Speckled Bush-cricket Leptophyes punctatissima Body green, speckled with black dots and rather compact, that of female bearing scimitar-shaped ovipositor. Legs long and spindly. Favours hedges and scrub. Often on bramble leaves. Katydids: Bush Crickets, or Katydids (of the sub-order Ensifera)) are distinguished from grasshoppers by having long antennae instead of short antennae. They are quite a spectacular animals, the females reaching a maximum size of 54mm. They are also distinctive because of their spindly jumping legs. They are quite harmless to humans, although capable of nipping a finger with their strong biting mouth parts if they are handled carelessly. The male cerci are curved inwards and are use to hold the females. The females are endowed with a fearsome-looking broad-bladed ovipositor but, although it strikes terror into many people, it is quite harmless and is use for placing the eggs in the right place. This may be the soil, crevices in bark or rotting wood. The eggs are laid singly and do not hatch until the next spring or early summer, therefore they must be well hidden to live all the way though the harsh winter. The nymph mature in about 3 months, producing adults in August and September. Whereas all grasshoppers are vegetarian, katydids are at least partly carnivorous, eating small insects such as aphids and larvas. Some species are even cannibalistic on occasion. Bush crickets or Katydids are more nocturnal than grasshoppers, becoming active in the late afternoon and continuing to sing until well into the night. The predators of Grasshoppers and Katydids of many birds, spiders and carnivorous insects. Sound production: In August, grasshoppers and crickets are mature, songful and plentiful, symbols of the sound, warmth and productiveness of the summer months. The three main songs, which may be suitably elaborated, are concerned with various stages and aspects of courtship. The initial song, designed to attract the female; the more intimate courtship song when she is close; and the rivalry song when the "eternal triangle" situation is invoked by the presence of another male. All female crickets play a listening role, leaving the musical production to the males. Photos taken with Canon powershot A200. Thanks for watching :-)