# Fork-tailed bush katydid (Scudderia furcata) > A common North American bush katydid found on shrubs and low trees; mostly green, noisy at night, harmless to people. Source: https://insectscanner.com/species/fork-tailed-bush-katydid/ (updated 2026-10-10) ## Is it dangerous? **Non-toxic.** Not venomous. Does not sting. Can give a weak pinch with its jaws if handled roughly; otherwise harmless. Wash any minor bite with soap and water and apply basic first aid if the skin is broken. **Pets:** Not dangerous to pets. Dogs or cats that catch and eat a katydid are unlikely to have any problem beyond, at most, mild stomach upset if many are eaten. ## Quick facts - Scientific name: Scudderia furcata - Also called: Fork-tailed katydid, Bush katydid - Order: Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids) - Family: Tettigoniidae (Bush katydids and katydids) - Size: About 35-45 mm from head to wing tips (excluding long antennae) - Colours: Green, Brown, Yellow (highlights and veins), Black (markings and eyes) - Habitat: Shrubs, hedgerows, woodland edges, gardens, roadside vegetation - Range: Widespread across much of North America, from southern Canada through most of the United States into Mexico - Active: Late spring to autumn (most common mid summer to early fall); primarily nocturnal and crepuscular - Lifespan: Adults live several weeks to a few months; species completes one generation per year in much of its range - Effect on plants: Minor herbivore - Pest: no ## Overview Scudderia furcata is a medium-sized bush katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. Adults are typically found on shrubs, hedgerows and low trees where they feed on leaves, flowers and sometimes small insects. Males sing at night to attract females; the species is widespread across much of North America. It poses little risk to humans and is only an occasional minor garden pest. ## How to identify it Adults are slender and leaflike with laterally compressed bodies. Typical coloration is bright to medium green, sometimes with brownish patches or entirely brown forms. Hind wings extend beyond the narrow forewings. The body has long threadlike antennae and long slender hind legs. Females have a short, broad, strongly upcurved ovipositor at the rear; males have a forked projection (supra-anal plate) at the tip of the abdomen, a feature referenced by the common name. - Medium-sized green or brown katydid with long filamentous antennae and laterally flattened body - Males have a forked plate at the tip of the abdomen (hence 'fork-tailed') - Found on shrubs and low trees; males call at night with a short, buzzing or rasping song - Females with a short, strongly upcurved ovipositor visible at the rear ## Lookalikes - **Texas bush katydid** (Scudderia texensis): S. texensis has narrower wings and is mainly a species of the eastern and central United States; males are best separated by the shape of the abdomen-tip plate and by song. - **Curve-tailed bush katydid** (Scudderia curvicauda): S. curvicauda has a more strongly curved ovipositor in females and subtle differences in cerci shape and calling song. ## Life cycle - **Egg:** Females insert flat eggs into the edges of leaves, where they overwinter; one or two generations per year depending on latitude. - **Nymph:** Nymphs resemble small wingless adults and go through multiple molts over weeks to months, gradually developing wing pads. - **Adult:** Adults appear in summer and autumn, mate, and females lay eggs to complete the annual cycle. ## Diet and predators - Young eat: Plant material: leaves and flowers of shrubs and herbaceous plants - Adults eat: Mostly plant material (leaves, flowers, seedheads); may occasionally eat small soft-bodied insects - Predators of the young: Birds, spiders, predatory insects such as wasps and mantids - Predators of adults: Birds, bats, small mammals, spiders, predatory insects ## Effect on plants and gardens Feeds on leaves, flowers and developing seeds of shrubs, herbaceous plants and garden ornamentals. Usually causes only light, cosmetic damage; occasionally a localized outbreak can defoliate young plants. ## Where and when to find it Adults on leaves and twigs of shrubs and low trees; nymphs on the same plants lower down. Listen for males calling at night from vegetation. - Best time: Mid summer to early fall, at dusk and during the night when males are singing. - Tips: Use a flashlight held to the side (not directly at the insect) to avoid startling it; photograph the undersides of leaves and wing venation for identification. ## Fun facts - The name 'furcata' (forked) refers to the forked plate at the tip of the male's abdomen. - Like other katydids, they produce sound by rubbing the edges of their forewings together; each species has a characteristic song. - There are color variations including pure green, green with brown patches, and entirely brown individuals that blend into dead vegetation. ## Frequently asked questions ### Are fork-tailed bush katydids dangerous? No. They are non-venomous and do not sting. They can give a minor pinch if handled roughly but are otherwise harmless. ### Do fork-tailed bush katydids bite? Bites are rare and not medically significant. Any bite would be a small mechanical pinch from the jaws. ### Why is this katydid in my house? They sometimes enter homes attracted to lights or when seeking shelter. Most often they are found near windows or doors and can be released outside unharmed. ### How can I get rid of them in my garden? Handpick at night, reduce dense shrubbery near valued plants, encourage natural predators, or use targeted insecticidal soaps or pyrethrins only if necessary. ### Where does the fork-tailed bush katydid live? On shrubs, hedgerows, woodland edges, gardens and other areas with plentiful vegetation across much of North America. --- More about this species: [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/55957), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scudderia_furcata). Identify insects and spiders from a photo with the Insect Scanner iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1543946563?pt=126685406&ct=web-markdown&mt=8 Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.