Katydids are one of nature’s most intriguing mimics, with appearances that can deceive even the keenest eyes. In this article, we’ll introduce you to 21 distinct types of katydids, each showcasing its unique adaptations and vibrant personalities. From the leaf-like wings of the common true katydid to the striking colors of the conehead katydid, get ready to meet the masters of disguise in the insect world.
Table of Contents
Red eyed devil katydid (Neobarrettia spinosa)
The first type of katydid is the red-eyed devil katydid, also known as the greater arid-land katydid or giant Texas katydid. This insect is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This large katydid measures about 3.5 to 4 inches long and sports a striking green and yellow color with bright red eyes. It’s carnivorous, hunting down grasshoppers, other katydids, caterpillars, and even small frogs and lizards. Here are some fascinating facts about the red-eyed devil katydid you might want to know.
Angle-wing katydid (Microcentrum)
The angle-wing katydid is a genus of the subfamily Phaneropterinae false katydid. This subfamily is also called by different names like the leaf katydid, round-headed katydid, or sickle-bearing bush cricket. The Mcrocentrum genus comprised about 36 species. Here are some of them:
Broad winged katydid (Microcentrum rhombifolium)
The broad-winged katydid, also known as the greater angle-wing katydid or the angular-winged katydid, is a large, green insect commonly found throughout North America. It’s especially notable in Colorado, where its distinctive clicks can be heard in trees and shrubs during the late summer. This katydid is one of about 18 similar species in the state, known for their long hind legs that are perfect for jumping and their rhombus-shaped, angular bodies.
Both males and females of this species can make sounds. Males are known for their loud “lisps” and “ticks” created by rubbing parts of their wings together, while females produce a softer clicking or rustling noise. The eggs of the broad-winged katydid are unique too; they lay them in loose double rows on twigs or leaf midribs, and they look a bit like fish scales.
California angle-wing katydid (Microcentrum californicum)
The California angle-winged katydid is native to North America, mainly found in California and Arizona. It closely resembles another species of katydid in appearance.
Lesser angle-wing katydid (Microcentrum retinerve)
The lesser angle-winged katydid is a North American katydid notable for its unique brown stridulatory field. Smaller than its relative, the Greater Angle-wing, this species produces a distinct sound—a rapid, 3–5-pulse rattle followed by brief silences. Commonly found across the southeastern United States, it can be heard singing from high up in trees or seen perched at the tips of branches.
Spiny devil katydid (Panacanthus)
Panacanthus is a group of conehead katydids living in the forests of northwestern South America and Panama, spanning regions like the western Amazon, the Chocó, and the Magdalena River Valley. These nocturnal insects, also known as spiny devil katydids, feature a distinctive horn-like projection on their heads and range in size from 2.5 to 7 cm (1.0 to 2.8 inches), not including the female’s ovipositor. Their bodies and six spiny legs, which they use for defense and catching prey, help them blend into the leafy tropical surroundings thanks to their unique green color.
The genus Panacanthus includes several species, some of which are not well-studied. The known species are Panacanthus cuspidatus, P. pallicornis, P. intensus, P. lacrimans, P. gibbosus, P. spinosus, and P. varius.
Shield-backed katydid (Steiroxys strepens)
The shield-backed katydid, also known as the noisy shieldback, is a flightless insect native to North America, specifically found in a small area on southern Vancouver Island. There have been fewer than ten sightings of this species. Belonging to the Tettigoniinae subfamily within the Orthoptera order, the insect is noted for its loud behavior and the unique shield-like structure on its back.
Giant katydid (Stilpnochlora couloniana)
The giant katydid, belonging to the Phaneropterine group of false katydids, is native to the southeastern United States (specifically in Florida and Georgia), the Bahamas, and Cuba. It holds the title of the largest katydid in the United States, with adult males averaging 6.6 cm (2.6 in) in length and females reaching up to 7.8 cm (3.1 in). Interestingly, individuals from Cuba are typically 5-10% larger than their U.S. counterparts.
Adults boast a vibrant range of green from lime to dark, complemented by brown eyes. Their wings, which gloss over and extend well beyond their abdomens, mimic the look of a glossy leaf. The nymphs display a lighter green hue adorned with dark brown markings on their backs and legs.
These giants are usually calm and often remain still at first before jumping or flying away. Their nymphs, however, are more likely to jump at even small disturbances. These nocturnal species, with its unique look and generally gentle behavior, is often kept as a pet.
