Subject: Unknown Cricket?
Location: Virginia
August 12, 2012 3:58 pm
Hello, I opened my door yesterday and found this little guy/gal? on my doorknob around 4 pm. It hopped [a rather long way] into my room and I had to shoo it out with a piece of paper.
Signature: Dia
Hi Dia,
This little lady is a Straight Lanced Meadow Katydid, Conocephalus strictus, and though it is not indicated on BugGuide, we suspect the straight lance is a reference to her lengthy, straight oviopositor, the organ the female uses to lay eggs. Many Katydids have curved ovipositors so the shape of the Straight Lanced Meadow Katydid’s ovipositor is somewhat unique. BugGuidelists the habitat as: “Dry grasslands, old fields with grasses.” Many Katydids are attracted to lights, and that might be the reason she was on your door.
