Katydids, the fascinating insects known for their large, leaf-like appearance and enchanting songs, tend to emerge during the warmer months. They’re most commonly observed in late spring and throughout the summer. As temperatures rise, you may start to notice these intriguing creatures and the distinctive sounds they make.
When venturing outside during their active season, keep your eyes open for katydids camouflaged among foliage or listen for their captivating songs. The male katydids produce these alluring melodies as a way to attract females for mating, and they’re most active at night.
As the weather warms up, make sure to explore your surroundings and watch for katydids. Their presence not only adds an extra element of intrigue to your outdoor adventures but also serves as an indicator of a healthy ecosystem. Enjoy your encounters with these remarkable insects!
Understanding Katydids
Katydids, also known as long-horned grasshoppers, belong to the family Tettigoniidae within the order Orthoptera. These fascinating insects display a variety of behaviors and characteristics that set them apart from other insects. In this short section, we’ll briefly explore some key features of katydids and when they usually come out.
To begin, let’s quickly examine some unique traits of katydids:
- They have long, threadlike antennae, differing from grasshoppers’ short antennae.
- Their body color tends to be green, which helps camouflage them among leaves.
- Their average length ranges from one and a half to two inches.
Katydids’ lifecycle lasts about a year, and females usually lay their eggs toward summer’s end. The males possess sound-producing organs on their front wings, which contribute to their distinct singing sounds.
As for when they come out, katydids become most active during the warmer months of late spring, summer, and early fall. During this time, they are generally nocturnal creatures, and you’ll likely hear them singing at night.
In conclusion, by understanding a few basic characteristics and behaviors of katydids like their appearance, lifecycle, and singing habits, you can better appreciate these remarkable insects and know when to expect them in your surroundings.
Physical Characteristics
Anatomy
Katydids, belonging to the family Tettigoniidae, have some unique physical features that set them apart from other insects. They have:
- Long, thin antennae, which are usually longer than their body
- Six legs with four-segmented feet
- A set of wings that includes both forewings and hindwings
- An ovipositor in females, used for laying eggs
- A tympanum (ear-like structure) located on their forelegs or abdomen
These characteristics allow them to thrive in their environments and communicate effectively with each other.
Camouflage and Mimicry
One of the most fascinating aspects of katydids is their ability to blend into their surroundings. Their camouflage and mimicry skills include:
- Green body color that resembles leaves, making them nearly undetectable in trees or foliage
- Wing patterns that can mimic the appearance of flowers, further hiding them from predators
- Amazing resemblance to leaves, not only in color but also in shape and texture
This extraordinary camouflage helps katydids to avoid predation and thrive in their natural habitats, such as trees and flowers. The combination of their unique anatomy and impressive mimicry skills makes katydids an intriguing group of insects to study and appreciate.
Life Cycle of Katydids
From Eggs to Adults
Katydids, like other insects, undergo a series of changes as they progress through their life cycle. They begin as eggs, hatch into nymphs, and eventually become adult katydids. Let’s take a closer look at these stages:
- Eggs: Female katydids lay their eggs at the end of summer. The eggs are usually gray and oval in shape and are inserted along the edges of leaves.
- Nymphs: Nymphs resemble mini-adults and are wingless. They hatch and appear in April and May. These tiny creatures have black and white-banded antennae and undergo multiple molts as they grow.
- Adults: After 2 to 3 months and 6 to 8 molts, nymphs mature into adults. Adult katydids have long antennae, green color, and are about 1.5 to 2.5 inches in length.
Reproductive Cycle
The reproductive cycle of katydids revolves around mating, egg-laying, and the production of spermatophylax. Let’s explore these aspects further:
- Mating: Male and female katydids mate to produce offspring. Male katydids attract their female counterparts by producing sounds with their front wings.
- Egg-laying: Once mating has occurred, females carry out the process of egg-laying, as mentioned earlier.
- Spermatophylax: An interesting aspect of katydid reproduction is the production of spermatophylax. This is a nutritious gelatinous substance provided by male katydids during mating, which is consumed by females. This gift may help enhance the chances of successful reproduction.
