Songs of Insects

Gladiator Meadow Katydid (Orchelimum gladiator)

Song of a Gladiator Meadow Katydid (scroll down for explanation and additional recordings!).

Built like a warrior, the stocky and stout Gladiator Meadow Katydid is aptly named. Its bright green body is accented with reddish eyes, brown on the back, and bright yellow cerci. Certain populations exhibit varying amounts of dark speckling on the sides of the body and legs. This common and widespread species inhabits tall grassy areas, often near water.
 
 
 
 

Gladiator Meadow Katydids range across the northern tier of states from coast-to-coast.

Song: A series of ticks followed by a long shuffling trill that starts soft and quickly gains in volume. Frequency is from 10–20 kHz. In areas with dense populations, choruses have a unique wavering quality.
 
Sonogram of a Gladiator Meadow Katydid. © Wil Hershberger.