Katydid

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katydid, (family Tettigoniidae), also called long-horned grasshopper or bushcricket, also spelled bush cricket, any of about 6,000 predominantly nocturnal insects that are related to crickets (the two groups are in the suborder Ensifera, order Orthoptera) and are noted for their mating calls. Katydids are also known for their large hind legs and extremely long threadlike antennae as well as the thick, upwardly curved ovipositor (egg-laying structure) of the females.

common true katydid, Pterophylla camellifolia

The common true katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia) produces the repetitive song for which katydids are named; the song is phoneticized as “katy-did, katy-didn’t.” However, each species of katydid has its own rasping song, produced by stridulation, whereby the forewings, one of which is ridged, are rubbed together. Although katydid songs are species-specific, different species are able to hear one another’s calls. Songs differ as to their purpose, being either reproductive, territorial, aggressive, or defensive in nature.