Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Ensifera
Superfamily: Tettigonioidea
Family: Tettigoniidae
Genus: Caedicia
Species: C. simplex
Scientific name: Caedicia simplex,
Common name: Katydid, Kiki Pounamu, New Zealand Bush Cricket.
Caedicia simplex is a New Zealand native insect in the grasshopper family Tettigoniidae. Insects in the Genus: Caedicia are commonly called Katydids. Caedicia simplex is also found in Australia. It has a length 42 mm including wings. The lifespan of a katydid is about a year, with full adulthood usually developing very late in the lifecycle.It is common in New Zealand gardens where it is well camouflaged on shrubs and plants because of its colour and leaf patterns on its wings. It feeds on foliage. It can jump or fly. It also makes a feeble chip in the evening. It is named after the call of the American native katydid. "Katy did Katy didn't".
There are a rare pink/red and a yellow form which is due to a genetic mutation known as erythrism, similar to the recessive genes that cause pigment disorders that afflicts albino animals. Visit: http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/local-insects/grasshopper-pink-katydid-caedicia-simplex.html
An adult Caedicia simplex on the back of my hand.
The nymphs' body can be in different colours, either green, greenish-brown or a rare pink or yellow.
Below is the green form with immature wing buds
A later stage Caedicia simplex nymph, no wing development yet.
A later-stage nymph feeding on rose leaves.
A nymph with wing development.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
