|
|
Truncated True Katydid
(07/07/2008) On the road again
Hi
Driving through the Texas hill country last year these
guys were walking across the road.
They were all over the place but walking. He stopped in his
tracks when I got within 4 feet.
I'd guess he is about 3 inches long. I used the zoom feature
on my camera not wanting to get any closer. LOL
Wesley O'Rear
Hi Wesley,
Last year there was a significant mass emergence of the Truncated
True Katydid, Paracyrtophyllus robustus, in this pink/brown
variation in Texas. This species is most often green. Before we realized your spectacular photo was a year old, we thought there might be another mass emergence.You
can see more on BugGuide. He is a she as evidenced by her swordlike ovipositor.
Ed. Note: (07/07/2008) We have
just spent about two hours updating the Katydid
2 page based on corrections and identifications sent to
us from Piotr
Naskrecki, Director of the Invertebrate Diversity Initiative
of Conservation International and Research Associate with
the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University.
Katydid IDs
(07/03/2008)Katydid ID's
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and
thought I could help with some ID's. From top to bottom they
are: [there was a very long list here] Incidentally, it would
make it a much easier job for people who know what these things
are if each entry had an e-mail link "Identify this insect".
Alternatively, each entry should have a unique code (e.g.,
Katydid_002, Grasshopper_125 etc.) to make it easier for people
to refer to a particular image. Otherwise a great site, keep
up the good job. Cheers,
Piotr
Female
Conehead
(06/30/2008) WHOA! Weird bug!
Hey Bugman! I live in Tampa, Florida. The other day I was
in my backyard the other day at night with some friends. Suddenly
my friend screams and yells that something smacked her face!
I shined the light on her face and suddenly I realized that
there was this bug just chilling on the side of her face!
Of course, me being the animal and bug lover I am, I snatch
it off her face before she smooshed it and took a quick picture
of it to send to you. I looked in my florida wildlife book
and didnt see anything that looked like this. Can you identify
it? P.S. It was safely released and flew away. Thanks!
Cammy P.
Hi Cammy,
This appears to be a female Common Conehead, probably in the
genus Neoconocephalus as evidenced by images on BugGuide,
though females with their swordlike ovipositors are underrepresented
on the site.
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Florida conehead - Bucrates malivolans
Unknown
Female Longhorned Orthopteran from Dominican Republic is Polyancistrus
loripes
(06/29/2008) What kind of bug is this?
Hello Bugman!
Me and my family went on vacation to the mountains this weekend.
The kids found this beautiful specimen while playing in the
backyard. I was wondering if you could identify it for us
(and maybe point us to more pictures of the same species in
the Internet). We live in the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean.
This bug was found at 4,000 feet high playing in the grass
among the pine trees. Is the color red normal from this area?
Is the back horn used to sting? Is this a male or female variety?
Where can we find more pics and info on this bug? Cheers,
Alberich
hi Alberich,
We are going to start guessing here. We know that this is
a member of the order Orthoptera that contains crickets, grasshoppers
and katydids. We believe it is in the suborder Ensifera, the
Longhorned Orthopterans. It might be a Shield Backed Katydid
in the subfamily Tettigoniinae, or a Spiny Predatory Katydid
in the subfamily Subfamily Listroscelidinae, or perhaps some
other group found in the tropics but not in the U.S.A. She
is a female, as evidenced by her long, swordlike ovipositor.
At any rate, she is magnificent. Often it is difficult to
get a positive identification on tropical species because
of limited information available online. We will post your
photo and hopefully get an answer.
Update: (07/03/2008 Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Dominican Republic Polyancistrine
- Polyancistrus loripes
Sooty
Longwing
(05/30/2008) Male Ensifera???
Well I believe this is of the suborder Ensifera but I'm afraid
I can't even identify it to family. It was found in
the Tinajas Altas mountain range in Yuma county Arizona singing
in an Ironwood at night. Any help in identification
would be appreciated. Thank You
Scott Trageser
Hi Scott,
We believe that by using BugGuide,
we have identified your Katydid as a Sooty Longwing, Capnobotes
fulginosus. It is a Shield-backed Katydid, subfamily Tettigoniinae,
native to the American Southwest.
Pink Katydid Nymph
(05/05/2008) pink insect
Hi,
Can you identify this insect? I found it in Plaquemines
parish in southeastern Louisiana. The color amazed me,
I promise I didn't adjust the color on the photo!
Ann
Hi Ann,
This is a Katydid Nymph. We cannot tell you the exact species,
but perhaps one of our readers can. There are several species
of Katydids that are normally green to blend in with foliage
that they eat. Occasionally there are pink sports like yours.
Perhaps this is so they would blend in while eating pink flowers.
Update: 907/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Amblycorypha sp. (pink nymph)
Unknown Katydid found at Sea is Panama Sylvan Katydid
(05/04/2008) Enviando por correo electrónico: Casa
Pacific..Bugs n'stuff
Dear Bugman,
This critter appeared on our deck this morning. The
deck is in Panama on the Pacific coast some 15 km west of
the Pan Canal. We would appreciate a name other than 'whatsit".
