Katydid by Chipka
Close
Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.
Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
Description
As with most insects, names are deceiving, and katydids are not immune to this small, linguistic quirk. In the continental USA, bush crickets are known as katydids, but the katydid name is often applied, mistakenly, to cicadas—a completely unrelated family of hefty, flagrantly operatic insects. It isn’t uncommon to hear people speaking of long-horned grasshoppers, when referring to bush crickets. In the Midwestern USA, such creatures are also mistakenly called leafhoppers. There are such creatures as leafhoppers, but they don’t look like this spermatophylax-cleaning gentleman here, and they’re a lot smaller in overall size.
Katydids belong to the family, Tettigoniidae, and like most insect families, membership is rather prodigious. There are more than 6,400 members of this particular insect family, though one must travel to tropical countries in order to see the more garish representatives. Most of the tettigoniids in North America are green and devoid of flagrant decoration. They’re minimalists, it would seem.
Like cicadas (with whom katydids are often confused) the males are operatic. They produce clicking, whirring songs by a process of stridultion. Males produce stridulating organs on their hind legs, and often on their wings. Stidulating sounds are produced in ways similar to rubbing the teeth of two combs together. I’ve attempted such methods of stridulation myself. No insect has yet responded, or if so, the response wasn’t the one I was expecting. Maybe I should use more expensive combs with finer teeth.
I caught this particular person, grooming—as if oblivious—in the oft-mentioned truck-yard. I was in the process of cleaning up, when I saw something green and distinctly non-garbage-like on a box (filled with plastic wrap) destined for the local garbage dump. As I go nowhere without my camera, I nabbed as many pictures of the creature as possible, and didn’t realize, later, that the grooming model is probably a male, making sure that his spermatophylax is nice and clean. In some species of katydid, males possess a detachable organ-thingy known as a spermatophylax. It is commonly consumed by females of the species; the spermatophylax is a kind of…well…biological super-adhesive; it is utilized by katydid males to ensure prolonged spermatophore contact with the vital, reproductive parts of the female in question. This increases the male’s chances at paternity. For some odd reason, katydid reproduction is of extreme interest to humans. Some of this is probably due to the fact that they’re considered a pest species as they’re voracious and tend to devour the nice, botanical things humans don’t want them devouring. It is logical, then, to look at their reproductive habits in an attempt to derail reproduction and thus, reduce their numbers. This hasn’t actually happened to any significant extent, but we have learned that one particular breed of bush cricket possesses the most gigantic testes of any animal species on earth: among tuberous bush cricket males, the testes account for 14% of the creature’s body mass: that’s a lot of maleness! This, I think, has done nothing but add to the common neurotic tendency of some human males to feel horrendously inadequate. I find that hilarious. But unfortunately, this isn’t a prodigiously male tuberous bush cricket; it’s just a common, green katydid (with a spermatophylax,) found in a Chicago truck-yard.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all on the verge of a great weekend.
Comments (32)
durleybeachbum
What a super pic and extremely interesting info! I'm glad I'm not alone in feeling undressed without my camera!
KatesFriend
I have to admire this creature's effective camouflage. I would have disregarded it completely as some unfortunate maple leaf struck down from its tree before its time. It's wonderful that it was so patient as to let you get this portrait of him. Very nice and sharp. I believe that we used to have insects such as these in my part of the world when I was growing up. They used to be attracted to the dash board of my father's car. Windows were rarely rolled up in those day (summer time anyways) and leaves from our maple tree often floated in. But I was more than once startled by the sudden animation of what I thought was one of those green leafs (yes, I know, it's leaves but hey I root for Toronto). And I love the added character of the old car waisting away in the background. Your Katydi, completely unconcerned by the fall of a once proud piece of human technology.
dreampaint
district 9 :) awesome shot.
MadameX
Wonderful capture and very entertaining information, Chip. My sister, with whom I had the brief argument about cicadas and katydids, has never mentioned it since. Likely, she's looked them up on the internet and found that I was right, something she won't be compelled to admit to me.
MagikUnicorn
I love this unique insect ;-)
blinkings
Very interesting and I bet that camouflage really helps when the hungry birdies arrive.
Feliciti
perfect camouflaged for sit on leaves i think ,like to see all details !!
flavia49
fantastic capture
bullsnook
I've heard them called katydids my whole life, nice to know what they really are. nice shot to
charpix
Fascinating info, and excellent capture of this creature. Insects can be educational, rather than just bothersome pests to us.
CoreyBlack
Is this one of those "green" eco- friendly tripods from War of the Worlds? Does it's "health ray" shoot tofu and bean curd? Am I being way too silly here? I love his shade of green, and if I'm seeing what I think I'm seeing he certainly looks to be the master of his domain. Very nice detailing in this macro shot. Great work!
Sepiasiren
Katydids--cicadas whatever they may be the little suckers are kinda cute--for bugs! Great shot there Chipka!
Crabbycabby
Fantastic looking creature.
kgb224
Wonderful find and capture my friend. God Bless.
helanker
Wow! what an excellent shot, but I dont think he liked you to photograph him, so he played rude by cleaning his private parts. ;-) Thanks for the info. Dont know if we have such one in DK.
tofi
This is indeed, a most curious and beautiful looking critter! It was quite interesting to read up on it.... I've seen many that are difficult suspects to find amongst nature, though none quite like this. I really admire the way you have it set upon it's resting place. The contrast is wonderful, and gives the viewer a chance to examine such a lovely little wonder. It really does look like a leaf... and the way you've managed to capture such clarity and precision of it's wings...the transparency is really admirable, indeed! Thank you for sharing this Chip! I hope you're weekend is lovely!
Hubert
An amazing camouflage! Great shot!!
evinrude
Light is so much more intriguing when it shines through things.
MrsRatbag
Wonderful camouflage on their body, they do so look like leaves...and fascinating information about these curious insects!
sandra46
WONDERFUL CAPTURE
Blush
You got a pic of a katydid Lucky lucky you.... I hear them all time but never got a pic Nothing even close...just their sometimes irritating call Great collage for the lil fella as well another fav Hugs Susan~
evielouise
I'm with blush I have never noticed them but hear them ,next time I'm working out there I will be more careful and the information is great thank you:but how do I keep crickets from inviting themselves into our house ,frank doesn't let me hurt them he said it was bad luck...hobwash"
RodS
Great shot of this fastideous fellow, Chip. I've always rather liked katydids, although I get a bit perturbed with thier smaller cousins when they slip into the house, and start chirping at 3:00 in the morning. This is a wonderful, clear photo, and the shallow DOF really makes him stand out! I like it!
moochagoo
Excellent find, and, that's amazing, plastic adds :)
icerian
Unexpectable shapes in the nature. You are mapping it in your photographs.
CloverLinda
Excellent capture, their camo abilities obviously are excellent seeing this close up shot. We have cicadas here in Australia but I don't believe we have these guys. (have to look it up) Thank you for some great information, and an educational lesson :)))))))))
flora-crassella
a very cool insect! FANTASTIC shot!!!!!
aksirp
great shot and title dear friend!
myrrhluz
Pretty supple and uninhibited fellow. He reminds me of my cat. Great informative and funny narrative. I've never seen a Katydid in this position. Superb capture of it. Excellent detail, color, and light. I like the light coming in through his wings, and showing off the tiny little veins. The lighting makes the plastic wrap quite beautiful, like ice with delicate colors coming through it and wonderful light and shadows. Excellent work.
praep
Awesome capture - never saw the do such - ähm - things?! Great moment you captured.