32 -Spotted Katydid - Ephippitytha trigintiduoguttata
Family TETTIGONIIDAE
This page contains pictures and information about 32-Spotted katydids that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia. Spotted Katydids are also known as Mottled Katydids and Speckled Grasshopper.
- Male, body length 65mm
- The katydid's scientific name is Ephippitytha 32-guttataso and its the common name is 32-Spotted Katydid. However, the actual number of spots varies between individuals.
- This katydid is quite common in Brisbane bushlands. We sometimes found this katydid in our backyard. The Spotted Katydid is a large insects. It is green in colour with brown spots on wings resemble chewed leaf.
- The katydid in the above first picture were found on a shop display window during the day in mid summer. We brought it home, put it in our backyard and took some pictures.
- Spotted Katydids are common in Brisbane although seldom seen. They live on top of gum trees and feed on gum leaves. Male makes short soft calls at night.
Male
Female
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- Females look similar to males but can easily recognized by their short ovipositor.
Nymph
- Nymphs look very different to the adults.
- Last instars with large wing-buds, body length 25mm
- Late instars with small wing-buds, body length 25mm
- Their nymphs are more common and can be seen feeding on leaves in Eucalyptus forest during the day.
- Medium instars with no wing-buds, body length 20mm
- Notice the nymph's heavily armed legs. The Gum Leaf Katydid nymph looks very similar to them but their legs are not spiny.
- Young instars, body length 10mm Moreton Island 24 DEC 00, body length 10mm
- As some other bush katydids, their early instars are mimicking ants.
- Katydid Eggs
- Those katydid eggs are found near on the leaf of the same host-plants, but not sure they are the same species.
- Reference:
- 1. Australian Insects, An Introductory Handbook - Keith C. McKeown, 1945, p56.
- 2. Insects of Australia and New Zealand - R. J. Tillyard, Angus & Robertson, Ltd, Sydney, 1926, p95.
- 3. Grasshopper Country - the Abundant Orthopteroid Insects of Australia, D Rentz, UNSW Press, 1996, p111.
- 4. Ephippitytha trigintiduoguttata - Tettigoniidae, Insects of Townsville, Australia, by Graeme Cocks.
