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True Katydid

Pterophylla sp

Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

With the naked eye it looked like it had a curious pattern on its back. But seeing the macro photos, I think that the poor thing had somehow got itself 'scalped', and what we see are its insides…
Or is this some kind of natural phenomenon?

Length: 5 cm (2 inches).

Habitat:

Hills overlooking Manila.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (11)
Ashish
Hi Ann, If you check the following link of Katydid images, you will find their wings are naturally made as teared or damaged look similar to leafs. http://www.google.co.in/search?q=Katydid&hl=en&rlz=1C1CHNU_enIN348IN348&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=-4yJTuaOL4anrAf55dCvDQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CBYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=713
Juan DiTrani
Hi Annvan, this are common colors of the cuticle (skin) of the insects and they are used for mimetizing. On the other hand, I´m not sure is that specie. Katydid species usually have subtle differences between the same genus.
HemaShah
@ Ann ,how is the humidity there? If the humidity is not right then it does create moulting problems.
AnnvanWijgerden
Thanks for the great link Ashish! Do you think the strange 'scalped look' is caused by an injury or is it moulting?
Ashish
Check... http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/true_katydid.htm
AnnvanWijgerden
... Or is it actually a different katydid who's had the same accident?!
AnnvanWijgerden
I've just seen this 'scalped katydid' again - just over a week since first spotting him. He seems alive and well... Am now wondering even more: Did he suffer a rather nasty accident? Or is there some other explanation to this 'scalped' look?
Photographed
PublishedAugust 20, 2011

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