Remember, the life cycle of katydids usually lasts for about one year. As you watch these fascinating insects in your backyard or local park, you’ll now have a greater appreciation for their unique life cycle and reproductive process.
Behavior of Katydids
Communication and Sounds
Katydids, also known as long-horned grasshoppers, are known for their unique sounds. They sing and chirp throughout the night as a form of communication. Their characteristic sounds are produced through a process called stridulation, which involves rubbing their wings together.
Males are the ones who produce these sounds, usually for territorial or mating purposes. For example, they might engage in duets with other males to establish dominance or attract a female. Some species even have aggressive calls to warn off potential threats.
Defense Mechanisms
The katydid’s primary defense mechanism is camouflage. They have a green body that resembles leaves which helps them to blend in with their environment, providing protection from predators.
Apart from their coloration, katydids also use their sounds for defensive purposes. As mentioned earlier, they can produce aggressive calls to ward off threats. Additionally, they can act defensively when startled, by making sudden, loud noises or even using their powerful hind legs to jump away from danger.
In summary, katydids are fascinating creatures with unique ways of communicating and defending themselves. By understanding their behavior, you can better appreciate these often-overlooked insects and their important role in the ecosystem.
Habitats and Distribution
Global Presence
Katydids thrive in various habitats around the world, especially in the tropics. They are widespread in the south, with some species even inhabiting the Amazon Rainforest. In these regions, you’ll typically find katydids in dense forests, grasslands, or shrubs.
Katydid in Gardens
Katydids can also be found in your own garden, nestled within flowering plants and shrubs. They are attracted to gardens due to the abundance of food and hiding spots. To encourage katydids in your garden, consider incorporating a mix of plants, flowers, and shrubs to create the perfect habitat.
- Pros of having katydids in your garden:
- They contribute to natural pest control by preying on smaller insects.
- They help with pollination as they move from flower to flower.
- Cons of having katydids in your garden:
- They may nibble on leaves and flowers, causing minor plant damage.
- Noisy mating calls during the night could be a disturbance.
In conclusion, the habitat and distribution of katydids are diverse, with these insects found in both tropical regions and local gardens. As such, it’s not uncommon to spot them in various habitats like forests, grasslands, shrubs, or even in your own backyard.
Diet and Predation
Feeding Patterns
Katydids, belonging to the family Tettigoniidae, have diverse feeding habits depending on their species. Most of the katydids, particularly those within the subfamily Phaneropterinae, prefer to feed on plant matter like stems, leaves, flowers, pollen, and fruits. You will often find them munching on lush foliage during the night to stay safe from predators.
Some katydids, including the Microcentrum species, are known to have different eating patterns:
- They mainly eat leaves and stems.
- Occasionally, they will also consume pollen and fruits.
- They tend to be more active during the night and remain hidden during the day.
Predatory Behavior
While many katydids consume plants, some species exhibit predatory behavior and are known to hunt for prey, including insects and other arthropods. Such predatory katydids typically have unique adaptations that aid them in their hunting.
For example, predatory katydids may have powerful mouthparts or strong forelegs that help them capture and subdue their prey. Engaging in predation can also offer a broader range of food sources and may even help control pests in their natural environment.
As you observe katydids in their habitat, it’s essential to understand the following characteristics:
- Diet may vary among species (plant-based or carnivorous).
- Most of them are nocturnal, with their feeding habits occurring primarily during the night.
- Certain katydids exhibit both herbivorous and carnivorous feeding patterns, showcasing their adaptability in different environments.
By learning about their diverse feeding patterns and predatory behavior, you can better appreciate the role these fascinating creatures play in their ecosystem.
Katydids and Pests
Katydids, being closely related to grasshoppers and crickets, are part of the Orthoptera order. They are mostly known for their leaf-like appearance and their nighttime chirping sounds. However, it’s important to note that some katydids, like other orthopterans such as locusts and grasshoppers, can cause damage to plants.
These insects feed on different parts of plants, such as leaves, flowers, and fruits. While the majority of katydids are not considered harmful pests, there are certain species that can be problematic when their population becomes dense. Some examples of problematic katydids include the larger grasshopper-like species, which can feed on and damage crops.
