Rattler Round-Winged Katydid

katydid [ˈkādēˌdid]

NOUN a large, typically green, long-horned grasshopper native to North America. The male makes a characteristic sound that resembles the name.

These insects are often called "bush crickets" and are noted for their nocturnal mating calls. Katydids are also known for their large hind legs and extremely long threadlike antennae and the thick, upwardly curved ovipositor (egg-laying structure) of the females.They belong to a group of about 6,000 species in the cricket family. Katydids are widespread and are typically found living in grasses, trees and bushes, often matching the appearance of their surroundings. 

I stopped watering my plants the other evening long enough to take a couple of photos of this katydid. I noticed it was different from other katydids I'd seen because of the brown colored "triangle" on its upperpart. From my research, I gleaned that this katydid is called a Rattler Round-winged Kaydid and it belongs to a major group of katydids known as false katydids and a sub-group called round-headed katydids.

Rattler Round-Winged Katydid

The Rattler Round-winged Katydid is common and often found in shrubs at or below eye level. Known as an excellent leaf mimic, it seems to frequently sit in the open so it is easier to find than many other katydids. It produces a rattler sound when it sings at night, hence the name that was pinned to it. This katydid usually begins singing around the middle of July. Adults are very susceptible to frosts and do not survive the first couple of freezing nights.

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Photos taken 5/30/2020