UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 7 January 2026

Katydids Latest News

Researchers recently identified three previously unknown species of meadow katydids, or long-horned grasshoppers, named Conocephalus usmanii, Conocephalus nagariensis, and Conocephalus ganderbali, in Jammu and Kashmir.

About Katydids

• Found on every continent except Antarctica, Katydids are a family of primarily nocturnal insects. 
• There are more than 8,000 known species of Katydid, all of which belong to the family Tettigoniidae. 
• Grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, and katydids belong to a group of insects known as orthopterans (meaning 'straight wings').
• They closely resemble grasshoppers and used to go by the name long-horned grasshoppers. 
• However, in reality, they are more closely related to crickets, hence their other common name, the bush cricket.

Katydids Features

• Katydids vary greatly in size depending on the species. That said, most range between 0.2 inches to 5.1 inches long.
• The body generally resembles that of grasshoppers, but katydids have long, threadlike antennae instead of the grasshoppers’ short antennae. 
• While most Katydids appear bright green or mimic the appearance of leaves, they come in a variety of colors, ranging from pink to yellow. 
• Like grasshoppers and crickets, katydids make noise by rubbing body parts together — in their case, by moving a leg against a wing and producing a sound that resembles their name. 
• They are famous for their ability to blend into their surroundings. 
• Katydids have feet with four segments. 
• The lifespan of a katydid is about a year.
• They are mostly herbivores, feeding on leaves, flowers, and fruit, but some eat small insects.

Key Facts about Meadow Katydids

• The meadow katydids are a group of about 20 species of slender, small-to medium-sized katydids found in grassy meadows near lakes and ponds.
• Genus: Orchelimum
• When disturbed, they enter the water, cling to underwater plants, and can remain submerged for several minutes. 
• Abundant and widespread, meadow katydids have large orange eyes and a body that is brown on top and green on the bottom. 
• They produce a song, consisting of clicks and buzzes, during the day or at night.

Conocephalus Nagariensis

• Found in the Budgam district, it is distinguished by its spindle-shaped appendages (cerci) and a stridulatory file containing exactly 34 teeth. 
• It is dedicated to Dr. Rajendra Nagar, a researcher credited with discovering several other species of katydids across the country, and bears his name.

Conocephalus Ganderbali

• Discovered in the Ganderbal region, it is notably small and slender.
• It has a musical file of only 28 teeth and a unique V-shaped incision on its underbelly. 
• Its name is derived from the Ganderbal district in Kashmir, the specific locality where the researchers first collected the specimens.

Conocephalus Usmanii

• It features a flat, elongated plate on its abdomen and a musical file with 36 teeth. 
• It was named in honour of Professor Mohd Kamil Usmani, a scholar who has made significant contributions to the study of Orthoptera (the group of insects including grasshoppers and katydids) in India.

Source: RM