Mediterranean Katydid (Phaneroptera nana) lives in dry savanna across Sub-Saharan Africa. It feeds on leaves and flowers. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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The Mediterranean katydid became an invasive species in California, with documented presence there since at least 1952. Since that time it has expanded its range to include the San Francisco Bay Area and is thought to be widespread throughout the Los Angeles Basin. Its original home spans mainland Europe, the Near East and North Africa, showing how a species adapted to sunny, dry shrubland can thrive far from its native range.
In 2015 the katydid was first recorded in Portland, Oregon, extending its North-American reach beyond California. Scientists have also suggested that the species may have arrived in South America by way of commercial shipping, highlighting the role of human transport in its spread. It prefers sunny, dry environments, typically occupying shrubs and the low branches of trees where it can feed and reproduce.
Female Mediterranean katydids answer a male's call with their own song, which causes the male to move toward the stationary female. This reversal of the usual katydid behaviour reduces the female's exposure to predators while she remains hidden. Males will only continue the interaction if the female's reply arrives within 60 milliseconds, ensuring she is close enough for successful courtship.
A male will only pursue a female if she replies within 60 milliseconds, a timing that guarantees she is close enough. The female answers the male's call with her own song, causing the male to move toward the stationary female while she remains hidden. Because the female stays static, she faces less risk from predators as the male approaches. The female will only respond after hearing at least two male chirps, ensuring the male is nearby before courtship proceeds.
Sources
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In the warm, golden light of a Mediterranean twilight, the diminutive katydid, Phaneroptera nana, stirs to life, its delicate wings fluttering softly as it navigates the intricate tapestry of grasses and wildflowers. With a gentle, loping gait, it moves through the underbrush, its large, round eyes drinking in the vibrant hues of its surroundings, as it searches for the tender shoots and leaves that sustain it. As the night deepens, the katydid's melancholy song rises, a haunting serenade that weaves in and out of the rustling leaves and snapping twigs, a symphony of sound that fills the stillness of the Mediterranean night.
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