On the other hand, katydids are also known to prey on small insects like aphids. In this sense, they can be considered helpful in controlling the population of these smaller pests. It’s important to strike a balance between their beneficial and detrimental effects on your garden or farm.
Here’s a comparison of different orthopteran insects:
| Insect | Size | Diet | Known as Pests | Beneficial Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katydids | 1.5-2 inches | Plant-based | Sometimes | Prey on aphids |
| Grasshoppers | 1-4 inches | Plant-based | Yes | Minimal |
| Crickets | 0.5-2 inches | Omnivorous | Sometimes | Help break down organic matter |
| Locusts | 1-4 inches | Plant-based | Yes | None |
To keep your garden or farm healthy and prevent damage from katydids, it’s essential to monitor their population. If you notice an increased density of katydids or any sign of crop damage, take appropriate control measures to protect your plants. Always remember to use environmentally friendly and targeted methods when dealing with any pest problem.
A few ways to control katydids and other orthopteran pests include:
- Introducing their natural predators such as birds and parasitic wasps
- Using insecticidal soaps or oils targeting only the harmful insects
- Employing physical barriers like nettings to prevent them from reaching your plants
Special Species and Varieties
In this section, we will discuss some special species and varieties of katydids. They include the True Katydid, Angle Wing Katydids, Bush and Meadow Katydids, and Tropical Katydids.
True Katydid
The True Katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia) is a fascinating insect with unique features:
- It’s known for its loud and distinct song, which is often heard at night.
- Males produce the song by rubbing their wings together to attract females.
Some characteristics of the True Katydid include:
- Large size, measuring about 2 inches in length
- Green color, which helps them blend in with leaves
Angle Wing Katydids
Greater Angle-wing Katydids (Microcentrum rhombifolium) are distinguished by their striking appearance:
- They have large, angular wings that resemble leaves.
- They are usually green, sometimes with brown accents.
Advantages of their unique wing shape include:
- Better camouflage, allowing them to blend in with their environment
- Protection against predators
Bush and Meadow Katydids
Bush and Meadow Katydids, such as the Scudderia species, are usually smaller in size. Features of these katydids include:
- Variety of colors, such as green, brown, or yellow
- Their habitat ranges from bushes to meadows
Some benefits of their smaller size are:
- They can easily hide in the foliage
- Their agility allows them to quickly escape from predators
Tropical Katydids
Tropical Katydids showcase the most diverse characteristics:
- They inhabit warm, humid environments
- Many species exhibit vibrant colors and unique appearances
Here’s a comparison of the different katydids discussed in this section:
| Species | Size | Color | Wings | Habitat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| True Katydid | Large (2 in) | Green | No Angle | Forests |
| Angle Wing | Medium | Green/Brown | Angular | Various |
| Bush & Meadow | Small | Varied | No Angle | Bushes/Meadows |
| Tropical | Varied | Vibrant/Unique | Diverse | Tropical |
By understanding the distinctions between these katydid species, you can better appreciate their role in the ecosystem.
85 Comments. Leave new
Searching through Bug Guide, I eventually came across this Black-legged Meadow Katydid – Orchelimum nigripes…. http://bugguide.net/node/view/290792 I do believe that is what this wonderful creature is. (I am definitely not an expert, just basing this off of visual comparison.)
Tina
I’m happy to have little Kekoa on the internet. I only regret that she’ll die soon; though I don’t know if she will before or after her babies hatch. As I’ve already set aside the leaves she’s lain in, I’m going to attempt to raise a few of the nymphs and take pictures of each stage and such.
I can’t wait to see them hatch in the spring! Thank you once again for your answers to my questions, and most of all having Kekoa on the site. 🙂
Also known as a Corn Cricket. from the family Bradyporidae.
“Gogga” is normally a generic term used for most/all arthropods/creepy crawlies, originally from the Khoisan word xoxo, meaning insect.
Awesome. Thanks so much for the entomology/etymology lesson.