Pink katydid (Amblycorypha oblongifolia)
The pink katydid is a unique color form of the typically green oblong-winged katydid. This unusual pink color comes from a genetic mutation that boosts red or pink pigments in the katydid’s body. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that this pink trait is actually dominant over the common green. When pink and green katydids mate, about half of their offspring turn out pink. Despite being genetically dominant, pink katydids are rare in the wild, mostly found in a few places like southern Louisiana and parts of Wisconsin and Illinois. Their scarcity is likely due to their bright color, which makes them easier targets for predators, unlike their green counterparts who blend in better with their surroundings.
Eastern shieldback katydid (Atlanticus)
The Atlanticus eastern shieldback katydid is found across North America and eastern Asia, with about 59 known species. Common types in the eastern United States and Canada include the American shieldback, Davis’s shieldback, robust shieldback, least shieldback, and protean shieldback.
These katydids are easily recognized by their rounded, shield-like upper body and their lack of wings, which means they can’t fly. Instead, they have long legs that are perfect for jumping. Their mottled brown coloring helps them blend into leaf litter and dead vegetation, making them excellent at camouflage. Eastern shieldback katydids are predators, using their strong jaws to catch and eat other insects.
Horn katydid (Copiphora rhinoceros)
The horn katydid, or rhinoceros katydid, is a unique insect recognized by the distinctive horn on its head, which it uses to fend off predators like bats. It lives in the rainforests of Central America, including places like Costa Rica. This katydid is an omnivore, eating both plants and other animals, thanks to its strong jaws that can easily capture prey.
Common true katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia)
The common true katydid is a native insect of North America, often found in the tree canopies of deciduous forests where it feeds on leaves. This insect can grow up to 50 mm long. Their long, thin antennae, which can be as long as their body, set them apart from grasshoppers. With wings that mimic the look of leaves, the common true katydid is a master of disguise, blending seamlessly into its leafy home.
This bush cricket is mostly grounded, preferring to walk, run, or hop rather than fly. Males are known for their loud, rasping song that repeats “ka-ty-did,” helping them stand out despite their camouflaged appearance. Here are some interesting facts about the common true katydid.
Giant Malaysian katydid (Arachnacris corporalis)
The giant Malaysia katydid is a large insect native to Malaysia’s tropical forests. It’s one of the largest in its region, measuring up to 15 cm long. This katydid is notable for its striking green color, long legs, and antennae. It mainly eats plants, but occasionally it might snack on smaller insects too.
Conehead (Conocephalus)
Conocephalus is a genus of bush crickets, commonly known as coneheads. These insects are found all over the world, including in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. There are more than 60 known species of coneheads, and scientists are still discovering more.
Coneheads are typically small and slender with a mostly green face. They vary in size, ranging from 10 to 27 mm long. Their forewings also differ among species—some have short forewings, others usually have short wings but can occasionally be longer than their abdomen, and some consistently have long forewings.
Short-winged meadow katydid (Conocephalus brevipennis)
The short-winged meadow katydid is a small insect, about half to three-quarters of an inch long, commonly found across Illinois. It thrives in diverse environments such as tall grasses, sedges, woodland edges, weedy jungles with damp soil, and near streams and marshes.
This species features a stout body colored in shades of brown and green, with a yellow-orange back section on its abdomen. Its wings, which cover over half of the abdomen, and its femur, marked by two brown stripes flanking a green space, are distinctive traits.
This insect is omnivores. Their diet mainly consists of foliage and flowers, but they also consume seeds, especially in autumn, and occasionally other insects like aphids.
Slender meadow katydid (Slender meadow katydid)
The slender meadow katydid is a small insect, typically measuring between three-fourths and one inch long. It features long wings and a distinctive green tip on its abdomen. This species is common across North America, found everywhere from the United States to southern Canada. It lives in a variety of settings including fields, prairies, meadows, and the edges of wetlands, where it primarily feeds on grasses and their seeds. The Katydid’s gentle song is a mix of soft ticks and buzzes.
Straight-lanced meadow katydid (Conocephalus strictus)
The straight-lanced meadow katydid is native to North America, found from central Arizona to southern Montana, and from southern New York to southern Georgia in the U.S. It also appears in parts of Canada and Mexico This species is notable for the females’ unusually long ovipositor, which is longer than their body, and the males’ extended cerci. They primarily feed on grasses and favor habitats like grassy old fields, open, short-grassed areas near roadsides, and dry grasslands.
This type of katydid is the largest species in the Conocephalus genus. Compared to other meadow species, it stands out with its dark green color and distinctive reddish-brown stripe. This species is known for its soft, pulsating purr, which ranges from 10 to 20 kHz and can be heard throughout the year, peaking in late summer.
