Sunday, August 10, 2014

Katy Did What!


Actually this is an insect called a Katydid.   I found this guy sitting on top of a flower in the high bushes of my backyard.  I don't know why, but I'm always discovering something when I least expect it.  In fact, this is my first time seeing a katydid.  Here are a few facts about these creatures.

  •       There are over 250 species in North America alone and over 6000 species in the tropical areas of the world.


  •        Katydids eat leaves, flowers and sometimes dead insects.


  •        They are the color green which gives them the  camouflage they need to protect themselves from predators such as wasps, spiders and ants.


  •        They live for about one year.


  •        They have wings. However, they do not fly very well. Instead they jump very fast.


  •        They use sound to communicate from a distance.  In fact the males are known to have a sound producing organ attached to the hind angles of their front wings. Which can be mainly heard at night.


  •        They are not social and prefer to live alone.



No comments:

Post a Comment