Common Garden Katydid

Scientific name: Caedicia simplex
  • Updated
    07/12/20
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Common Garden Katydid (Caedicia simplex) Click to enlarge image
"Portrayed here is a male Common Garden Katydid (Caedicia simplex) removing pollen or other substance from the end of its abdomen after obtaining it from the petal of a camellia flower. While I was observing it, a Common Green Mantid nymph (Orthodera ministralis) peered up from behind the flower petal, curiously watching me and its intriguing katydid companion." Image: Paul Farley
© Paul Farley

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Caedicia
    Species
    simplex
    Subfamily
    Phaneropterinae
    Family
    Tettigonidae
    Super Family
    Tettigonioidea
    Order
    Orthoptera
    Class
    Insecta
    Subphylum
    Uniramia
    Phylum
    Arthopoda
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    6 cm

Introduction

The Common Garden Katydid is frequently seen in Sydney and most cities in Australia throughout the year.

Identification

Although the adults of the Common Garden Katydid are always green, the nymphs take on the colour of whatever they have been eating. Nymphs may be bright pink if they have been feeding on red roses, or yellow if they have been feeding on Cassiaflowers. The colour may remain for several moults.

Habitat

The Common Garden Katydid lives in urban areas, forests and woodlands.

Distribution

The Common Garden Katydid is found throughout Australia.

Feeding and diet

The Common Garden Katydid can be found living in and feeding on a variety of garden shrubs as well as Australian native plants.

Life history cycle

Female Common Garden Katydids deposit their eggs, which resemble black seeds, onto leaves and branches.