Outdoor Elements
Katydid or Didn't
Clip | 3m 11sVideo has Closed Captions
Evie explores the world of Katydids, the musical insects that serenade us with their uniqu
Evie explores the world of Katydids, the musical insects that serenade us with their unique sound. From their camouflage skills to their fascinating mating rituals, katydids are truly fascinating creatures. Join Evie as she guides you through the world of these remarkable insects.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Outdoor Elements is a local public television program presented by PBS Michiana
Outdoor Elements
Katydid or Didn't
Clip | 3m 11sVideo has Closed Captions
Evie explores the world of Katydids, the musical insects that serenade us with their unique sound. From their camouflage skills to their fascinating mating rituals, katydids are truly fascinating creatures. Join Evie as she guides you through the world of these remarkable insects.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipIn late August, I start to hear a familiar insect singing it's raspy call and that's how I know fall is coming.
I'll hear Katy, Katydid, Katy, Katy, Katydid.
It is a Katie did and they'll often sing through fall as long as the night time temperatures are warm enough.
I happen to find this Katydid on my Zinnias in the garden in October and by that time of year, it's chilly and the Katydid's, which are usually high up in the trees, tend to be a little more clumsy in their flight and their movement and then tend to drop down lower.
So, it's a good time to find them.
There are lots of different kinds of Katydid's, meadow Katydids, bush Katydid's true Katydid's.
This one I think is a forktail Katydid, a very common species found throughout the United States and I believe it's a female because I can see a brown curved ovapositor at the tip of her abdomen.
In many species, males and females sing but it's the males who do the most singing and the singing is actually a almost a type of percussion, right?
So, the males depending on the species can rub their wings together or a wing rubbing against the comb-like structures on their leg also can make a sound for some species that's a process known as stridulation when body parts of an insect are rubbing to make a sound and of course the males do it to attract a female.
Their song is much slower in rhythm when it's colder and I recorded this Katydid singing about 2 AM on an October evening and it was pretty slow whereas on a warm summer night the cadence is much much more rapid.
Lots of things will eat Katydid's and a good clue that they are a prey species is their great camouflage color their green body hides very very well in any kind of green plant.
Better to hide from a predator that will snatch them up but Katie did's actually are plant eaters so by time late fall comes around.
There isn't much for them to eat.
The females have already mated.
They've laid eggs on tree branches and twigs and plant stems and then the adult Katydid die and the eggs will hatch in the spring eventually to sing their late summer and fall Katydid song.
Remember you can find your own outdoor elements when you visit area parks and natural areas.
We'll see you soon.
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Outdoor Elements is a local public television program presented by PBS Michiana