Regards,
Jan and David
Hi Jan and David,
This appears to be some species of Katydid. You indicate you
are 15 km west of the Panama Canal, but you do not indicate
if you are heading toward the canal or away. The Katydid may
have come on board elsewhere and just made itself visible
and you have not given us any clue as to your other Ports
Of Call. Your Katydid strongly resembles an image we received
from Australia on December 1, 2007 that was identified as
a Prickly Katydid. Did your ship possibly originate in Australia?
Daniel,
Sorry about the confusion. We are on land the deck mentioned
is off out kitchen so I think he is a local product. The
rains are starting and katydids are in full song. The most
common one is the green variety which our cats take delight
in bringing in to bed before they devour them. Thank you
for the identification. Regards,
David
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Panama Sylvan katydid - Acanthodis
curvidens
Unknown Australian Katydid Killed for Photo Op is
Australian Raspy Cricket
(05/03/2008) Winged Weta?
Hi
I have previously sent you an email regarding this lovely
animal. I was in tears as I took the photos (having sprayed
it to keep it immobile while I photographed it - sorry). It
appears identical to a Weta that you have posted, except that
this one has very large wings! Isn't a "winged Weta"
a contradiction in terms? Hope you can help to identify this
lovely animal. She was beautiful. Note: It was found on the
fringe of the arid lands in South Australia (300 Kilometres
North of Adelaide).
Les Clayton
 
Hi Les,
We hope your tears are an indication that you will not be
killing creatures in the future just to photograph them. This
is not a Weta. The long ovipositor indicates the specimen
is a female. It is a longhorned Orthopteran in the suborder
Ensifera, and probably a Katydid in the family Tettigoniidae,
but we have not had any luck identifying the species. The
Geocities
site did not provide any convincing matches. It appears as
though the antennae on your specimen have been damaged, either
through rough living, or traumatic dying, or possibly post
mortem. Grev and Trevor frequently assist us with Australian
species, and they may have better luck than we have had with
a species identification on this striking specimen.
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Australian Raspy cricket (not a katydid
but a member of Gryllacrididae) possibly Ametrus sp.
Unknown Katydid from Costa Rica is Pitbull Katydid
(03/22/2008) unidentifieed green insect...
Hello,
Last year we found this beautiful insect in the Arenal National
Park in Costa Rica. It looks like something in between a grashopper
and a cicada and was about 6cm. Or is this a juvenile? Can
you help me with the exact name of the species? Thank you
and greetings from Belgium (we love your website!)
Erik Marrecau.
Hi Erik,
It is a Katydid, and it is not a juvenile. Only adults have
fully developed wings. That is the best we can do, but perhaps
one of our readers can supply an answer.
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Costa Rican Pitbull katydid - Lirometopum
coronatum
Trachyzulpha Katydid from Borneo
(03/22/2008) Found in Borneo, Malaysia near Sandakar
Hi, I have had these 3 pictures for about two years now and
always wanted to identify them but with no success. Having
come across your website I wondered if you can tell me what
they are apart from a spider, grasshopper and a beatle
We haven't had much luck identifying your photos. The
Unknown Grasshopper is quite stunning but it is not a Grasshopper.
It is a Longhorned Orthopteran in the suborder Ensifera, and
probably a Katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. The beetle
is a Cerambycid and the spider is probably the genus Argiope.
Perhaps one of our readers will recognize your Katydid and
write in with an answer.
Update: (03/25/2008)
Hi Daniel: Regarding the Unknown Orthopteran from Borneo (03/22/2008),
I found this photo online that looks like your mystery “grasshopper”.
It looks like a Trachyzulpha
katydid (Trachyzulpha fruhstorferi). Regards
Karl
Meadow Katydid
(02/21/2008) a katydid
Greetings! I saw this in mid August in a Cypress swamp
in Hilton Head, SC. I thought it was a grasshopper,
but then I started looking on your site and realized that
it is a Katydid. A Red-headed Meadow Katydid?? Just
a wild guess. thanks. I love your site.
Betsy Higgins
Hi Betsy,
According to images posted to BugGuide, we believe you have
the genus correct, but that this is a different species of
Meadow Katydid. We favor Orchelimum
minor.
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Meadow katydid - Orchelimum (possibly
eythrocephalum, but this is a nymph)
Angular Winged Katydid Laying Eggs
(01/13/2008) its laying eggs
It laying eggs on my parents fence. I was told it is
called a leafcutter, but I cannot find it anywhere online.
Since you did not tell us where in the world your parent's
fence is located, we are reluctant to go any further than
to say this is a Katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is
a great photo, and we will see if Eric Eaton and identify
the species.
Hi, Daniel:
The katydid laying eggs is an angular-winged katydid in the
genus Microcentrum (if it was photographed in North America),
or a closely-related genus. Nice image of oviposition behavior!