Dragon-headed katydid (Lesina)
The dragon-headed katydid is a genus of bush crickets, found in tropical Asia, including places like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Borneo. These katydids are often confused with the African genus Acridoxena due to their similar appearance.
Characterized by their unique “dragon-headed” look, they have large, angular heads and spines that extend from their thorax. These species can stretch their legs up to about 10 centimeters. Dragon-headed katydids are versatile omnivores, eating insects, leaves, soft fruits, and other plant materials. These gentle species live in trees and emit a high-pitched, sharp call.
Orchelimum
The genus Orchelimum is known as “greater meadow katydids” because of their sturdy, robust bodies, which are larger than the slimmer “lesser katydids” from the Conocephalus genus. Found throughout North America, these katydids usually have a green or brown coloring that camouflages them in their grassy meadow environments. They feature long, thin legs and wings that stretch beyond their abdomens. The genus Orchelimum has 21 known species, such as:
Lesser pine meadow katydid (Orchelimum minor)
The lesser pine katydid is easy to spot with its orange eyes and legs, green body, reddish brown back, and hints of yellow on its abdomen. With this look, it blends in well with pine needles and cones when resting. This species makes high-pitched sounds that are evenly spaced and last about a second each. These sounds are tough to catch because they’re between 10 to 20 kHz.
You’ll find this insect in North America, mainly in the southeastern part of the United States, from New Jersey to Central Florida and west to Mississippi. It lives in pine trees, especially in pine barrens.
Black-legged meadow katydid (Orchelimum nigripes)
The black-legged meadow katydid is easy to spot with its blue-green body, red eyes, and long black legs, making it one of the more vivid katydids around. You’ll find them in moist places like wetlands, pond edges, and wet meadows, mainly in the central United States and near the Potomac River. This species is a close relative of the Handsome Meadow Katydid, though it’s typically found west of the Appalachian Mountains.
The males make a unique sound—quick “tics” followed by a loud, buzzing trill that you can hear clearly. They mostly eat grasses and occasionally nibble on garden plants, but they rarely cause any serious damage.
Common meadow katydid (Orchelimum vulgare)
The common meadow katydid is a widespread species. You can find it across the US, from fields to low meadows. Its deep green body and pale brown legs help it blend seamlessly into grassy environments. Typically, it measures between 30-35 mm in length. Not only is this katydid a vivid presence visually, but also audibly. It’s known for its loud, daytime songs, which feature long buzzes and sharp “zips.” They feed on leaves, aphids, and other insects, with some plant material in their diet.
Lichen katydid (Markia hystrix)
The lichen katydid is a small species, measuring no longer than an inch. It’s a master of camouflage, blending in perfectly with lichen to avoid predators. Its body, adorned with green hues and delicate, spindly extensions, mimics the look of lichen flawlessly. This katydid is found in the forests of Queensland, Australia, Costa Rica, and Ecuador. Like many species, it faces the risk of extinction from habitat loss. The lichen katydid is nocturnal and likely lives high in the forest canopy where lichen thrives.
Hawai’i rainforest katydid (Banza nitida)
The Hawai’i rainforest katydid is a unique conehead katydid species native to the Big Island of Hawai’i. Found only in the island’s native forests, it thrives in the moist rainforests on the east side, known as the windward side. This species, now considered rare, was once more widespread, inhabiting areas near Kona, Kohala, and along the Stainback Highway near Hilo.
This katydid is easily recognized by its green and brown colors and uniformly green antennae. It measures about 20mm in width, blending seamlessly into its lush, green environment.
Bush katydid (Scudderia)
The Scudderia genus, also known as bush katydids, belongs to the Phaneropterinae subfamily. These katydids are typically 30–38 mm long and are native to North America, reaching as far north as Southern Canada. They are herbivores, with younger nymphs mainly eating flowers and adult katydids feeding on woody deciduous plants.
Mexican bush katydid (Scudderia mexicana)
The Mexican bush katydid, measuring about 30-38 mm in length, features slender wings and a distinctive long Y-shaped horn used in battles between males. These nocturnal insects have nymphs with a small horn between their antennae. They primarily feed on leaves, such as those from the big-leaf mahogany, and are also drawn to the sap of flowers like buckwheat and sweet fruits.
Curve-tailed bush katydid (Scudderia curvicauda)
The Curve-tailed Bush Katydid is a widespread species throughout North America, commonly seen in every county of northeastern Ohio. It prefers diverse habitats like shrubby zones, meadows, wetlands, and the edges of woodlands, often settling in thick, weedy fields and forest borders.
