KATYDID

KATYDID
Katydids can be distinguished from grasshoppers in that their antennae are much longer--often even longer than the whole body. They are usually green, and hard to see when sitting in plants. Both adults and nymphs usually have a distinct humpbacked appearance. Males are generally 3/4ths to two inches long in the many varieties, with females slightly larger. Males are able to make a long series of sounds, and females answer with a single click. The sounds are produced the same way crickets do--by rubbing veins at the bases of the forewings together. They are most prominent in the late summer and early fall, and are fairly nocturnal. They spend most of their lives in trees and shrubs.

Adult katydids will eat leaves, flowers, and even other insects. Nymphs eat both leaves and fruit, feeding on a small section of the fruit before moving on to another. A few katydids may damage a large amount of fruit in a short time. Damage to young fruit can cause it to become severely distorted as it develops. Nymphs and adults will also chew holes in foliage.

Life Cycle
In the fall, most females lay eggs in single or double lines on the surface of twigs and leaves. The eggs hatch in April and May, and mature in 6-9 weeks, so the adults appear in the middle of summer. There is usually only one generation per year, and they overwinter both as eggs and adults.