Eric
I took those pictures in El Cajon, California. Sorry about
forgetting that info. Thank you for writing back to me.
Joe
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Angle winged katydid - Microcentrum
rhombifolium
Female Conehead
(12/27/2007) Walking stick ID please
Hello,
I was wondering what type of walking stick this may be. It
does not look like the typical two-striped ones I usually
see here in Vero Beach, FL. Thanks!
Scott Walker
Vero Beach, Fl
 
Hi Scott,
We believe this is an immature female Neoconocephalus triops,
Broad-tipped Conehead, a type of Katydid. There are many photos
of adults on BugGuide.
We are requesting assistance from Eric Eaton. Eric quickly
responded, and we were in the ballpark, but with the wrong
genus. Here is Eric's response: "Hi: That's much better
with the image:-) It is an adult female conehead in the genus
Belocephalus,
something unique to Florida I imagine. Eric " There are
some images on BugGuide.
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Florida conehead - Belocephalus (most
likely B. sabalis)
Moss Mimicking Katydid
(12/02/2007) Re: Raspy cricket from Australia
Hi Bugman,
When I first saw the image submitted of the 'raspy cricket'
from Australia, I thought it was a moss mimicking katydid.
It's fascinating how similar they are in appearance.
I had submitted my photo to your site, and did receive an
e-mail reply, but apparently my image was not sufficient for
an ID. I did manage to eventually get it identified:
This a nymph of Championica montana Saussure & Pictet,
1898 (Pseudophyllinae, Pleminiini), a gorgeous moss mimicking
katydid, common in Mesoamerica. I never managed to record
its call, but its close relative, C. cristulata, has a very
bird-like, frequency modulated call, very unusual for New
World Tettigoniidae. Cheers,
Piotr
Piotr Naskrecki, Ph. D.
Director, Invertebrate Diversity Initiative
Conservation International
 
Dear Nancy or Piotr,
We are sorry we failed in the original identification of this
Moss Mimicking Katydid. We recall these images, but it seems
we never posted them to our site. When we are very busy, sometimes
we don't have time to post everything we want to post or should
post. Please provide us with some background. When and where
was the photo taken? Was it photographed in Nicaragua in 2005
as the name of the digital file implies? Also, was this letter
submitted by Nancy and is Piotr the expert who identified
it? Is there a good link with information on the species?
Hi Daniel,
Yes, the katydid was photographed at Selva Negra, Nicaragua
in 2005. I have copied the entire e-mail chain for you as
it gives everyone's titles as well as a few sites. Hope this
info is helpful to your site. p.s. I just bought a camera
with Macro capability and am headed back to Selva Negra in
January. I'm going to check out that huge boulder again :)
Nancy Collins, Wisconsis
Editor's Note: Here is Nancy's original email
(that was sent to several knowledgeable experts as well as
to What's That Bug?) and responses she received.
(08/28/2007) Greetings,
Is there any advice you can give me on how to find the name
of this insect? I encountered it in Nicaragua. It was about
6 inches long, and was very flat. The hind legs were flat
against the rock. It was sharing a huge boulder with hundreds
of spiders. Thank you for your time,
Nancy Collins, Wisconsin
Tom - what do you say about this critter?
Lyle Buss
Insect Identification Laboratory
Entomology & Nematology Dept.
University of Florida
Flat Nicaraguan Katydid
Piotr,
Can you identify this beast? The best I could do was to suspect
it was a Pseudophylline.
Thomas J. Walker
Department of Entomology & Nematology
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Dear Tom,
This a nymph of Championica montana Saussure & Pictet, 1898
(Pseudophyllinae, Pleminiini), a gorgeous moss mimicking katydid,
common in Mesoamerica. I never managed to record its call,
but its close relative, C. cristulata, has a very bird-like,
frequency modulated call, very unusual for New World Tettigoniidae.
Cheers,
Piotr Naskrecki, Ph. D. Director, Invertebrate Diversity Initiative
Conservation International
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for providing us with this wonderful identification
chain and also for resending your photos to us despite us
failing to provide you with and identification. As your email
chain indicates, even qualified experts had difficulty with
the exact identification. Identification of many rain forest
species is nearly impossible without the help of specialists.
Prickly
Katydid from Australia
(12/01/2007) Phasmid Family
Hi Bugman,
Firstly - can I say what a wondeful site you have - truly
inspiring. Secondly I wonder if you can help me in identifying
the insect in the attached picture which I believe to be part
of the phasmid family. It was located in the Daintree rainforest
near Cairns Australia. The length of the insect was approximately
5 inches (12 -13 centimetres) and it was quietly laid up on
the side of a tree facing upwards vertically. I had leaned
in to photograph a cicada that I had spotted and almost placed
my hand on top of this insect - I guesss you could say I had
a small surprise when my wife pointed it out beside my hand.........
Anyway - hope you can assist - keep up the wonderful website.
