Subject: Creaks like a cicada – but what is it?
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
June 26, 2015 11:08 am
I hear thousands of these at night and have finally seen one in the day. The wings have amazing leaf-like camouflage. It’s head seems smaller than most pictures I’ve found of cicadas.
Signature: Geoffrey Edge
Dear Geoffrey,
Though it is not related to the Cicadas, this Common True Katydid, Pterophylla camellifolia, belongs to another insect order, Orthoptera, that includes many vocal members, like Crickets as well as a myriad of Katydids. The camouflage is very effective. According to BugGuide: “Forewings form cup over abdomen, many conspicuous veins. Pronotum has two shallow grooves. Both sexes stridulate “katy-did, katy-didn’t” at dusk into night. Song varies geographically.”
This is why I like this page. Had one of these in my carport last night. Looked exactly like this. Now I know what it is. 🙂