Although this 45mm long Katydid (Maori, Kiki Pounamu, L. Caedicia simplex) may be a native insect (it’s also found in Australia) it is called after the call of the American Katydyd (Katy Did, Katy Didn’t). Well that’s what Andrew Crowe tells us. It is quite a coincidence that after just posting about the Tussock Katydid in my Monday Morning Medly a week or so ago I should come across this one so soon after. As far as I can recall I’ve never seen one before. It can jump or fly. At night it eats fresh leaves, flower buds and fruit and these can change its colour to a pinkish red.
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Beautiful! Under what circumstances do they change their colour? Danger? To attract a mate? Or simply because they want to have a change every now and then?
ReplyDeleteWhen they eat a certain plant I understand they then turn the colour of what they've eaten. Presumably it has developed a certain camouflage ability because when it is green the wings are veined like leaves and they are exceptionally hard to spot.
DeleteI'm fascinated by them changing colour, too. Didn't know they could do that. Is it what they eat that causes them to change colour?
ReplyDeleteI believe it is Pauline.
DeleteAh, yes, grasshoppa, I see yours didn't. :)
ReplyDelete'Fraid not Lisa. It was dead on arrival on my deck.
DeleteIn these pictures it looks like Katy didn't (jump or fly)... Is it dead or alive?!
ReplyDeleteIt was almost dead, Monica, and my powers of resuscitation were almost as bad as my ability to spell resuscitate.
DeleteBeautiful green GB
ReplyDeleteWe have a similar kind of Katydid here in Massachusetts, GB. Sometimes they appear more tan than green. In the summer at night you can hear them strumming away in the trees. Amazing little critters.
ReplyDelete