Office Katydid Juvenile

This katydid had been living in my office stairwell for the past month, so I decided to photograph it. This is a common species here in the Pacific Northwest, but as you head south into Latin America, the variety of species increases dramatically. Learning to "see" katydids is a great travel skill, because their colors and variations throughout the world can be stunning.

There are over 6,000 known species of katydids globally, with many more likely undiscovered in dense tropical forests. While most people think of them as green leaf mimics, katydids can be pink, bright yellow, bark-colored, translucent, or even spiny. Some have long, filament-like antennae that stretch many times the length of their bodies, while others sport exaggerated wings or limbs that help them blend in with specific types of foliage.

Beyond their camouflage, katydids are remarkable for their behavior and communication. Many species produce songs by rubbing their wings together—sometimes so high-pitched that only other katydids can hear them. In places like the Amazon, these calls form an acoustic backdrop to the night, layered and dense with biological meaning. Their diversity in form and sound makes them one of the most rewarding insects to observe up close, if you're patient enough to spot them.