Sporting a vibrant green body and rosy-pink hind legs, this katydid stands out for its slightly longer and slenderer wings compared to its cousin, the broad-winged bush katydid. The females are easily identifiable by their distinctively curved ovipositors, which inspire the species’ name.
Males of the species are known for their unique song, a sequence of “tsit-tsit (pause) tsit-tsit-tsit (pause)” with a crescendo that peaks at the final, loudest “tsit.” They are most vocal in the afternoons and throughout the night until the weather gets cold.
Fork-tailed bush katydid (Scudderia furcata)
This insect is commonly found throughout the United States and southern Canada. Measuring between 1.4 to 1.6 inches, this katydid sports a green body with splashes of red, yellow, black, purple, brown, and white. Active from July to October, it thrives in environments with tall grasses, trees, flowers, and shrubs, feeding on various plants. While generally harmless, it can become a pest in citrus groves when present in large numbers, as it damages fruit by nibbling on the rind.
Northern bush katydid (Scudderia septentrionalis)
The northern bush katydid is smaller and more compact than other katydids in its genus, featuring rounded wings and a subtler tail plate. Unlike its relatives, which are often found in meadows, this species prefers the solitude of tree canopies and is active at night. It’s a rare sight, mostly spotted in Ohio’s Geauga, Lake, Summit, and Ashtabula counties.
Its song, though intricate with a series of soft ticks and rapid, lispy buzzes, is quite high-pitched and hard to detect. However, you might have a better chance of spotting these elusive katydids as they are drawn to artificial lights, such as those on porches or garages, or near moth sheets after dark.
Texas bushkatydid (Scudderia texensis)
The Texas bush katydid is a widespread species found throughout the eastern United States and parts of Canada. It thrives in grasslands, deciduous forests, and shrublands, often in weedy fields and along roadsides. This katydid usually clings to tall grasses and sedges. Male Texas bush katydids are known for their four unique sounds, three of which are made when they’re alone, while virgin females produce a distinctive “lisping” sound.
Armored katydid (Acanthoplus discoidalis)
The armored katydid is a common sight in several African countries, including Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. This insect is notable for its tough, spiky exoskeleton. It can grow to about 5 cm long. The insect is an omnivore, eating a wide range of foods. It often gathers in corn and sorghum fields during the growing season, where it is considered a pest because of the damage it does to crops.
The armored katydids have strong jaws and long antennae, which they use to defend themselves from predators. When they feel threatened, they can bite, make noise by rubbing parts of their body together (a process called stridulation), or squirt a defensive fluid similar to blood, known as haemolymph. These katydids are unable to fly and are typically found in deserts and savannahs.
Drumming katydid (Meconema thalassinum)
The next type of katydid is the drumming katydid, also known as the oak bush cricket. It is a small, sea-green insect native to Europe and now found in the United States. This species stands out for its long wings and unique drumming behavior, where males tap their hind feet on leaves to produce subtle noises. These sounds, almost inaudible, can travel up to 12 feet in the right conditions to attract females.
Unlike other bush crickets, the drumming katydid mainly eats smaller invertebrates such as larvae and caterpillars. Typically found in trees and lush vegetation, this species is active from July to October and produces one generation each year.
Mediterranean katydid (Phaneroptera nana)
The Mediterranean katydid, native to mainland Europe, the Near East, and North Africa, has now become an invasive species in parts of North America, including California and the San Francisco Bay Area. Adult males of this species grow up to 13-15 mm in length, while females are slightly larger, ranging from 15-18 mm. They are primarily light green and speckled with many small black spots.
These katydids pose a threat to agriculture, particularly pear orchards where they feed on unripe pears. They have also been known to eat the pupae of the grape berry moth, further impacting grape cultivation.
Sooty longwing (Capnobotes fuliginosus)
This type of katydid is a large species that is native to the western United States and Mexico. It has a size of up to three inches from tip to tip of its narrow, diagonally marked wings. The wings are brownish-gray, with the hindwings being a darker, almost black shade. This katydid is omnivorous, eating both plants and insects, including grasshopper nymphs and adults.
The sooty longwing is known for its loud, shrill song, especially active during hot nights. It is often attacked by the Palmodes praestans wasp.
Small hooded katydid (Phyllophorella queenslandica)
The last type of katydid on our list is the Phyllophorella queenslandica. The small hooded katydid, also known as the Queensland small hooded katydid, is native to the tropical rainforests of eastern Australia. This species is small and has a unique hooded look that allows it to blend seamlessly into the rainforest foliage. Although it’s a common sight in its habitat, the katydid’s exceptional camouflage makes it hard to spot.
