More than 8,000 species of long-horned relatives of grasshoppers, also called bush crickets. Many are green and leaf-shaped, live in trees and call loudly on summer nights. Their thread-like antennae, which can be longer than the body, tell them apart from grasshoppers.
Quick answers
What is it?Insect
Carnivore?No, herbivore
Dangerous?No
Harmless, though large ones can give a painful bite or pinch if handled; it seldom breaks the skin.
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Night
Many species are nocturnal, with loud calls on summer nights.
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?In places
Some species are eaten, such as the nsenene of Uganda and neighbouring areas.
At a glance
Found inWorldwide
HabitatForest
ColoursGreen, Brown
SizeTiny
Length5–130 mm
Legs6
Covered inExoskeleton
Lives alone
Lives for1 year
Can fly
Lays eggs
In the wild
- What it eats
- Most eat leaves, flowers, bark and seeds, but many species hunt insects, snails or even small lizards.
Did you know
Many look just like leaves, and males call loudly on summer nights.
The name copies the loud three-part "ka-ty-did" song of a North American species.
Some nymphs mimic ants, spiders or assassin bugs until they are big enough to escape predators.
Often confused with
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