Fauna
Insect · GBIF taxon 5097633

Curve-tailed Bush Katydid

Scudderia curvicauda

Also known as Curved-tailed Bush Katydid

Curve-tailed bush katydids are leaf-mimicking insects named for the sharply curved supra-anal plate of males and the strongly upcurved ovipositor of females. Males perch in shrub canopies and woodland edges from midsummer through autumn, delivering an intermittent, three-part pulsing buzz to attract receptive mates. Females use their sickle-shaped ovipositors to slice neatly into the margins of broad leaves, slipping flat oval eggs securely between the upper and lower epidermal layers.

HerbivorousNocturnalCamouflage
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid reference1 / 3
Licensed reference(c) Andrew C, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Oak leaves
  • Wild blackberry foliage
  • Goldenrod blossoms
Predators
  • Insectivorous birds
  • Bats
  • Praying mantises
ThreatsPesticide application, loss of woodland edge habitats, and heavy artificial light pollution
HabitatsDeciduous woodland margins, old overgrown fields, thickets, and shrubby wetlands
Life spanSingle annual generation (about 2 to 4 months as adults)
Classification
  1. FamilyTettigoniidae
  2. SpeciesScudderia curvicauda
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Spotting Strategy: Search shrubby foliage along sunny forest edges and meadows at dusk.
  • Acoustic Clues: Listen for brief, sharp, multi-pulsed buzzing calls issued high in the brush.
  • Gentle Observation: Approach slowly to avoid triggering their defensive drop-and-freeze reflex.
Related species
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