Many thanks
Nick Summers
Hi Nick,
After doing a bit of web searching, we believe this is a Raspy
Cricket in the family Gryllacrididae, but there is only one
species, the Striped Raspy Cricket, Paragryllacris combusta,
pictured on the GeoCities
website. The markings on your specimen are a bit different.
We found another site
that follows the metamorphosis from nymph to adult of the
Striped Raspy Cricket or Tree Cricket. Perhaps Grev can substantiate
and provide an exact species.
Update: (12/03/2007)
Hi, Daniel:
The "raspy cricket" from Australia is actually some kind of
katydid, family Tettigioniidae, but I'm not at all familiar
with the fauna down under.
Eric
Update: (12/06/2007)
Good morning Daniel,
Let me say I am no expert on bugs. I am just very interested
and curious about all the creatures in my own garden - usually
if I can identify something it is because I have photographed
it and done some research to find out what it is. So, your
question about the Raspy Cricket set me searching. I compared
it to photos in David Rentz' s "Grasshopper Country" but remained
puzzled. David Rentz says there are 200 species of Raspy Cricket
in Australia and most have not been described. They are all
nocturnal and spend their days in burrows or in shelters made
of leaves and twigs - Nick's insect was on a tree, so, perhaps
not a Raspy. Then I saw Eric's identification - a Katydid.
So, over to the Katydid pages, where there appears one that
could be Nick's insect- a Phricta species, or Prickly Katydid,
a rainforest species that lives in trees in Queensland and
Northern New South Wales. See: http://www.anhs.com.au/prickly
katydid.htm
Hope this helps. Best wishes,
Grev
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Phricta sp.
Greater Aridland Predaceous Katydid
(10/24/2007) Greater Arid-Land Predaceous Katydid
Hi there! Thanks to your awesome website, I was able
to identify this enormous, very vocal, Greater Arid-Land Predaceous
Katydid (we live in Wimberley, TX). My husband and I
heard his loud chirps before we saw him, and caught him for
a photo session. He's since been relocated to the elephant
ear plant outside the office door - I can hear him chirping
even as I write this. Feel free to use the pics - this
guy is especially handsome!
Milly W.
Hi Millie,
We more commonly get photos of female Greater Aridland Predaceous
Katydids. Thanks for sending us your photo of a male of the
species.
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Neobarrettia spinosa
Great
Green Bush Cricket from UK
(10/07/2007) bug on the beach in cornwall UK in august
Hi there
This appeared on the beach in Cornwall, in South West England
in August 2007. It was about 3 inches in length. Can
you please identify it for me? Thanks
Lyn
Hi Lyn,
This is a Great
Green Bush Cricket, Tettigonia viridissima. She is a female
as evidenced by her long, stingerlike ovipositor. We originally
identified the species by googling "Katydid England", since
members in the family Tettigoniidae are known as Katydids
in the U.S. That search led to Wikipedia
and a quick identification. A distinguishing feature of the
family is the length of the antennae, which have sadly been
cropped in your otherwise awesome image.
Common Short-winged Katydid
(09/23/2007) Katydid - What Species
Hi Bug Guy,
I Love this site - whatsthatbug.com . I have identified
so many insects here! Thanks. Here is a very recent
photo of a Katydid that is very abundant in Dragoon, AZ right
now. Can you tell me which species of Katydid this is?
Thanks so much!
Carol Breton
Benson, Arizona
Hi Carol,
This is a Common Short-winged Katydid, a Dichopetala species.
According to BugGuide,
these medium sized, robust Katydids are found in Arizona,
New Mexico and Texas.
Female Drumming Katydid
(09/21/2007) Female Drumming Katydid (Vancouver)
Dear Bug-folks,
I'd like to share a couple of photos of what I am pretty sure
is a female Drumming Katydid. Last summer, just days
after you had posted the one mentioning how strange it was
to find such a species in Western Canada, we found one
of the little guys (male) walking across the livingroom
carpet. We caught him in hopes of getting a pic and confirming
the previous find, but alas, I couldn't find my camera and
had to let him go with no evidence (but what a cute little
guy!). I wrote in to tell you about the incident, but
I know you prioritize emails with attached photos, so you
may not have seen it. Well here was another one
a few nights ago, and this time was able to capture a
few snaps. I know that it is no big news anymore --
it is well known now that they have established a home here
-- but I thought you might like to add these images to
the site since you don't have any of a female. Warmest
regards,
Shannon
Vancouver, BC
 
Hi Shannon,
Thank you for thinking of our site and our readership by thoughtfully
sending us your wonderful image of a female Drumming Katydid,
Meconema thalassinum. One can't help but wonder if their northern
range expansion might be related to global warming.
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Meconema thalssinum
Greater Arid-Land Katydid
(08/30/2007) grasshopper question
Dear What's That Bug,
Absolutely love your website. This somewhat unglamorous grasshopper
appeared in our yard. I had never seen this one before and
I did not see it on your website. I'd love to know the species.
Thanks,
Diane Young
San Marcos, TX
Hi Diane,
This is not a grasshopper which is why you had trouble locating
it on our site. It is a Greater Arid-Land Katydid, Neobarrettia
spinosa, a predatory species that can be located on our Katydid
pages.
