Songs of Insects

Curve-tailed Bush Katydid (Scudderia curvicauda)

Song of a Curve-tailed Bush Katydid (scroll down for explanation and additional recordings!).

Named for the pronounced curvature of the female’s ovipositor, the Curve-tailed Bush Katydid inhabits coarse weedy fields and weedy wood margins. Particularly abundant in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, where males can be found singing from the tops of goldenrod plants.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tail plate from above.

Curve-tailed Bush Katydid

Song: Consists of 2–4 raspy, buzzy notes given in quick succession and that typically increase in volume: zit-Zit-ZIT. Sings intermittently, but often gives songs in pairs, usually with four or more seconds of silence between the two songs and the second song having one more pulse than the first (songs may also be given in groups of three). This singing style is reminiscent of the Broad-winged Bush Katydid’s counting series. However, Curve-tailed Bush Katydids never count higher than 4. Sings both day and night, with most singing activity in the evening. Peak frequency of song is 8–9 kHz.

 
Sonogram of a Curve-tailed Bush Katydid. © Wil Hershberger.