Pseudorhynchus mimeticus Click to enlarge image
K.71430 Pseudorhynchus mimeticus dorsal Image: Natalie Tees
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Pseudorhynchus
    Species
    mimeticus
    Subfamily
    Conocephalinae
    Family
    Tettigonidae
    Super Family
    Tettigonioidea
    Suborder
    Ensifera
    Order
    Orthoptera
    Class
    Insecta
    Subphylum
    Uniramia
    Phylum
    Arthopoda
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    3-6 cm

Introduction

The Mimicking Snout-nosed Katydid is the loudest katydid heard near the coast in Sydney.

Identification

The Mimicking Snout-nosed Katydid can be green or brown, and lives among various grasses. It has strong mandibles for cracking grass seeds and, if carelessly handled, can give a nasty bite.

Members of the genus Pseudorhynchus are known as the snout-nosed katydids. They have a projection between the base of their antennae resembling a snout.

Habitat

The Mimicking Snout-nosed Katydid lives in urban areas and grassy woodlands.

Distribution

The Mimicking Snout-nosed Katydid is found in Southern Queensland and coastal New South Wales.



Communication

The sound of the Mimicking Snout-nosed Katydid may be confused with that of cicadas, however there are no cicadas in Sydney that sing from grasses with a loud buzzing sound at night.