Greater Arid-Land Katydid
(08/03/2007) Greater Arid-Land Predaceous Katydid
Hi there,
I know that you have several photos of this Katydid already,
but I couldn't resist sending you a couple more. This
gal is about 4.5 inches long (including her ovipositor) and
she was quite sociable and willing to come in the house for
a photoshoot. I also live in Central Texas, and I was
blown away about how beautiful this insect is. Thanks for
the great website!
Allison Egger
Hi Allison,
We feel that we can never have too many excellent photos on
our site, but sadly, time does not always permit us to post
everything we want to post. Your photo made the cut today
and will help other readers identify this distinctive predatory
species, the Greater Arid-Land Katydid, Neobarrettia spinosa.
Thanks for sending it.
Greater Arid Land Katydid
(07/24/2007) carnivorous grasshopper...
Hi!
This grasshopper stalks and eats other grasshoppers, and I
have been unable to find any information on it. These
pictures were taken in our yard in Cedar Creek, Texas. This
one is between 3 1/2 & 4 inches in length (we're guessing
it's a female) and the males (?) are somewhat smaller and
don't have the spike. These guys hang around on the
foliage and wait for foliage-eating grasshoppers to show up.
They have huge mandible-looking things and their bodies are
armored, but beautiful. We love having them around to
help control the others, but would really like more information...
Thanks so much,
Caroline
Hi Caroline,
Your photo of a Greater Arid Land Katydid is wonderful, but
we really love your eye witness account of its predatory habits.
Greater Arid Land Katydid
(07/16/2007) Greater Arid-Land Predaceous Katydid
I found this katydid, which i believe i have identified by
your site, as a Greater Arid-Land Predaceous Katydid at my
grandparents house in New Braunfels, Texas, while we were
there for a visit. I thought the one of him with his wings
spread out was cool. Im guessing this is a defensive pose.
Anyway, i hope you can use these pictures.
Michael Davis
Hi Mike,
Your threat posture on this male Greater Arid Land Katydid,
Neobarrettia spinosa, is mighty awesome. Thanks for sending
it to our site.
Greater Arid-land Katydid
(07/10/2007) BIG GREEN BUG
What's this bug?
I found this nice bug outside my Dad's house in Somerset Texas.
Thanks,
Dennis
Hi Dennis,
What a wonderful image of a Greater Arid-land Katydid, Neobarrettia
spinosa. This is a predatory species.
Truncated True Katydid from Texas
(06/07/2007) What's this bug?
Sorry about the 1st email. I'll send the pic this
time! I know this is in the katydid family but I haven't seen
any on your web page of this color. I live in New Braunfels,
Texas out in the country and we always have these every year.
Both green and pinkesh. We have soooo many of the pinkesh
ones this year. It's terrible! Are all these females??? I
hope not! This - Hide quoted text - year they seem to be worse
than usual. There even all over my house (like 30+) it's horrible!!
Thanks for your time and info.
Wendy
Hi Wendy,
We now know that this is a Truncated True Katydid, thanks
to the efforts of Eric Eaton,
who got a response from Mike Quinn who forwarded information
provided by Bill Carr and Dr. John Oswald. This normally
green Katydid has other color variations including this red
coloration. Mike Quinn also provided this link: "Dan, Feel
free to link/refer to this page: Central Texas Leaf Katydid
http://www.texasento.net/robustus.htm
Mike Quinn, Austin"
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi, I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Truncated True Katydid - Paracyrtophyllus
robustus
Truncated True Katydid, Not Unknown Shieldback Katydid
(05/29/2007) Crazy Katydid?
Dear WTB,
Love the site, use it all the time to figure out what's crawling
around our house here in the Texas Hill Country. Recently,
we have been overrun with the bug in the attached photo. We
find them in the leaf litter in large patches, averaging probably
one to two individuals per square foot (it looks like the
forest floor is jumping out from under you!). We often have
similar looking creatures (usually all brownish, and sometimes
green - both of which I believe to be some sort of katydid),
but I've never seen them in this color before. Any clue? Best,
Dave from Texas
Hi Dave,
This is sure a gorgeous Shieldback Katydid, but we are unsure
of the genus and species. We hope to contact Eric Eaton to
get his opinion. You did not indicate if this coloration is
an isolated specimen, or if the many individuals you wrote
about sport the same coloration. Here is Eric's response:
"You are correct in the identification, but I have no idea
what genus or species it is, or why they are so numerous.
I will post to my listserv and see if someone else can help
"
Update: (06/05/2007) Unknown Shieldback Katydid
Hi there bugman,
An update on the Katydid Nymph photo I sent you all about
one week ago (It is currently listed as "Unknown Shieldback
Katydid" in the Katydid section). One week later, they have
changed into the form as seen in the attached photo. I'm
unsure if this will help, but it's at least interesting. Thanks
again,
Dave from Texas
Hi again Dave,
Thanks for the update. We still do not know what species this
is, but we will post it back to the homepage.
