Katydids, Wētā, and Allies (Infraorder Tettigoniidea)

Tettigoniidea is an infraorder within the suborder Ensifera, comprising insects commonly known as katydids or bush-crickets and their close relatives. This group is especially diverse in tropical and subtropical regions, where its members inhabit forests, grasslands, shrubs, and other vegetated environments.

Tettigoniideans are typically characterized by a laterally compressed, leaf-like or slender body form that provides effective camouflage among foliage. The antennae are very long and filamentous, often exceeding the body length. Females possess a well-developed, blade- or sword-shaped ovipositor used for inserting eggs into plant tissue, soil, or wood. The hind legs are elongated and muscular, adapted for jumping, while the forelegs are generally unmodified.

Most members of Tettigoniidea have well-developed wings. The forewings form leathery tegmina that often bear specialized structures for sound production, while the hindwings are membranous and folded beneath at rest. Acoustic communication is highly developed in this infraorder; males typically produce species-specific songs by stridulation, and sound reception occurs via tympanal organs located on the fore tibiae.

Development is hemimetabolous, with egg, nymph, and adult stages. Nymphs resemble adults but lack fully developed wings and reproductive organs. Feeding habits vary among species and include herbivory, omnivory, and predation, with many species playing multiple roles within their ecosystems.

Ecologically, Tettigoniidea are important components of terrestrial food webs, acting as herbivores and predators and serving as prey for birds, reptiles, mammals, and other insects. Their sensitivity to habitat structure and environmental change makes many species useful indicators of ecosystem health, particularly in forested and semi-natural landscapes.