Fun False Katydid Facts For Kids

False katydid long-horned grasshoppers are from the family of Tettigoniidae. This species is found in India, America, Australia, and Europe. They have a wide range of distribution and can be seen in heathlands, deserts, and tropic areas. This insect species is sedentary and found in elevated cool-dry areas on green leaf blades.

The body and wings of this species can be well camouflaged with their surroundings. The leaf pattern and wing of this species are almost similar. The most common name of this species is greater-angle wing katydid.

They are nocturnal insects and are attracted to bright lights. Females lay eggs that hatch during the spring season and grow into adults by late summer.

The males are known to produce song sounds such as 'katy-she did', 'katy did', 'katy did not'. The male produces this sound by rubbing his wings. The Microcentrum and Scudderia genere species are sometimes confused on the basis of their sounds.

The eggs are laid in a row which appears to be like small rosary white beads on the midrib of the leaf of the plant. They feed on different foods such as seeds, flowers, weeds, and the fruits of small plants.

It is a solitary insect species that often is shy in human presence. The conservation status of this species is Not Evaluated, but is commonly considered to be Least Concern.

If you enjoyed reading this article, then do read about other insect species such as katydids and grass spiders.

False Katydid Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a false katydid?

The false katydid, with the scientific name Microcentrum rhombifolium, is actually one of the true katydids, well known by other common names such as the greater-angle-wing katydid and broad-winged katydid. In some places, they are even called long-horned grasshoppers and bush crickets.

What class of animal does a false katydid belong to?

The false katydid belongs to the class of Insecta and family Tettigoniidae. They are from the genus Microcentrum and the order of Orthoptera.

How many false katydids are there in the world?

The exact number of these long-horned grasshoppers is not estimated and is unknown to the world.

Where does a false katydid live?

The Microcentrum rhombifolium has a wide range of fauna. Their distribution is mostly seen in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and America. They can be found in Australia, America, and India. Many times they are spotted in some areas of Canada and northern Europe. They are also seen in the Amazon rainforest.

What is a false katydid's habitat?

The Microcentrum rhombiofolium is a widely spread true katydid whose habitation is mostly in heathlands, deserts, tropics, and rainforests, and the cool areas of dry places. They are spotted on long leaves of plants and tree branches.

They are less likely to spend their time on the ground. They prefer to be in trees, green, elevated areas. During the summer and fall seasons, this species is active.

Who do false katydids live with?

The Microcentrum rhombiofolium species are solitary by nature and often avoid the presence of humans. You might often see them sitting because they are sedentary.

How long does a false katydid live?

The lifespan of this insect species is not long and they live for a short period of time. They live for around 6-12 months.

How do they reproduce?

Microcentrum rhombifolium females lay eggs, making the surface of the branch hard and rough. The eggs laid have natural glue and attach themselves to the plants.

The eggs are laid on long thin branches of green bush and trees that look like small white beads laid in a single row. The insects of genera Microcentrum and Scudderia are believed to lay eggs in this pattern only. Generally, the male attracts the female with its singing techniques.

The eggs are hatched in the spring months and turn into adults by the end of the summer season. They only produce one generation in a year.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of this species is Not Evaluated, but as they have a widely spread range of habitats, they are at no risk.

False Katydid Fun Facts

What do false katydids look like?

The Microcentrum rhombifolium katydid species can be categorized in the list of camouflagers because of their body type and color. They almost resemble the leaf of trees and plants as they are green and pale green in color with large wings patterned in the shape of a leaf.

The head of this katydid species is small and joins at the tip of both the wings. They have an angular side view that gives them their name, the greater-angle-wing katydid.

The lower body or base of this species is thick, allowing them to jump. The hind legs at the back are thin and longer than the forelimbs. They have long antennae, longer than their forelimbs.

In a few cases, pink katydids are also spotted in North America, but this one in 500 cases. Baby nymphs look more like crickets, unlike mole cricket and grasshoppers, whereas adults differ from them.

How cute are they?

This katydid species is cute and green with a small head like a capsule at the tip of their wings. These katydid insect species would be given a rate of three or four on a scale of one to five for their cuteness.

How do they communicate?

Communication in the katydid species takes place through sounds. The male species are often seen producing 'tic-tic' songs by rubbing their wings.

This vocal organ is placed at the hind angle in front of the forewings. The females have also been reported to produce sounds like males, but their sounds or vocals are different than males. The false katydid sound can be heard at night time.

How big is a false katydid?

The katydid, also known as the true katydid, is 2.5 in (6 cm) long.

How fast can false katydids move?

Yes, these katydids are very quick and fast with a high jump of up to 10 ft (3 m). Their quick movements make it difficult to catch them. They are able to fly for a short distance.

How much does a false katydid weigh?

The false katydid weighs around 0.24-0.28 oz (7-8 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There is no specific name given to the male and female species. They are generally called the male false katydid and the female false katydid.

What would you call a baby false katydid?

The babies of false katydids are nymphs.

What do they eat?

The Microcentrum rhombifolium are herbivores. Their diet consists of food such as leaves, seeds, weeds, fruits, flowers, and bark. They are even called seasonal crop pests.

Are they dangerous?

They are usually not dangerous and are not harmful. They do no hurt, but due to their eating habits, they have been categorized as seasonal crop pests. They feed on some seasonal fruits and plants, but this is not considered to cause damage. They have predators such as frogs, snakes, birds and lizards. 

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, they would make a good pet. All you need to do is if you find them near your house, then feed them on a daily basis. However, it is better to leave them in their natural surroundings.

Did you know...

The false katydid, under the order of Orthoptera, insect species with green wings, is considered a good luck charm in many different cultures. It is a sign of intelligence and manifestation.

The eggs hatch into small nymphs but do not have wings like adult. They go through the process of molting and grow into an adult with wings.

The Microcentrum and Scudderia species differ from other Orthoptera species such as grasshoppers on the basis of their antennae, which are generally shorter and thicker.

Do false katydids live in Texas?

These medium-sized large insects are found in Texas. Specifically, the northern true katydid, scientific name Pterophylla carnellifolia, is found in Texas.

Why are they called katydids?

They are called katydids because they produce songs that sound like 'katy she did',' katy did' or 'katy did not'.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other arthropods from our wheel bug interesting facts and stick bug fun facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable grasshopper and the ants coloring pages.

Main image by Greg Schechter