Common True Katydid

image of a Common True Katydid
Scientific Name
Pterophylla camellifolia
Family
Tettigoniidae (katydids) in the order Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids)
Description

The green wings of the common true katydid look almost exactly like leaves.

Katydids, as a group, are close relatives of grasshoppers and crickets and are distinguished from them by their long antennae; vertically positioned wings that form a roof over the body; and the flattened, bladelike ovipositor that protrudes from the end of the female’s abdomen.

This particular species of katydid is identified by the humplike cup formed by the wings; the many prominent wing veins; and two grooves running side-to-side on the pronotum (the collarlike plate between the head and wings).

Even if you never see these katydids, you are certain to hear them on hot summer nights, as they rasp their loud mating calls from high in trees: “Katy did! Katy didn’t! Katy did! Katy didn’t!”

Similar species: This is only one of several species of katydids in Missouri. Katydids (as a family) are also sometimes called long-horned grasshoppers, long-horned meadow grasshoppers, or bush crickets.

Learn more about this and other katydids on their group page.

Other Common Names
Northern Katydid
True Katydid
Rough-Winged Katydid
Size

Length: to about 2½ inches (not counting legs, wings, or antennae).

Where To Find
image of Common True Katydid Distribution Map

Statewide.

This species of katydid is arboreal: They live in trees. Because they generally remain in high treetops, people rarely see them until cool weather in autumn makes them clumsy and causes them to land, more and more, on the ground.

Common true katydids are slow walkers, and they tend to jump only when frightened. The wings function mainly as parachutes, breaking their fall after they leap.

Common true katydids eat leaves in the deciduous trees they inhabit.

Common.

The raucous, repetitive, nighttime rasping of both males and females are mating calls. Late in the season, the pregnant female uses her sword-shaped ovipositor to insert eggs into bark crevices in trees, and the eggs overwinter there, hatching in spring.

As with other insects, this species molts through a number of immature, wingless stages before a final molt in which they emerge as winged, sexually mature adults. There is one brood (generation) per year.

Missouri’s nighttime chorus of insect sounds has been likened to a symphony. If that’s the case, then katydids certainly perform some of the loudest solos during our hottest summer nights.

Common true katydids are leaf eaters and are preyed upon by numerous birds, snakes, and other predators that hunt in treetops. One clue that they might be preyed upon heavily is their exquisite camouflage: Hiding from something is very important to them!

Media Gallery
image of a Common True Katydid
The common true katydid is a master mimic. Its bright green color matches surrounding leaves, and its wings are veined like leaves as well.
Donna Brunet
1/3
Common true katydid female on a leaf
The green wings of the common true katydid look almost exactly like leaves. This is the species that loudy rasps "Katy did, Katy didn't" from trees on summer evenings.
Julianna Schroeder
2/3
A large green katydid is perched on a deck railing. Its eyes are yellow on top and green on the bottom.
Submitted by R.M.
3/3
image of a Common True Katydid
Common true katydid female on a leaf
A large green katydid is perched on a deck railing. Its eyes are yellow on top and green on the bottom.
Similar Species

Where to See Species

Woods at Marion Bottoms CA
Marion Bottoms Conservation Area
Marion Bottoms Conservation Area, in Cole County, is located two miles north of Marion, MO on Moniteau Creek road off of Highway 179.
About Land Invertebrates in Missouri
Invertebrates are animals without backbones, including earthworms, slugs, snails, and arthropods. Arthropods—invertebrates with “jointed legs” — are a group of invertebrates that includes crayfish, shrimp, millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, and insects. There may be as many as 10 million species of insects alive on earth today, and they probably constitute more than 90 percent all animal species.