I am familiar with Piotr Naskrecki’s fine work on Orthoptera and amazing Orthoptera Species File but for him to say that “the orthopteran fauna of Sri Lanka is virtually unknown” is to display a staggering ignorance of the literature on Sri Lankan Orthoptera and in particular the work of George Morrison Reid Henry (1891-1983), Assistant in Systematic Entomology of the Colombo Museum (later Department of National Museums), Sri Lanka (1913-1945), collecting efforts and publications. It is true that there are no convenient handbooks or field guides to Sri Lankan Orthoptera, but I would bet that Sri Lanka’s Orthoptera fauna is better known than any other comparable tropical Asian country. There are excellent series of identified specimens in the Natural History Museum (London) and there used to be a good reference collection also in Colombo, also in Washington, D.C.
Thanks for your perspective on this.
I found the same thing on my windowsill just now in Bennington VT. This site was very helpful.
Thanks for letting us know you found what you were looking for.
What an impressive creature!
It seems that they feed on lychen, right? So I think they do not bite, I think that catch it in my hands would be the first thing I would try to do if I could see one of them.
Yeah, I got this pics from my fiance and they really don’t have a good resolution which makes the job harder. Thanks a lot anyway, it makes sense to be an orthopteran I think I can see jumping legs now………:) and this long antennaes , ok a Tettigoniidae !!!
how silly hehehe I didnt read what Karl said!!! duuurrrrrr please ignore it………
It really looks like Stenopelmatus.
Thanks for the amazingly fast and helpful response!
Cymatomera denticollis – only species in the genus in SA.
During my recent trip to Namibia I notice an large amount of the koringkriek.
I grew up in the Northern Cape of South Africa and we use to catch them an feed them to our chickens. for many year I have not seen them around so I was quite amazed to have see so many during my business trip in Namibia. at once stage I had thought that they had died out, o I am very glad that they are still around.
During my recent trip to Namibia I notice an large amount of the koringkriek.
I grew up in the Northern Cape of South Africa and we use to catch them an feed them to our chickens. for many year I have not seen them around so I was quite amazed to have see so many during my business trip in Namibia. at once stage I had thought that they had died out, o I am very glad that they are still around.
There seems to be a plague of them this year in Namibia it usually happens after a good rainy season we are on a farm at the moment where there are millions of them they eat each other once dead and anything else they find
Many insects are prone to occasional population explosions. Thanks for the notice.
Are you sure that is a female? It loos an awful lot like a male to me, as I don’t see an ovipositor and the top of the pronutum looks colored which is typical in male katydids as far as I know. I’m no expert, however. This is just my opinion.
Thanks. The correction is made and the title is jazzed up a bit.
Hi All
I am from Namibia.
Has anyone any info on the life cycle of these creatures?
Kind regards and gladly awaiting any reply!
Gert
Hi All
I am from Namibia.
Has anyone any info on the life cycle of these creatures?
Kind regards and gladly awaiting any reply!
Gert
I was cleaning my porch windows and found straw stuffed in the left (south) track of six windows. Some of the nests had four or five Katydids in them. I thought the nests were the work of birds until today, when I actually saw one of the wasps flying around holding a Katydid and then trying to stuff it into a hole in a patio chair. The wasp looks like the one in the picture. I am in Essex County, New Jersey.
I found so many nest made of dried grass with grasshopper looking critters in them in different stages, some young and barely moving and some that were completely dehydrated and something in larvae stage in the folds of my out door umbrella. I cleaned them out once and it was a mess and about 2 weeks later there were many more, so I have left my umbrella opened. I am in Tyler, Texas and have never seen this before. They need to move on. Just sayin…….
it’s a katydid from the genus EUGASTER. that’s probably an Eugaster guyoni.
Thanks for the correction. http://www.biologie.uni-ulm.de/cgi-bin/imgobj.pl?id=62990&lang=e&sid=T supports your identification.
I stay at mpumalanga witbank,I never seen such a kriek in my life it dig a hole as big as a rat hole
I live in Knoxville, TN and my 90 year old grandmother has been perplexed for years over this phenomenon. She couldn’t understand why a black wasp-like bug would build a nest in the left side crevices of her window frames filled with grass/hay. When she would take the screen out of her window and scrape the grass out, many grasshoppers/katydids would fall to the ground. They were alive but couldn’t move. She has been convinced for years that those katydids were baby wasps. I’m happy to tell her about what has really been happening. I do have a question though. Why do they only build on the left side?
