Giant False Leaf Katydid

This Giant False Leaf Katydid Pseudophyllus titan was photographed at the high point of the Khao Yai National Park in Thailand. There were few birds to be seen in the early morning cold and surprisingly, the insect was climbing the wall of a hut and is seen photographed in the open window. The subsequent notes are based on some internet research and I hope that I have identified the species correctly. Any other thoughts would be most welcome.

Insects in the family Tettigoniidae are commonly called Katydid or Bush Cricket. More than 6,400 species are known. Part of the suborder Ensifera, Tettigoniidae is the only family in the superfamily Tettigonioidae. Primarily nocturnal in habit, with strident mating calls, many Katydids exhibit mimicry and camouflage, commonly with shapes and colours similar to leaves. Tettigoniids may be distinguished from the Grasshopper by the length of their filamentous antennae, which may exceed their own body length, while Grasshoppers’ antennae are always relatively short and thickened. (The antennae of this creature extended beyond the edge of the photo / jc).

Tettigoniids are found on every continent except Antarctica. The vast majority of katydid species live in the tropical regions of the world. For example, the Amazon basin rain forest is home to over 2,000 species of katydid. However, katydids are found in the cool, dry temperate regions, as well, with about 255 species in North America.

References: Wikipedia; Britannica and Deviantart.