Katydids live mostly in hot places, and especially around the Amazon basin, but they are found on every continent except Antarctica. These insects are relatives of crickets and grasshoppers. The males make a noise that sounds like “Katy-did, Katy-didn’t,” to some people, which undoubtedly is where their name came from. But often they make a strong, penetrating screech or what some consider a loud, chirping call. They can be heard both during the day and at night, but they are usually most active during the night.
Only one to four inches long, they have antennae that can be two to three times as long as their bodies. Some are a pretty shade of green, but God gave katydids many camouflages, and different varieties blend into whatever environment they live in. Some katydids look so much like lichens (a kind of fungus) that when they climb up a tree trunk covered with lichen, it is almost impossible to see them as long as they don’t move. Other katydids look like small sticks, while still others look like leaves.
Katydids are active in summer but are heard most often during late summer and into October. The males make their shrill, rasping call by rubbing together some rough areas on their front wings. These calls create an amazing chorus during the night. In most species, the male does the singing to attract a mate, and the female is willing to look for him, knowing he will have a large gift of food for her. Starting in June and July for some species, the females lay their oval eggs in the ground or in plant stems. Some eggs hatch in July and August, but others don’t hatch until winter is over.
Most katydids live in trees and bushes and mainly eat leaves. Their long hind legs enable them to travel quickly over the tree branches. Some of them can also fly short distances.
Katydids have amazing, tiny ears. These ears are located, one on each of their thin front legs, just below the “knee.” Though tiny, their ears are mighty! They hear so well that one species has learned to lure unsuspecting male cicadas near enough to be caught and eaten, by learning and then mimicking the song of the female cicada.
As our opening verse says, God, who gave the katydid its ears, has ears that are always open to hear the prayer of those who are righteous. There is a song that says, “Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear.” If we want God to hear our prayers, we need to listen to what He says and obey Him. Thankfully, God always hears the prayer of a sinner that wants to be saved.
Did You Know?
Katydids have ears each located just below the “knee” on their front legs.
Messages of God’s Love 5/12/2024