For some reason, perhaps light or heat, the left side is more attractive to the wasp as a nesting site.
Today I found two such nests in the bottom frame of my screens. It made no sense that the little green “worms” could build on the second floor. Then I uncovered a live wasp in the grass nest. I live in Rochester, NY.
I found a nest built right into the door of my car with at least 10 tiny green victims, and I have also seen adult wasps around/in that crevice. I want to relocate everything somewhere less volatile (or likely to bake in the sun); what are environmental factors I should watch for to keep them safe?
I have been finding these nests in my crank out windows for 5 years now… filled with katy dids inside grass nests – sometimes 10-15 on a window, along with larvae – and occasionally will see the black wasp tucked in there with them when I open my window. If I don’t open them often, they will be packed, both on the bottom sill and the top of the window getting cranked out. Our windows face north and west… and it is on all of them. We live in Foreston, Minnesota… I only see them in the spring/summer months.
Hi everyone – this is helpful! Our grass carrying wasps I believe have set up camp in our backyard door in Toronto. I’m hoping to move them this weekend eeks – will they come right back when we shut the door and go to work?
We cannot predict how the Grass Carrier Wasps will react to eviction.
Hi everyone, I am so glad to come across this info! My daughter just showed me a bunch of grasshoppers jammed into the side of my screen, one was in the will just barely moving. Thanks to you I know what is going on! But question how to get rid of these “creatures” before I have wasps buzzing around by bedroom? Should I just use wsdp spray? I live just outside of Boston, MA and have NEVER seen this before!!
Thanks again for the help.
Amy
Hi everyone, I am so glad to come across this info! My daughter just showed me a bunch of grasshoppers jammed into the side of my screen, one was in the will just barely moving. Thanks to you I know what is going on! But question how to get rid of these “creatures” before I have wasps buzzing around by bedroom? Should I just use wsdp spray? I live just outside of Boston, MA and have NEVER seen this before!!
Thanks again for the help.
Amy
We do not provide extermination advice. Grass Carrying Wasps are not aggressive.
In OSF this species is not known from Central America, but there are other Markia species there http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=1138404 Though “Distribution maps are often incomplete”.
Thanks Cesar.
I think I’ve seen the same in Costa Rica few years ago.We’ve couldn’t sleep whole night of buzzing.What is a life expectancy of this insect in South America?
Most Katydids live a single season.
Hello
I photographed one of these critters in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco back in 2004. It was during a Locust storm/swarm and the Armoured Ground Cricket had emerged to devour one of their millions. I spent ages trying to identify this insect, but was thrown off the scent by all online references to Armoured Ground Crikets as being restricted to Southern Africa. Thank you all for helping to explain the phenomenom … and to Joost de Wall for instigating it. Anyway here are the photographs from 2004:
http://mrcreilly.deviantart.com/art/Armoured-Ground-Criket-2-675129793
http://mrcreilly.deviantart.com/art/Armoured-Ground-Criket-1-675120000
Regards
Robert
Hello
I photographed one of these critters in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco back in 2004. It was during a Locust storm/swarm and the Armoured Ground Cricket had emerged to devour one of their millions. I spent ages trying to identify this insect, but was thrown off the scent by all online references to Armoured Ground Crikets as being restricted to Southern Africa. Thank you all for helping to explain the phenomenom … and to Joost de Wall for instigating it. Anyway here are the photographs from 2004:
http://mrcreilly.deviantart.com/art/Armoured-Ground-Criket-2-675129793
http://mrcreilly.deviantart.com/art/Armoured-Ground-Criket-1-675120000
Regards
Robert
I’m in Oregon, (Portland area) and I stumbled across this when searching for a reason why my hoses and sprayers keep getting clogged up with grass and what looks like little bright green grasshoppers or crickets! I keep buying my plant watering devices only to find out they are plugged up right away, so I look inside to find these things.
Yes! Thank you! Been wondering what was going on here! Always in our south facing windows at the top! Simsbury CT
You certainly answered my question as to what these things were. I first noticed the small clumps of grass and little green nymphs on my deck furniture. The wasps are building their nests up under the siding on my home. This is the first year I’ve had them. My problem is the tiny black ants that converge on the little green nymphs as soon as they fall out.
