OrthopteraTettigoniidae – Katydids

Curve-tailed Bush Katydid

Scudderia curvicauda

This record describes Scudderia curvicauda (species). Recorded family: Tettigoniidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Curve-tailed Bush Katydid - Scudderia curvicauda
Contributed by Corey Husic; Additional contributions by metrioptera

Outer lobes of male supra-anal plate form a shallow V, and turn away from each other; from above, it resembles a whale's fluke

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
Suborder
Ensifera
Family
Tettigoniidae (Katydids)
Subfamily
Phaneropterinae
Genus
Scudderia (Bush Katydids)

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Habitat

Weedy fields, thickets, forest edges, and meadows.

Geographic Range

Eastern U.S.

About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group

Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Scudderia curvicauda. Species-specific details appear above.

Group overview

Orthoptera includes ~28,000 described species of grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. Desert locusts can form swarms covering 460 square miles containing up to 80 million individuals per square kilometer.

Ecological role of the group

Grasshoppers and crickets are a primary food source for birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Cricket farming is a growing industry - crickets require 12× less feed than cattle to produce the same amount of protein, using 2,000× less water.

Economic and practical significance of the group

A single large locust swarm can consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people. The 2019-2021 East Africa locust crisis affected food security for 42 million people across multiple countries. Global crop losses from locusts can reach billions annually.

Recorded sources for this group: FAO, UN World Food Programme, research publications. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.

Explore Orthoptera families and species →

Photos of Curve-tailed Bush Katydid (5)

Curve-tailed Bush Katydid - photo 1
Contributed by Corey Husic; Additional contributions by metrioptera
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid - photo 2
Contributed by Corey Husic; Additional contributions by metrioptera
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid - photo 3
Contributed by Corey Husic; Additional contributions by metrioptera
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid - photo 4
Contributed by Corey Husic; Additional contributions by metrioptera
Curve-tailed Bush Katydid - photo 5
Contributed by Corey Husic; Additional contributions by metrioptera

Photo credits: Contributed by Corey Husic; Additional contributions by metrioptera

Frequently Asked Questions About Curve-tailed Bush Katydid

What is Curve-tailed Bush Katydid?

Curve-tailed Bush Katydid (Scudderia curvicauda) is a species in the family Tettigoniidae, within the order Orthoptera.

How do you identify Curve-tailed Bush Katydid?

Outer lobes of male supra-anal plate form a shallow V, and turn away from each other; from above, it resembles a whale's fluke

Where is Curve-tailed Bush Katydid found?
FeatureDetails
HabitatWeedy fields, thickets, forest edges, and meadows.
RangeEastern U.S.

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Corey Husic; Additional contributions by metrioptera. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.