# Scudder's Bush Katydids (*Scudderia*) Scudder's Bush Katydids are green insects that love to hide in bushes and grass. They make a special sound that helps them talk to each other, especially at night! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Scudder's Bush Katydids](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Scudderia_sp.jpg&width=800) Photo: Bruce Marlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scudderia_sp.jpg) ## Appearance The Scudder's Bush Katydids is a bright green insect with a slender, leaf-like body, perfectly camouflaged among foliage. It has very long, thin antennae, often much longer than its body, and large, clear wings that typically extend past its abdomen, distinguishing it from other bush katydids. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Orthoptera - **Family:** Tettigoniidae - **Genus:** Scudderia ## Interesting facts - A male katydid's song is a buzzing serenade to attract a female. - Katydids' tiny ears are located on their front legs, not on their head! - Their antennae can be twice as long as their whole body! - They lay their eggs in neat rows on plant stems or leaves. ## Special abilities - **Leafy Disguise:** Scudder's Bush Katydids can disappear among leaves because its body is perfectly shaped and colored like a leaf, helping it hide from predators. - **Bush Buzzing:** Scudder's Bush Katydids can 'sing' to attract mates by rubbing its wings together, producing a distinctive buzzing or ticking sound. - **Leg-Ears:** Scudder's Bush Katydids has ears on its front legs that help it detect other katydids' calls and avoid danger. - **Mighty Leaps:** Scudder's Bush Katydids can leap far distances using its strong hind legs to escape quickly from danger. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 70-100 mm - **Size:** 40-55 mm - **Lifespan:** 60-120 days - **Flight Speed:** 8 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Mostly eats various plant leaves and flowers, rarely munching on small insects. - **Primary Foods:** oak leaves, maple leaves, rose petals, berries, seeds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — A common bird that preys on insects in trees and shrubs. - **Eaten by:** [Yellow Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-garden-spider) (*Argiope aurantia*) — Captures katydids in its intricate, visible web. - **Eats:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — Feeds on the leaves of this abundant North American tree. - **Eats:** [Red Maple](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-maple) (*Acer rubrum*) — Consumes the foliage of young maple trees. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Katydids are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Scudder's Bush Katydids? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Scudder's Bush Katydids's wingspan? 70-100 mm ### How big is Scudder's Bush Katydids? 40-55 mm ### How long does Scudder's Bush Katydids live? 60-120 days ### How fast can Scudder's Bush Katydids fly? 8 km/h ### What does Scudder's Bush Katydids eat? Mostly eats various plant leaves and flowers, rarely munching on small insects. ### Where is Scudder's Bush Katydids usually found? Grasslands ### How does Scudder's Bush Katydids hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Jewel Cave National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jewel-cave-national-monument) — South Dakota, US · National Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Scudder's Bush Katydids: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/scudders-bush-katydids)