The Lost Katydid of New York City Pterophylla camellifolia - The Common (or Northern) True Katydid Greetings, the rest of this page is an archived version of what we had put up for the Common True Katydid prior to the survey. We are leaving it as is for the time being. We are starting a new page for the species that will further document the distribution of this species across the City. Check out the map for this species based on the results of the survey. News Flash! Common True Katydids just found in a residual mature woodland on the grounds of the NY Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Newer News Flash! September 1 One Common True Katydid has been heard in the West Village, on site investigations continue into the circumstances. Newest News Flash! September 10th Marie Winn, Central Park Naturalist and keen observer of nature in Gotham City, had noted Common True Katydids calling from a small woodlot on the edge of the Island at 91st and Riverside Drive over the last few years. She got Margot Adler to use her NPR correspondent standard issue equipment recording device to document that find and here is that very recording. Note the soft melodic background of a group of Broad-winged Treecrickets. Common True Katydids Documented for Staten Island! September 11th Ah, we have found our modern William Davis of Staten Island... Paul Lederer, an experienced naturalist with a white-collar day job, has contacted us and informs us that he has found several small colonies of Common True Katydids over the past few years on the island after an absence of many. He also notes that the Jumping Bush Cricket was not known to occur on Staten Island in the days of Davis, but is now throughout the island and we are likely to hear it throughout the region during the count. Report from Ringwood, NJ September 11th An observer from Ringwood, NJ reports Common True Katydids in her area, which includes extensive forest lands in the nearby parks and ridges, perfect habitat. A while back, during a casual katydid sort of conversation, Leo Shapiro (meadow katydid researcher) mentioned that he had run across an obscure article in the Journal of the New York Entomological Society. This short article (available here ) is a good example of why someone who knows their natural history should be treasured. Published in 1920, William T. Davis , a native Staten Islander, had noticed that, while formerly present on Staten Island, the loud and omnipresent Common True Katydids now appeared to be completely absent. Subsequent to the publication of that small article, we are unaware of any further survey, study, or note regarding the status of crickets and katydids in the NYC area. One interesting observation in that article was that while Common True Katydids were found to be absent on Staten Island, another naturalist had noted that tall trees near Broadway and 255th still held a few individuals. Now, back to the present tense, you (the reader) in one night's easy work, can help determine the status of Common True Katydids in the New York City area by participating in our count. A couple of things about Common True Katydids are relevant here. From a recent paper (Journal of Orthoptera Research 18: 15-18) it was noted that this species calls continuously when the weather is warm and, of course, it is dark out. This is an excellent characteristic for something you would like to survey, and means that if a Common True Katydid were around you would know it because it would be calling. As an aside, wouldn't it be unnerving if cockroaches were also that detectable? OK, back to katydids... in recent field work in downtown and suburban Washington D.C., Common True Katydids were found commonly in residual woodlots throughout the city (even the "bad" parts of town had "good" numbers). Interestingly, they never occurried where people occurred. Put a house in a woodlot and they were gone... they existed only in parklands. So, are there Common True Katydids in the NYC area? If so, where? Help us to find out (you can even go out on your own before the count...why hold back?). William T. Davis (the person who wrote the article mentioned previously) was no trained entomologist, he didn't go to school to learn these things, he went outside, he used his eyes and ears, he took notes, he made mistakes, he collected specimens, and asked others to help him learn what they were. Well, what are you waiting for? Do you think that watching the Discover Channel is helping us save the planet? Step outside and make a real contribution and figure out what crickets and katydids are calling in your neighborhood. Sheesh.

Only a few human beings should grow to the square mile; they are commonly planted too close. - William T. Davis

Cricket Crawl | Top | Instructions | Downloadable Data Form | Discover Life