Subject: Lange undetermined bug
Location: Namibia
December 16, 2013 6:19 am
And the last one, before I stop procrastinating:
Some large bug I saw last year at dusk in Namibia.
Looked quite friendly 🙂
Signature: Robert
Dear Robert,
Based on what you have written, we suspect there are other identification requests from you in our email inbox, and we can’t imagine how furthering your own education can be considered procrastination. This is a Longhorned Orthopteran in the suborder Ensifera, and we are not certain if it can be classified as a Katydid. Since there is no visible ovipositor, we believe this is a male. We will write to Katydid expert Piotr Naskrecki to see if he can supply any additional information.
Piotr Naskrecki provides and identification
Hi Daniel,
This is a male of the predatory katydid Clonia vittata (Saginae). These are fascinating animals, huge sit-and-wait predators. The subfamily has an interesting disjunct distribution and can be found only in Western Palearctic and the southern part of sub-Saharan Africa..
Cheers,
Piotr
Thanks so much Piotr. We are linking to your Smaller Majority Blog.