Critter Catalog

What do they look like?

Katydids are medium-sized to large insects. They are usually green, sometimes with brown markings. They have a thick body, usually taller than it is wide, and long thing legs. The hind legs are longer than the front or middle legs, and are often used for jumping. On the head they have chewing mouthparts and long thin antennae that reach back at least to the abdomen of the insect. The adults of some katydid species can fly, and all katydids are camouflaged to blend with the leaves they feed on.

In all species the front wings have special structures that can be rubbed together to make sounds. They hear these sounds with flat patches on their legs that act as ears.

Females are usually larger than males, and have a long sharp structure at the end of the abdomen. This looks like a stinger, but it is actually an "ovipositor." They use if for sticking their eggs into the ground or into plant stems.

• Other Physical Features
• ectothermic
• bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• female larger

Where do they live?

There are hundreds of katydids species, and they are found all over the world. As with most insect groups, the greatest richness of katydid species is in tropical areas. In Michigan we have about 20 species.

• Biogeographic Regions
• nearctic
  • native
• palearctic
  • native
• oriental
  • native
• ethiopian
  • native
• neotropical
  • native
• australian
  • native

What kind of habitat do they need?

Katydids spend most of their lives on the plants that they eat, so they need habitats with lots of plants. They can live in lots of different climates, so any habitat with plants usually has at least a few katydid species.

• These animals are found in the following types of habitat
• temperate
• tropical
• terrestrial

• Terrestrial Biomes
• taiga
• desert or dune
• chaparral
• forest
• rainforest
• scrub forest
• mountains

• Wetlands
• marsh
• swamp
• bog

How do they grow?

Katydids have incomplete metamorphosis. The nymph that hatches from an egg looks a lot like an adult, except that it doesn't have wings. As they grow, katydids shed their exoskeletons (this is called molting). In their last molt, they get wings and they become adults. After that they stop growing and don't molt any more.

How long do they live?

Most katydid species live for a year or less. Only one stage in the life-cycle (usually the eggs) can survive the winter. In the tropics some species can live for several years.

How do they behave?

Some katydid species are active during the day, but most are nocturnal. They can move around more then without being spotted by predators. Katydids are not social, they don't live in groups.

• Key Behaviors
• diurnal
• nocturnal
• sedentary
• solitary

How do they communicate with each other?

Katydids use sound to communicate across distances. Sometimes nearby males will all call together, trying to attract females. They also use their antennae to touch and smell each other. They can see too.

What do they eat?

Katydids are primarily leaf-eaters. They sometimes eat other plant parts (especially flowers). They also sometimes eat dead insects, insect eggs or slow-moving insects like aphids. In the tropics some species are quite carnivorous.

• Primary Diet
• carnivore
• herbivore

What eats them and how do they avoid being eaten?

Katyids rely on their excellent camouflage for protection. They can also jump very quickly, and spend most of their time in trees and bushes. The adults of some species can fly.

• Known Predators

  • wasps
  • spiders
  • ants
  • praying mantids
  • tree frogs
  • birds
  • bats

Do they cause problems?

• Ways that these animals might be a problem for humans
• crop pest

How do they interact with us?

Katydids don't have much to do with humans. They are interesting to watch and listen to, but they don't have many direct effects on humans. Sometimes they damage crop plants, but this is rare.

Are they endangered?

No katydids are considered endangered. Some have become more rare because they need particular kinds of habitats or food plants.

• IUCN Red List [Link]

  Not Evaluated

Some more information...

Some people think that the call of some katydids sounds like someone calling out the words "Katy Did! Katy Didn't! Katy Did! Katy Didn't!" That's where the family gets its common name.