katydid

American  

[key-tee-did] / ˈkeɪ ti dɪd /

noun

1. any of several large, usually green, American long-horned grasshoppers, the males of which produce a characteristic song.

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katydid British  

/ ˈkeɪtɪˌdɪd /

noun

1. any typically green long-horned grasshopper of the genus Microcentrum and related genera, living among the foliage of trees in North America

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Etymology

Origin of katydid

An Americanism dating back to 1745–55; imitative

Explanation

A katydid is a type of grasshopper with extra-long antennae. You can hear katydids on summer nights making a loud, three-note sound. Like grasshoppers and crickets, katydids make noise by rubbing body parts together — in their case, by moving a leg against a wing and producing a sound that resembles their name. Katydids have also been known as "wide-horned grasshoppers," for the antennae that are often longer than their bodies. These insects are nocturnal and use camouflage, disguising themselves as green leaves to stay safe from predators.

Example Sentences

The Mormon cricket is not a true cricket but a shield-backed katydid.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 20, 2023

The insects, which technically aren't crickets, are members of the katydid family and don't sting or bite.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2023

Most katydid species are expertly camouflaged among vegetation to avoid the multitude of predators, and many of them have yet to be identified.

From The Guardian • May 27, 2019

“We use it for katydid, which takes a bite out of the fruit when it’s in the flower form,” Mr. Johnston said, referring to a pest that looks like a grasshopper.

From New York Times • Dec. 26, 2018

There was not a peep to be heard but katydid noises outside in the deep, black night.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver