Family: Tettigoniidae, Long-horned Grasshoppers and Katydids view all from this family

Description 1 5/8-2" (40-50 mm). Leaf-green, fore wings long and narrow. Male has forked sex organs (claspers) at tip of abdomen, hence common name.

Food Foliage of bushes and trees.

Sound 1 or 2 strong rasping pulses close together, separated by pauses of varying length. Female may chirp in response.

Life Cycle Oval flat eggs are attached like overlapping shingles to leaves and twigs. They hatch in spring. 1 generation a year.

Habitat Woodlands and forests.

Range Throughout North America from Mexico to limit of deciduous trees in Canada.

Discussion This katydid sometimes destroys young oranges in California by nibbling holes through the rind. The northeastern Broad-winged Bush Katydid (S. pistillata), slightly larger, has tapering fore wings resembling willow leaves. The eastern Curve-tailed Bush Katydid (S. curvicauda), same size, has narrower, tapering forewings.