Ed. Note: (06/08/2007)
Eric Eaton sent out the following request:
Dear Friends: My friend Daniel Marlos, who runs the What's
That Bug? website has recently received images of some kind
of katydid that is appearing in great numbers in the Texas
Hill Country. I have no idea what it is, and can so far find
no one else who recognizes it. Please see the images on the
"Katydids 2" page. Please feel free to circulate this note
to colleagues who are not on this listserv as well. Thank
you in advance for any assistance.
Eric Eaton
Update: (06/08/2007 Mike Quinn answered Eric's
plea:
Daniel,
Here's your bug. Large numbers are being reported from New
Braunfels, Comal Co.; Canyon Lake, Comal Co.; and San Antonio,
Bexar Co. These two counties are adjacent.
Mike
This morning Debbie Benesh and I went to Government Canyon
SNA to look at plants, but a plague of locusts stole the show.
Okay, so the insect involved seems to be the pink form of
the truncated true katydid (Paracyrtophyllus robustus) rather
than a locust. But the plague part sure was accurate. We
saw literally hundreds of the beasts, most or maybe all of
them feeding on the foliage of plateau live oak (Quercus fusiformis).
And we could see only the lower branches of most of those
trees. Yikes! I don't think I've ever noticed the species
before, and I sure won't forget it.
Bill Carr, (Texas Nature Conservancy botanist)
Dr. John Oswald, Texas A&M, reported a similar outbreak of
P. robustus in 2001 in Lee County (see remarks in following
link). Truncated True Katydid, Paracyrtophyllus robustus (Caudell
1906)
http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/152a.htm
Government Canyon State Natural Area, San Antonio, TX
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/government_canyon/
Mike Quinn
Invertebrate Biologist
Wildlife Diversity Program
Texas Parks & Wildlife
Austin, Texas
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi, I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Truncated True Katydid - Paracyrtophyllus
robustus
Katydid Nymph
(05/12/2007) Insect with corncob body
Enjoy your site immensely.....I sent you this photo yesterday,
but I think it was probably too large. I've resized it, and
would be curious to know what it is. It looks like a grasshopper
got crossed up with a miniature ear of corn, and I don't know
where it got those huge hind legs that appear to be upside
down! Thanks.
Doug Wulf
Hi Doug,
Thank you for reading about our current technical problems
and resending your image at a manageable size. We have been
forced to delete what we suspect are numerous wonderful images
because we are unable to make individual requests to resend.
This is some species of Katydid in the family Tettigoniidae.
It is an immature nymph and will grow to have wings.
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Nymph of Scudderia sp.
Female
Mormon Cricket from Washington
(04/24/2007) katydid Species
Hello,
I found this specimen in a pile of Cardboard boxes under the
porch at the fossil site that I work last year in late July.
The site is in republic, Ferry County Washington, which is
in the northeast portion of the state about 30 miles from
the Canadian border and at about 2000' in elevation. I believe
that it was about 2 inches long. Do you know anything about
what species it may be?
Thanks
Karl
Hi Karl,
This is some species of Shieldback Katydid. It would take
a true expert to get you an exact species, but in searching
for your answer, we were led to an awesome website devoted
to the Singing
Insects of North America and if you examine her genitalia,
and use the maps provided, you might be able to key out to
the species your lovely female amputee beyone the Subfamily
Tettigoniinae.
Daniel:
The green shield-backed katydid is quite possibly a green
form of the mormon cricket, Anabrus simplex, or at least a
species in the genus Anabrus, and a female (sword-like ovipositor).
Keep up the great work!
Eric
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Anabrus cerciata (not A. simplex)
Katydid from Israel
(04/15/2007) Isophya from Israel
Hi WTB,
Fantastic site you have here! I check in on it every day,
and I'd like to contribute something from this part of the
globe. Here is an Isophya nymph from Israel, north of Jerusalem.
The picture was taken in March 2007. Its hebrew name translates
to something like 'Little chubby fairy'. It is a bit cherubic,
isn't it? Best Regards,
Ben Schatz
Israel
Hi Ben,
Thanks for your kind compliment and also for your photo contribution
to our Katydid section.
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Israel Isophya (possibly Isophya,
but this individual is an immature)
Katydid
from Costa Rica: maybe Aegimia elongata
(St. Valentine's Day 2007)
Hi Bugman,
I found this poor thing floating dead in my swimming pool
in the morning. Is this some sort of grasshopper? I've seen
other hoppers that resemble leaves, but none like this one.
He has that horn and black eyes. I din't see any like this
one on your hopper section so maybe it's another kind of bug.
Jordan
Costa Rica
Hi Jordan,
This is some species of Katydid.
Update: (02/27/2008) Costa Rican Katydid
in Swimming Pool
Sirs - Re: The katydid found in a swimming pool in Costa Rica
submitted on St. Valentine's Day 2007, I believe that it could
be Aegimia elongata or a close relative in the subfamily
Phaneropterinae (see http://os2001.cirad.fr/Images/1-AEL-PN.jpg).
