Probably Fork-Tailed Bush Katydid

bugman

November 21st, 2010 at 10:45 am

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Scudderia Furcata Katydid female
Location: Vancouver, Washington
November 21, 2010 12:05 am
I recently sent a letter to you asking the specific species of a little Katydid from the northwestern U.S about a week ago, probably on veterans day.
Well, I researched a little for myself and figured she was a scudderia furcata, as she matches that most.
The little gal is a veteran herself; having lost her two rearmost legs. I found her outside on my porch, and she didn’t fuss at all when I caught her in a little container.
Now she’s in a little terrarium, filled with moss, sticks, and an abundant amount of food. She seems happy enough without her legs; but one inquiry I haven’t been able to find the answer to is whether or not her legs will grow back.
I’m attaching as many of the good photos I have of her as I can. I hope you will publish this, and fast, because it’s not a research piece. I’m also hoping that she’ll lay eggs every time her ovipositor shifts down to let her poo, but then again that’s just a hope.
By the way; I’ve named her Kekoa. A friend told me it means ’Little Brave One’.
Signature: Sincerely, Kaetlin the bug fanatic

Bush Katydid

Hi Kaetlin,
We believe your identification of a Fork-Tailed Bush Katydid is correct, though we would not entirely discount another member is the genus as several other species may be found in your area according to BugGuide’s data. Kekoa’s legs will not grow back. Leg regeneration is unusual in insects, though some spiders are able to regenerate missing limbs if they are young. The new limb will grow with each new molt. As an adult, Kekoa will not molt again, so her legs will not regenerate.

Bush Katydid

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Comments 1

Kaetie wrote:
Thank you for replying so quickly so my questions, it’s both a relief and saddening to hear that her legs won’t grow back. I’d been wondering about whether they would or not since I noticed them missing. It is a relief because now I feel a bit proud to have caught her from the outside, where I think she might not have lasted long without them. Saddening, because now I won’t feel right about releasing her because they’d have grown back.
I’ also seen the scudder’s bush katydid on Bugguide before, she looked very similar to them as well. It’s nice to know I did my research well. If I take pictures of her in the future that turn out as well as the ones you posted here did, I’ll be sure to send them to you. Especially if they have her doing unusual things, or laying eggs!
(I hope she does lay them, I’ve no clue whether or not she will)
Posted 21 Nov 2010 at 2:23 pm ¶

Trackbacks & Pingbacks 2

From UPDATE on Kekoa: Captive Katydid Lays Eggs | What's That Bug? on 03 Dec 2010 at 11:54 pm ¶
[...] would come into contact with the leaf. We cannot find your response that you were sad that Kekoa’s jumping legs would not grow back. We will post your egg photos, which just arrived while we were working, in the near future. [...]
From Kekoa the Katydid: Died in captivity | What's That Bug? on 02 Jan 2011 at 2:38 pm ¶
[...] to see her go, but her role in life was done, and I’m proud to have helped her live it through Found her on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11th She laid eggs on Nov. 23rd through 27th (more here: She laid eggs on Nov. 23rd through 27th) [...]

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