Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Katydid


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We had a visitor near our back door the other day. A katydid, most likely Microcentrum rhombifolium according to Karen Bernhard, Entomologist at Lehigh County Extension.

I never saw a katydid and I thought it was rather pretty. The kids thought it looked like a leaf. They were right on. The leaf appearance is a clever camouflage for these insects.

The katydid is a destructive insect with chewing mouth parts. It is also a tasty meal for birds, bats and frogs.

Some interesting katydid facts here http://www.zoo.org/factsheets/katydid/Katydid.html and here http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4TH/KKHP/1INSECTS/katydid.html You can listen to its “song” here http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/031a.htm
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