ID help

[Zeebweeny]

This morning I went outside to look for insects, and I found a large katydid or false katydid. It even let me handle it.

Any ID help is greatly appreciated. I don't know the sex either :blush:

After I looked at it flying around for a while I decided to try to film him. Then a cardinal swooped down and snagged him! Too bad my camera is really bad and you can't see much of anything, but here it is:

I also saw a robber fly with prey the other day.

 

[lancaster1313]

Cool bug! I like the shot of her palpating your finger.

I have found a few katydid nymphs that I have raised to adult and released. If you can figure out what they can eat, they make cool pets, usually as calm as a mantis. They have just sat there eating out of my hand.

 

[Mr.Mantid]

Katydids are awesome! I'd like to raise a few, I see them every once in a while where I live so maybe I can catch one as well.

 

[Zeebweeny]

Thanks! Yes they are pretty cool. No one happens to know the scientific classification, do they?

 

[lancaster1313]

I don't know what species, but it is a girl. Females have that ovipositor that curves upward from the tip of the abdomen.

You can compare photos and other info about many bugs on Bugguide.net. It is a great site for identification!

 

[Zeebweeny]

Thanks!

 

[D.J.]

Dont know what its name is but this spring o ha one as a pet is ate red leaf romane

 

[Idolofreak]

The green insect in the robber fly pic looks more like a grasshopper. Grasshoppers have thick and short antennae, and katydids have insanely long thin ones.

 

[PhilinYuma]

Since zeeb comes from Texas, my guess is that this is the Texan bush katydid, Scudderia texensis. The antennae are so long that they extend out of the pix.

 

[sinensispsyched]

Wow, that cardinal had extremely good eyesight!

 

[hibiscusmile]

Nice pic man, I bet the bird was looking over your shoulder while u were taking the pics!