If you see a small green leaf suddenly move on its own with no wind or breeze present at the time, do not fret. Chances are that that “green leaf” is likely an insect called either a katydid or a bush cricket, which is part of the Tettigoniidae family of insects and resembles a grasshopper…
Sunday Morning Photograph August 29 2021: Katydid — or Katy Didn’t.
…but due to its natural propensity of camouflaging itself, the katydid will likely stay almost perfectly still upon whatever it is perched. Otherwise harmless to human beings, it could bite you if it feel threatened by you — but not to worry: its bite is no more painful or intense than that of a mosquito; and even then, soap and water is a good antidote to treat the area.
Human beings are more concerned about the appetite of a katydid, as leaves are the primary part of its diet — hence its appearance to hide itself — but although they can nibble away on your favorite crops if you are a gardener, they usually do not cause serious damage.
The reason for the name katydid is derived from the repeated onomatopoeic sound it chants quite loudly: “kay-TI-did”. If you are reading this article while outdoors, you will likely hear a katydid, as members of the Tettigoniids family are found on every continent in the world — except for Antarctica, of course. In North America alone, as many as 255 species of katydids are found in the cool, dry temperate regions of the continent.
Its long antennae have also earned it the name of long-horned grasshopper.
Final Boarding Call
Among the ways of repelling katydids is to concoct your own natural insect repellant — such as garlic spray and your favorite brand of hot sauce — and you can even eat the edible plants on which either the garlic spray or the hot sauce has been applied…
…or you can simply choose to leaf the katydid alone if it does not bug you in any way whatsoever.
Regardless, the question still remains: what exactly did Katy do — other than apparently lie, as you could see it in her eyes, according to Steely Dan?
Photograph ©2007 by Brian Cohen.
