Bush Cricket

Bush crickets, also widely known as katydids in other parts of the world, make up a large family of insects distinguished from true grasshoppers by their notably long, thread-like antennae, which often exceed the length of the body. Most species are green or brown, closely matching the color of the vegetation they inhabit, and many have wings shaped and veined to resemble leaves, providing excellent camouflage.

Found across grasslands, hedgerows, shrubland, and woodland edges throughout temperate and tropical regions, bush crickets are best known for the songs males produce by rubbing specialized structures on their forewings together, a behavior called stridulation, used to attract mates and establish territory. These insects are harmless to people, feeding on plant material and small invertebrates depending on the species.

• Long, thin, thread-like antennae, typically as long as or longer than the body
• Body color usually green or brown, often patterned to resemble leaves or grass stems
• Wings in many species are broad and leaf-shaped, with vein patterns mimicking foliage
• Females often have a long, blade- or needle-like ovipositor extending from the rear of the abdomen
• Powerful hind legs adapted for jumping, though generally less robust than true grasshoppers
• Distinguished from true grasshoppers primarily by antennae length, which is much shorter in grasshoppers

Bush crickets are found worldwide in temperate and tropical regions, inhabiting grasslands, meadows, hedgerows, shrubs, and woodland margins. Different species occupy specific niches within these habitats, from low grass to shrub canopy, and most are active from late spring through autumn, with peak calling activity typically occurring during warm summer evenings and nights.

These insects are primarily nocturnal, becoming most active after dusk when males produce their characteristic songs by rubbing a scraper on one forewing against a file on the other, a behavior known as stridulation, to attract females and signal territory. Diet varies by species, with many being omnivorous, feeding on a mix of leaves, flowers, and small invertebrates, while some species are primarily herbivorous or predatory. Bush crickets rely heavily on camouflage and stillness during the day, hiding among vegetation to avoid predators such as birds, spiders, and small mammals, and they serve as an important food source within grassland and woodland food webs.

Females use their ovipositor to lay eggs into plant stems, soil, or bark depending on the species, and eggs often overwinter before hatching the following spring or early summer. Nymphs resemble smaller, wingless versions of adults and develop through a series of molts, gradually growing wing pads that become functional wings at the final molt. There is no pupal stage, consistent with incomplete metamorphosis typical of this group. Most temperate species complete one generation per year, with adults active through summer and into autumn before dying off as cold weather arrives.