32 -Spotted Katydid - Ephippitytha trigintiduoguttata
Family TETTIGONIIDAE
This page contains pictures and information about 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, in our backyard.
- We sometimes find this large katydid in our backyard. The katydid in the above picture was found on a shop display window during the day in mid summer. We brought it home, put it in our backyard and took those pictures.
- The Spotted Katydid is a large insects. It is green in colour with brown spots on wings resemble chewed leaf.
- 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.
- The katydid's scientific name also know as Ephippitytha 32-guttata, so the common name 32-Spotted Katydid. However, the actual number of spots varies between individuals.
- Their nymphs are more common and can easily be found on leaves in Eucalyptus forest during the day.
- Body length 10mm Moreton Island 24 DEC 00, body length 10mm
- As most other katydids, their early instars mimic ants.
- Body length 15mm
- Notice the nymph's heavily armed legs. The Gum Leaf Katydid nymph looks very similar to them but their legs are not spiny.
- Body length 20-25mm
- Last instars, body length 25mm
- 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.