Ed Saugstad
Sinks Grove, WV.
Thanks Ed. We believe you are correct.
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Aegimia (possibly cultrifera)
Mystery Moroccan Orthopteran is Armored Ground Cricket
(01/08/2007) Giant beetle in Anti Atlas mountains Morocco
When looking for information about a giant beetle we saw in
the Anti Atlas mountains in Morocco i came across your website.
You have any information about this giant bug? Regards,
Joost de Wall
 
Hi Joost,
This looks to us like some type of Orthopteran, the crickets
and katydids. We will see if Eric Eaton can assist us. Here
is Eric's speedy response: "The mystery Moroccan orthopteran
is an Armored Ground Cricket, which is actually a flightless
katydid in the subfamily Hetrodinae. Apparently they are not
uncommon in desert habitats."
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Moroccan katydid - Eugaster (possibly
nigripes)
Female Wart-Biter
(01/08/2007) Hi there,
My dad took this picture when he visited his sister in Spain
last Autumn. We have looked all over to find out what it is
but no luck. Can you help us out? We look forward to hearing
from you!
Carolyn Richards
Hi Carolyn,
In English speaking Europe, Shield-Back Katydids are called
Wart-Biters. This specimen is a female.
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Spanish saddle-backed katydid - Uromenus
sp.
Katydid
(12/22/2006)
Hey there Bug Man,
Heard about your website from a friend that sent you a few
photos. We enjoy looking at all the varieties of bugs. Our
3 year old likes the site as well. We are sending you a photo
that we took of a bug we found in our back yard. Not quite
sure what it is but we thought it was neat.
Smith Family
Gilbert, Arizona
Hi Smiths,
This is a Katydid, probably the California Katydid, Microcentrum
californicum, which is found in California and Arizona. or
another species in the same genus like Microcentrum rhombifolium.
Thailand
Sylvan Katydid
(Winter Solstice 2006) Greenleaf Bug
Hello WTB
Found this monster leaf / Tree hopper (?) sitting on my car
this morning in Phuket Thailand. I'm assuming it dropped out
of the nearby tree where it was probably munching aphids.
Looks like a giant pea-pod! Measured 5" body length and
another 4" for the antenna - total 9" Can you tell
me - What's that bug! Please. Best regards and thanks for
a great website.
Peter Garrett
Hi Peter,
This is some species of Katydid. Most are plant feeders though
some are predatory.
Update: (07/03/2008) Piotr Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Thailand sylvan katydid - most likely
Cratioma sp.
Cone-Head Katydid
(11/13/2006) Shrimp-like Grasshopper
Hello,
I found this interesting grasshopper this morning in Sarasota,
FL. I have never seen anything like it. It almost looked more
like a shrimp than an insect. I have attached a few pictures.
Please let me know if you can identify it. I will go crazy
until I find out what it is! Thank you so much!
Jami Rhoades
Bradenton, FL
 
Hi Jami,
We are thrilled to be able to post your photos of a Cone-Head
Katydid in the genus Belocephalus. We quickly identified it
on BugGuide
because of an image sent from Florida.
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Conehead - Belocephalus (possibly
sabalis)
Wart Biter from Italy
(11/12/2006) insect identification help!
Dear Insect Expert-
A friend and I were hiking in northern Italy - Lake Como area.
We came across the attached insect and we have a bit of a
bet going on what it is. Could you help us to identify it.
As well, could you let us know if it would sting a human?
Thanks, in advance, for any help in identifying this. Regards,
Angela & Nancy
Hi Angela and Nancy,
This is a Shield-Backed Katydid in the Orthoptera Subfamily
Tettigoniinae. It is a female as evidenced by the ovipositor
that you mistook for a stinger. She will not sting or otherwise
harm a human physically, though some species get plentiful
enough to do crop damage, like the Mormon Cricket from Utah
and vicinity. BugGuide
says a common name in Europe is Wart Biter.
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Italian saddle-backed katydid - Ephippigera
sp.
Greater Meadow Katydid
(09/27/2006) grasshopper pictures from a fan
Hi Bugman!
I've found your site very helpful in many of my bug-naming
quests. Bugs generally give me the willies, but there are
a couple that I can get close enough to take a picture of.
I found a very pretty grasshopper on my patio and grabbed
my camera without scaring it away. I didn't see pictures of
this particular one on your site, so I thought I might share
it. It was found in Raleigh, NC. Interestingly, he (she?)
kept turning it's head to look at me. I love how you can see
it's pupils (or whatever the bug equivalent may be) in the
flash. It reminded me of a mantis, the way I held it's attention
so clearly. Keep up the bug posting!
Joy
 
Hi Joy,
This is actually a Greater Meadow Katydid in the genus Orchelimum.
Your specimen is a female, evidenced by the large curved ovipositor.