Yep! Just what I thought about those little green bugs. Thanks for all the information and pictures.
Looks to me like it has katydid antennae.
We pondered that, but many Pyrgomorphidae have longer antennae, and the tips are cropped off.
Parasanaa donovani is very lookalike:
http://www.nbair.res.in/insectpests/Parasanaa-donovani.php
http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=1141472
You have one of the few images:
https://www.whatsthatbug.com/2014/09/16/katydid-found-near-water-fall/
Thanks so much Cesar. We knew we had one in our archives, but we couldn’t find it.
i am from the Williston district in the northern cape and as a child i have noticed huge clusters of these insects in the karoo bushes. There’ s a lot of folklore around these bugs. Can anyone enlighten me on this?
I THINK there’s a very well disguised, probably immature katydid in there? If you use the white U shape visible a little bit in from the left as a guide, you can see two bright green spots that I believe are eyes to the left of that, the front legs held just above and below each eye, the middle set of legs sticking out and up just behind them and the rear legs tucked along the abdomen, detectable by the repeating pattern of segments and small white horns atop each one. Being fairly blurry doesn’t help, but he is in there.
We concur there is something there, and we believe that B Wright did observe something that most likely moved, but the blurriness of the image makes a conclusive identification rather difficult.
It seems to be out of known distribution, but looks like Nicklephyllum acanthonotum https://zenodo.org/record/205813#.W6ltZUCJKM8 a recent species, so images and records must be rare.
Thanks so much Cesar. That does look like a good match.
I also live in the portland oregon area, aloha, and have found huge numbers of these nests in stored cedar shingles I’ve been processing. I’ve never seen the wasps but I’ve been able to watch the nests change from twitching katydids and grass into piles of legs and wings with pupae. Interesting they’re packed in grass. Thank you so much for identifying this awesome and bizarre phenomenon!
I saw one in 1971 at the Rhodesian border, an African told me it was a ‘Tzanene’ (sounded like). It was very colourful & seemed friendly.
I am in Toronto, Canada and found two of these nests last night just outside my window too ! totally freaked me out as I had no idea what it was ? grasshopper nest was my first thought but too high up for that. There was also one of those black wasps by one of the nests too ! I took photos as I was completely amazed at the little pods built for the larvae…wish I could upload but not sure how?
You may submit images by using the Ask WTB? link on our site.
I just saw some little strands of dead grass on my daughters windowsill the other day. I cleaned it up and looked again a day later and there were three of the katydids in the window next to her air conditioner. I got rid of them (not knowing what they were) and 5 minutes later there were 2 more. I was so confused and it looked like another one inside the right track of the window. For now, we stuffed an old t-shirt in the space and put tape around it to keep any bugs out of the house. This is so interesting though! I am in Schenectady, NY.
Thank you for this article. I had not driven my car in a week and when I opened my door, all these baby grasshoppers fell out with dead grass/straw material.
They were in the top door jambs of all 4 doors.
I had no idea what was making the nests but wasn’t amused by them at all. I have lived on farms all my life in Middle Tennessee but never remember having this happen before. At least not on my car.
I don’t mind bugs in general but Hate spiders! So I was relieved to know the nests were caused by wasps and not some creepy spider.
Thank you for this article. I had not driven my car in a week and when I opened my door, all these baby grasshoppers fell out with dead grass/straw material.
They were in the top door jambs of all 4 doors.
I had no idea what was making the nests but wasn’t amused by them at all. I have lived on farms all my life in Middle Tennessee but never remember having this happen before. At least not on my car.
I don’t mind bugs in general but Hate spiders! So I was relieved to know the nests were caused by wasps and not some creepy spider.
I’ve lived in this house 14 summers and have never witnessed this prior to this year! So interesting! Five-ten nymph katydids each day on porch. Grass carrying wasp nests in tubes of windchimes! So glad I found this thread!
Oh! Forgot to mention Ogden, UT
There is no doubt that the Neduba carinata is the insect which lives in my gas barbecue in Bluffton, SC, not far from Hilton Head Island. I’ve had plenty of time to observe the bug, so I’m sure of the I.D.
