She slept in the angle of the ceiling and wall above my desk for two days, then went about her business.
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| Drumming katydid, female*, Meconema thallassinum |
These insects drum on leaves with their hind legs. And they hear their song with an organ that functions like our ears, with a membrane (the typanum) stretched over an air sac. Except that the "ear" is on the front leg, just below the knee.
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| Front leg, with tympanal organ. |
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| "Do you mind if I drum on your wall?" |
*The female has a long, pointed ovipositor at the end of the abdomen. The male has two curved pincer-like appendages instead.
I met Mormon Crickets for the first time last weekend and the ovipositor really surprised me. They were all busy putting it to use
ReplyDeleteI have never met a Katydid here in Puget Sound country.
Very sharp picture - love the green color...
ReplyDeleteUpupaepops; I don't think I've ever seen Mormon crickets, either.
ReplyDeleteSusan; thanks! It's a marvelous, jewel-like green, isn't it?