BugGuide
has many images of different species and the Audubon Field
Guide states: "Each species in this genus has its own sound
and range. Identification of the different species is based
on a comparative study of male genitalia, of the projecting
conical midpart of the head in both sexes, and of the ovipositor."
Mormon Cricket
(09/22/2006) what is it
We came across several of these bugs on gravel roads in Silver
City, ID, a semi-ghost town in the mountains. They are quite
big, about 2 inches long. What is it?
Mark
Hi Mark,
This is a Mormon Cricket, Anabrus simplex. It is actually
a flightless katydid that got its common name when swarms
of them attacked the Mormon's first crops in Utah in 1848.
The crops were saved when seagull arrived to devour the Mormon
Crickets. Your specimen is a male. The female has a long curved
ovipositor.
Pink
Katydid
(09/14/2006) pink katydid
We found this pink katydid (I think that's what it is) on
a hike along Skyline Drive in Virginia. It was stunning. I've
found very little about it on the internet (except that it
has been seen in Michigan). Is there anything unique about
it other than it's color?
Pink Katydids are common enough to be relatively well
documented. We have about three or four previous images. Orange
is an even more rare color varient.
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Amblycorypha sp.
Angular Winged Katydid
(08/24/2006) O.K. my turn.....
Today, 8/23/06, 1 p.m. the young woman who works for me discovered
this bug in one of the urban gardens we work.
It cooperated fully, and she has a way with bugs ! It blends
in completely with the leaves, and when it tired of all the
attention it jumped/flew? a foot or so. Looked at many categories
but can't find it on your entertaining & so educational
website. Many thanks,
Colleen in Boston MA
Hi Colleen,
Here in Los Angeles, it is the 24th. We believe this is an
Angular Winged Katydid, Microcentrum retinerve, or a closely
related species. The males "sing". The gloves in the photo
are a nice artistic touch.
Katydid eats and gets eaten!!!
(08/10/2006) Spearhead Gumleaf Katydid
Hi!
Living in The Great Smoky Mountains, I never know what will
happen next. I had just put out some birdseed when the Katydid
flew in over my right shoulder and started dining. Its head
bobbed up and down as it chowed down! The very next morning,
as the sun was just about to make an appearance, I saw something
stuck in the hummingbird feeder. Yes, a Katydid, and it was
so "into" the sugar water that I was able to get
as close as I pleased without even being noticed. The following
day, on my way down the front steps, I found the orb weaving
spider dining on a Katydid! Was it the same reckless one,
or three different ones? Rhetorical question... Thanx again
for listening,
R.G. Marion
 
Hi again R.G.
This looks like an Angular Winged Katydid to us.
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Microcentrum sp.
Cone-Head
(07/31/2006) Mystery bugs
Hi. I just found your site... fascinating! When I lived in
north Texas, I took pics of two bugs that I never was able
to identify. Maybe you can? The big green bug (katydid or
grasshopper?) was spotted in late February when the bugs are
just waking up, so I suspect it's pretty young.
Thanks!
It is difficult to be certain due to the angle, but this
looks like a Cone-Head, a group of Katydids in the genus Neoconocephalus.
The other photo is of an immature Hemipteran.
Drumming
Katydid (in Western Canada???)
(07/30/2006) katydid far from home?
Hi,
Last summer two male katydids courted a female above my front
door for a couple of weeks, which was really exciting because
I live in Vancouver, Canada - not exactly prime katydid territory.
I spent hours trying to identify their species, researching
them online, using taxonomic keys, and comparing ovipositors,
but I kept getting stumped when it came down to species' range
maps. Based on anatomy alone, I was 99% sure that our visitors
were drumming katydids (Meconema thalassinum), despite the
fact that all the information I'd found on the species puts
their range about 3500km east of here. Unfortunately, I couldn't
get a clear enough photo to submit to you (unless you can
id blurry green blobs) and so the best I could do was to reassure
myself that I'd identified them correctly. Well, lo and behold,
a lone male has appeared in the same spot again this year
and I have a brand new zoom lens for my camera. I'd be really
grateful if you could confirm that this IS a drumming katydid
and if so, how rare the species is out here. I mean, should
I be calling up the local entomology department to have them
document the find? Or is the info I've found totally out of
date & these guys are really common in BC? Thanks so much!
You guys rock!
C.S.
Dear C.S.,
We also believe your identification of the Drumming Katydid
is correct. There is a near identical match on BugGuide
and the range is listed as Southern New England. Why is it
in Vancouver? Global Warming? Possible accidental introduction?
We think you should check with local experts and we will inquire
with Eric Eaton if he has an opinion on the matter. Thanks
for sending in your photo and story. Eric Eaton has verified
the identification: "Yes, it is a drumming katydid (male),
and its occurence should probably be reported to provincial
agriculture authorities, eh? Seriously, it may be of interest
to BC entomologists."
Update: (07/03/2008) Katydid IDs from Piotr
Naskrecki
Hi,
I have been looking at the page with unidentified katydids
(Katydids 2), and thought I could help with some ID's. From
top to bottom they are: Meconema thalssinum |
|
