This is an insect we saw hanging out on our bean plants. After researching, we've concluded it is a katydid, a sort of cross between a cricket and a grasshopper. It was so beautiful, but that "snout" and looking-right-at-ya eyes are a little intimidating. Katydids are of the Orthoptera order- with "ortho" meaning "straight" and "Ptera" making reference to flying. Katydids do have chewing mouth parts, but they don't tend to do too much damage to leaves, and we haven't noticed any. Perhaps they get full eating harmful bugs in the garden. We try to let nature take its course and let the critters live. We have a toad who comes out every night and doesn't go in until sunrise. We've seen him at 5:00 am, but he's gone by 7:00 am. Perhaps he is eyeing the katydid. They make a distinctive sound. While they are rare, pink katydids do exist. Habitat loss and pesticides are said to be stressors on the katydid population.
Have you seen a katydid in your yard? Have you ever seen a pink one? Nature is so fascinating. Let us know what you are seeing in your Greensboro yards. Planting edibles; not spraying chemicals and raking less yields a yard of fascinating critters.
Happy Thursday!
Comments