Download A Guide to the Katydids of Australia The katydids guide suggests

A Guide to the Katydids of Australia
by David Rentz
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Vic., June 2010
224 pages including colour photographs
Paperback, ISBN: 9 78064309 5540, AU$49.95
Available from: www.publish.csiro.au
The katydids guide suggests that there are many more katydid species to be found and new locations to
be discovered. There are 14 subfamilies in the order Orthoptera (e.g. grasshoppers, katydids, crickets),
five of which are endemic to Australia. The author of this guide is retired, and stresses that there is so
much to be done, hoping that the guide stimulates more interest in this group. With the taxonomy of
Australian katydids only partially documented, and only three of the likely six volumes of Tettigoniidae
(the family in which the katydids belong) written as yet, it seems the author could do with some help.
The guide presents diagrams of the anatomy of katydids which assist in following the descriptions in
the remainder of the book, and to distinguish a katydid from a grasshopper, cricket or other Orthopteran
species. The author provides some descriptions of differences and a reference on where to seek further
help if confused.
An informative section is provided on the biology of katydids, including reproduction, growth and
development, food and feeding, and enemies of katydids. Of particular interest are that:
•
•
•
•
katydids are mostly nocturnal;
katydids blend in with the foliage they inhabit, masters of camouflage;
food of katydids includes foliage, flowers, seeds, fruit and other insects, and they have a highly
specialised habit of nectar and pollen feeding; and
some katydids can contribute to pollination of some flowers, whilst eating others, perhaps a
symbiotic relationship.
A section on the collection and study of katydids outlines the collection equipment, methods,
processing and storage. This is followed by a short section on the habitats of katydids, suggesting that
they can be found anywhere there is vegetation.
Before introducing the subfamilies and tribes, there is a brief discussion on the conservation of
katydids. It is interesting to note that the author considers the localised nature of the distribution of
many katydid species has been a useful tool for habitat preservation, recognising that many are relicts
of another biota of former times, some of which are clinging to their existence—like many of our plants
on which they are dependent. When discussing the range of threats, although the author is rightfully
concerned at the precarious state of many invertebrate populations, some excitement can still be found
in the idea that “every field trip to an unusual location is bound to yield new species or rarities”.
The majority of the guide is dedicated to the subfamilies, tribes, subtribes, genera and species of the
katydids included in the guide. The information provided for each subfamily is variable, with some
extremely limited and others appearing well known. The number of different genera and species of
plants that katydids live in (including as a predator) is somewhat large, including Eucalyptus,
Angophora, Bursaria, Leptospermum, Lomandra, Gahnia, Lepidosperma, Dianella, Pteridium
esculentum, Alpinia, Triodia, Pandanus, Terminalia, Banksia, Acacia, Xanthorrhoea and grasses.
At first this guide was a little difficult to test because it is just coming into katydid season, and katydids
on first appearance look like grasshoppers and crickets. However, with a little practice with specimens
previously collected, it is an excellent guide and relatively easy to use, with bits and pieces of
interesting information. If it is any consolation to the author, the guide has inspired me to sort my insect
collection, and to spend the time identifying them as far as I can. Who knows, I might have a new or
rare species, or at least a new location!
Maria Matthes, Ecological Sustainability Consultant, Healing History, Bagotville, NSW.