While in your yard, you see a large light green grasshopper-like insect on the leaves of one of your shrubs. You don't see any damage from this insect but you are curious what kind of insect you are looking at.
1. What is this insect?
This is a katydid which is closely related to grasshoppers and crickets. All three of these insects have a leathery first pair of wings and enlarged back legs for jumping. A katydid differs from grasshoppers by having very long antennae while grasshoppers have short antennae. Katydids can be distinguished from most crickets in that they are green while most crickets are black or brown. Katydid grow to be as large as two inches long. They spend much of their time in tops of tall, mature trees and are nocturnal. Katydids are common from mid to late summer, although they are infrequently seen.
2. Does this insect damage plants?
While katydids feed on leaves their feeding is not noticeable. They are not considered to be pests.
3. Does this insect produce sound?
Katydids are prolific sound producers. Only males sing in order to attract a female. They rub their wings together, resulting in a rapid pulsed sound that is repeated over and over. Some people think the are singing Îkaty did, katy didn't'. Katydid chirping is loud and conspicuous. Their singing can go on most of the night and for several days in a row. In some cases, this activity may even last for weeks.
4. Does this insect need to be controlled?
It isn't necessary to treat katydids to protect trees or other plants. Sometimes people complain that katydid singing keeps them awake at night. However, it isn't practical to try them spray them as they are usually in the tops of tall trees and would be very difficult to reach them with an insecticide. Even if you could, it isn't environmentally friendly to treat an entire tree just to kill one slightly annoying insect. If this is a problem, it is best to tolerate them and wait until they finish.
