance
The pink katydid is a color morph of the oblong-winged katydid. This type of katydid belongs to the subfamily Phaneropterinae or false katydids because they don’t make the classic “katy did, katy didn’t” sound. Instead, it makes a unique sound that sounds like “tsee-didit” or “itzic.” You can hear this short, two-part “zeee-dik!” call every few seconds at around 9 kHz.
This species stands out for its ability to mimic leaves, featuring round heads and short bodies that contrast with their long, elegant wings. It’s the largest of the round-headed katydids, characterized by an oval head that smoothly curves backward and a flat face with oval-shaped eyes.
Besides the pink color, this species also comes in various shades like green, pink, dark tan, tan, or orange. Green is the most frequently seen, with pink and tan being less common and dark tan or orange quite rare. These colors are determined by genetics and do not change throughout the insect’s life.
The katydid has a size of about 42 to 52 mm in length. Its antennae are long, slender, and segmented, set high and widely spaced on their faces. The pronotum is smooth, missing the typical small dark spots on each side, and features a pronounced dip at the rear upper corner of its lateral lobe.
Habitat
The oblong-winged katydid is commonly found in damp, leafy environments such as the understories of deciduous forests and along the edges of thickets. It thrives on trees, shrubs, and tall weeds, particularly favoring goldenrod and similar plants near fences and woodland edges. This species also inhabits somewhat open woodlands, wetlands, and sometimes meadows.
This species is widespread across the eastern United States, reaching west to the Great Plains. However, it is not found in southeastern Georgia and most of Florida. Its range extends north into the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, covering the northeastern U.S. and the Midwest. In Missouri, this katydid is especially prevalent in native tallgrass prairies during the summer, where you can see the pink katydids of this species.
Diet
The katydid mainly eats leaves, but it doesn’t cause much harm to the plants it feeds on. Its mouthparts, including sharp mandibles with a grinding surface called a mola, are perfect for cutting and chewing leaves. Its main predators include birds, bats, and rodents.
Life cycle
The oblong-winged katydid has a unique life cycle. The female of this species doesn’t lay eggs on trees like other katydid species. It lays its eggs in the soil instead, and these can take over two years to hatch, with the timing varying by location. In captivity, male katydids from the same group tend to hatch before the females. When they first emerge, the nymphs look like miniature versions of the adults but with rounder abdomens and without wings or distinct male or female features. Over about two months, they go through several molts, developing wing pads that eventually turn into full wings as they approach sexual maturity. Once mature, their lifespan lasts for about 4 to 6 months. Its active season runs from late July to September, sometimes stretching into October if the fall weather allows.
