Beautiful leaf-like bug
Location: Belize
January 5, 2011 12:30 pm
Hi – I found this outside on a wall. I *think* his eyes are near the narrow end? Had he been in a tree, I never would have seen him. What an amazing shape – he really does look just like a leaf! Any idea what he is? Thanks!
Signature: Cindy
Hi Cindy,
This is a Katydid, but we haven’t the time to research the species at this moment. We will try to get assistance from Katydid expert Piotr Naskrecki, but we suspect he is on holiday at the moment.
Hi Daniel,
Wow. A katydid? Amazing… The ones I remember seeing, while leaf-like, still had legs and antennae that looked like, well, legs and antennae. This guy didn’t have antennae at all and even his legs were “leaf-like”. (Can you tell *I’m* not an entomologist? “legs”? “antennae?” *laughing*) Hey, I’m still only partly convinced that I can tell where his eyes are.
Anyway, thanks again – at least I know what type he is! (He really is gorgeous.)
Thanks again for your excellent work – love you guys!
-cindy
Piotr Naskrecki provides an identification
February 9, 2011
Hi Daniel,
The green, leaf-like katydid from Belize is a male of Aegimia sp. (Phaneropterinae). The antennae in this genus are unusually thin for katydids, and in this individual folded backwards to enhance the mimicry of leaves.
… Cheers,
Piotr
Piotr Naskrecki, Ph. D.
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University