Bug in Florida
Location: NW Florida
July 8, 2011 6:37 pm
looked like a grasshopper but with a tail. When approached it antenna went wide. When placed on ground it scurried but did not hop. Dogs have been digging in yard lately, it is unusual behavior for them. Could they be digging these up and eating them? If they are eating them are they toxic? I also have kids and wonder if they pose any danger?
Signature: Theresa Lawson

Eastern Shieldback Katydid

Hi Theresa,
This is an Eastern Shieldback Katydid in the genus Atlanticus, which we identified on BugGuide and she is a female as evidenced by her long ovipositor which you have called a tail.  BugGuide states that they are “Said to be strong biters” however, they do not possess any venom, and it is questionable that a bite would even draw blood.  They are not a toxic species, so you don’t need to fear for your dogs’ health should they happen to eat them, nor do you need to have anything to fear if your children eat them.  Many members of the insect order Orthoptera, which includes Katydids, are considered valuable food sources in areas of the world that do not find entomophagy to be repulsive.  There is a movement afoot of late to educate the public on the nutritional value of insects, and David Gracer, a noted expert in the area of entomophagy, frequently notifies us when we post images of insects that are consumed in various parts of the world.  We are going to go out on a limb and tag this as an Edible Insect, and we will copy David Gracer on this response so that he can provide his input.

Hi Daniel and Theresa,
Your tagging of this insect is correct; like just about all North American Orthoptera [I don't know of any exceptions], this species would be entirely edible for dogs or people.  I’ve tried katydids from Florida, as well as lubber grasshoppers; the latter are gamey and not entirely pleasant to eat, but katydids are generally quite tasty [though they spoil very quickly, so they must be fresh].
I’m making good progress on securing a commercial source of processed katydids from Uganda; they are are called Nsenene there, are in the genus Ruspolia, and are quite similar to the American genus Neoconocephalus.  They’re totally delicious, and I’ll make an official announcement on WTB when they are in.
Best,
Dave
www.smallstockfoods.com

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what is it
Location: Southern France
June 30, 2011 3:36 pm
saw this bug in the bedroom, would be interested to know what it is.
Signature: Dave

Shieldback Katydid

Hi Dave,
This is a male Shieldback Katydid, and we believe it is in the genus Ephippiger.  We will try to get additional information.

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Any ideas?
Location: Costa Rica – Manuel Antonio
June 23, 2011 1:18 pm
Hello,
My fiancée and I were on a tour of Manuel Antonio park on the Pacific side of Costa Rica this June. At the start of the tour I felt something with some size on my bare leg and spastically kicked it off. What landed on the ground was first identified as a spider, then quickly a grasshopper, then soon nothing they had quite seen. The guides took some quick cell phone pictures and I took the attached. I’d say it’s boday was about 1.5 inches.
Any ideas?
Signature: Thanks, Seth

Sylvan Katydid

Dear Seth,
This is not a Grasshopper.  It is a Katydid, most likely a Shieldbacked Katydid.  We will contact Piotr Naskrecki, a Katydid expert from Harvard, to see if he is able to supply a species identification.

Piotr Naskrecki makes correction
Hi Daniel,
Not a shieldback (Costa Rica doesn’t have any), but a sylvan katydid (Pseudophyllinae). This is a female nymph of Balboana tibialis, a large, lowland forest species that is sometimes attracted to lights.
Cheers,
Piotr

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What is this?
Location: Santa Barbara, California
April 30, 2011 8:38 pm
This insect was on a poppy in my garden in Santa Barbara, California, USA. Do you know what it is?
Signature: Joan

Bush Katydid Nymph

Hi Joan,
This is a very young nymph of one of the Bush Katydids in the genus Scudderia, most likely the Fork Tailed Bush Katydid, Scudderia furcata.  You can compare your image to this photo from BugGuide.  The striped antennae of the nymphs are quite distinctive and adults are green, well camouflaged insects that resemble Grasshoppers but with long antennae.  General information on the genus can be found on bugGuide.  Katydids feed on foliage and flowers, but they are generally not plentiful enough to do major damage.  In our own Southern California garden, adults have a fondness for eating the petals on red roses, and we tolerate this since one of the reasons we plant flowers is to attract insects.

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