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Greater Angle-wing Katydid with spermatophore

Microcentrum rhombifolium

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Field Notes

Description:

This is a female and male Katydid that have wonderful camouflage with their leaf-mimic appearance. These two have already mated and the female has a bright, white spermatophore which the male transferred during copulation. The spermatophore consists of two parts "a small packet of sperm which is inserted into the female followed by a larger glob of nutritious gel, a nuptial gift that the female consumes to help with egg production." - austinbug.com

Habitat:

I spotted this pair of Katydid at sunset on a rose bush

Notes:

The nymph of this species can be seen at: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/37664092

Reference Links:

Species Microcentrum rhombifolium - Greater Angle-wing Katydid - BugGuide.Net

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (21)
CindyBinghamKeiser
I couldn't agree more, Gilma! This site is full of educational knowledge. Even if it's learning as we go :) Thank you all for taking this educational journey with me and being so supportive of this interesting spotting!
Saumya Wanniarachchi
Sooo amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! unique spotting cindy :) ! Thank you very much for sharing learned a lot !!!!!!!
DanielePralong
No worries Cindy, the series is no less wonderful, and even more educational :-)
CindyBinghamKeiser
Thank you so much for all the comments! Wow, what a change in perspective! So the white is the spermatophore that was transferred from the male. The mating already occurred and the male moved in front of the female before I walked up. So much to learn! I'll update the spotting to include this new information.
DanielePralong
I believe Sckel is correct. In butterflies too, a spermatophore is passed during copulation.
Maria dB
Superb series, Cindy - thanks so much for sharing this with us!
Sckel
Hi, Cindy. Amazing photos. Yesterday, was my Katydid pet with a transparent gelatinous thing attached to it, I googled and find this explanation: "When they mate, the male transfers a large jelly-like mass called a spermatophore to the female. This has two parts: a small packet of sperm which is inserted into the female followed by a larger glob of nutritious gel, a nuptial gift that the female consumes to help with egg production. This white glob is easily seen attached to recently mated females." What is that white stuff? My Katydidse is male or female. I did not post the pictures, you like to see?
Scott Frazier
Thanks for documenting and sharing this amazing example of our fabulous natural world, Cindy!
Mark Ridgway
Brilliant spotting Cindy. Fascinating creatures (and gadgets!)
LarryGraziano
So blessed by this moment Cindy! Kudos and Congrats!
LaurenZarate
Amazing Cindy! I never saw a katydid with this kind of genitalia before!
The MnMs
Is an amazing moment! thanks for sharing it with us!
CindyBinghamKeiser
Thank you! This is something I have never seen before of any Orthoptera and am glad that the community appreciates the uniqueness of it!
ForestDragon
Simply incredible series! How lucky of you to have found this pair at this time.
Johan Heyns
Absolutely amazing. Real SOTD stuff this! This is Project Noah at its best when a spotting like this that a very few minuscule % of people will ever see can be shared.
Chamalka Dulmini
wow great Cindy!Thnk u very much for sharing this amazing series!

Spotted for Missions

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Southern California Wildlife
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Wild Love
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National Geographic's Great Nature Project
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The Bug Chicks Sofa Safari

Tags

Photographed
PublishedNovember 3, 2013

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