I was so traumatized at having disrupted a “grasshopper nest” when I opened my car door! The babies were still too little “to move much,” so I closed the door back up. I’ve been worried about them for two days, so finally googled and learned about their nightmare! Horrifying. I raced outside and put them out of their zombie’d misery. And to learn they were little Katydids, too. 🙁 I know Nature is Nature, but I couldn’t sit by for that one.
I have been dealing with this for 3 yrs now. don’t how to stop it. none of my neighbors deal with these. I live in Imlay City Mi.
Hi, I had the exact same case, I opened my window and I could see the prepature Drumming Katydids and hints of wasp eggs on their bodies.
Is it dangerous to have them so close to the house?
Hi, I had the exact same case, I opened my window and I could see the prepature Drumming Katydids and hints of wasp eggs on their bodies.
Is it dangerous to have them so close to the house?
.They are not aggressive and do not pose a threat to humans
I live in upstate New York. In the past week, I’ve had 4 nests in the rubber trim on the inside of my car doors. I do not know how they get into the car doors. When I open the car door, the wasp flies out and the nests are visible. Any suggestions on how to stop it? I feel badly destroying the nests but I can’t leave them there.
So glad to find your site! Cleaned windows this morning and a nest of these dropped down into my study (south window) along with a wasp totally freaking me out. First time this has happened. Will be much more alert next year. Wondering why now? Thanks for the education. We live in Avon, CT.
Wow just found all these barely moving katydids on our outdoor table so happy I came upon this!
Yesterday I did see a wasp pull a ( what I thought was a grasshopper) into a whole in the pole on our deck near the table where tonight I found six more seemingly paralyzed!
Glad to know it wasn’t some insecticide in the area! Thanks again!
Wow just found all these barely moving katydids on our outdoor table so happy I came upon this!
Yesterday I did see a wasp pull a ( what I thought was a grasshopper) into a whole in the pole on our deck near the table where tonight I found six more seemingly paralyzed!
Glad to know it wasn’t some insecticide in the area! Thanks again!
This site was helpful as I had these grass nests and green katidids fall out of my umbrellas in nj and Pennsylvania. Never saw this before. Very interesting
I would like to share a video of so many that I found in my window that can really go well on this page.
I calli call it a leaf bug. It is beautiful.
We keep having these wasps build these nests with the katydids in our deck umbrella. How do we keep them from doing this??
Perhaps removing the umbrella. Nature will do what nature does.
live in South Seattle in Wash. For 4 years found nests in North Facing, right hand corners of crank-out windows. Nice to know what’s going on.
Thanks
Thank you for the valuable information, i would be grateful if you know any other creatures that could be raised with a view to fighting these beetles
Thank you
I have seen these grass carrying wasps in holes left by carpenter bees on my deck cover framing. Today I went out to find 8 or 10 small katydids lying on the deck just below the cover framing. It looks like the wasps are having trouble getting the katydids into the bee holes. Thanks to this page, I know what is going on. I have been able to stop the carpenter bees with a foaming carpenter bee spray I put into the holes, but it doesn’t do anything to the wasps.
I am in the Tulsa, OK area.
Thank you so much all the information here! I just found a wasp’s nest in a fold of my deck umbrella in Mattapoisett, MA. The grass nest was large with at least 30 paralyzed katydids. This particular wasp made the nest in about a week, since that was the last time I opened the umbrella. It’s fascinating. Thank you again!
I was on my front porch and a wasp flew right past me carrying a piece of straw. I thought the poor thing has a piece of straw stuck to it, but no way I can help get it off. It was having a hard time carrying the straw that was twice as long as the wasp. Then it went under a porch chair and did not come back out. I looked under the chair and saw straw hanging out both end of a hollow metal support tubing. I lightly pulled on the straw and it was packed in tight. Mom wasp would not have appreciated me trying to get the straw away from her. I have lived in the Salt Lake City, UT area for 90 years and had never seen this before. Curious, I researched Grass Carrying Wasp and it came right up. The article stated that they were not found west of the Rockies. But now they obviously do.