Katydids are a group of leaf-like insects that often go unnoticed in landscapes—but under certain conditions, they can cause damage to fruit crops and young plants. While most katydid species are not considered serious pests, a few—like the forktailed bush katydid—can harm citrus, stone fruits, blueberries, and pears by chewing on young fruits and leaves.This guide explains how to identify katydids, understand their life cycle, assess the kind of damage they cause, and manage them effectively if needed.

1. What Are Katydids?

Katydids (family Tettigoniidae) are close relatives of grasshoppers. They are well-known for their camouflage: most have green, leaf-shaped bodies that make them hard to spot in the foliage. Some species are brown or tan, blending into woody stems and bark.

You may encounter these species in gardens, orchards, and landscaped areas:

• Forktailed bush katydid (Scudderia furcata) – the main fruit-damaging species
• Angularwinged katydid (Microcentrum retinerve)
• Broadwinged katydid (Microcentrum rhombifolium)

Key features of katydids:

• Long, slender antennae (often longer than their body)
• Green or brown coloration
• Adults have wings; nymphs are wingless
• Eggs may be found on leaves, twigs, or stems—lined up in single or double rows

2. Katydid Life Cycle

Katydids undergo incomplete metamorphosis: egg → nymph → adult. Most species overwinter as eggs, which hatch in spring or early summer. Adults appear in mid- to late summer, lay new eggs, and then die off before winter.

• Forktailed bush katydid: May produce a second generation in warmer areas
• Angularwinged and broadwinged katydids: One generation per year

Nymphs feed on leaves and fruit; adults continue feeding and reproduce during summer months.

3. What Kind of Damage Do Katydids Cause?

Katydids chew holes in foliage, often starting from the leaf edge. However, they tend to feed lightly and move on, which usually means the damage is minor. On fruit crops, however, their feeding can be more noticeable:

• Forktailed bush katydid nymphs feed on young citrus, blueberry, pear, and stone fruit.
• Their bite marks often heal but leave sunken, corky scars on mature fruit.
• In some cases, fruit may become deformed or drop prematurely.

Because they take only a small bite before moving to the next fruit, even a few katydids can affect a surprisingly large number of fruits.

4. Are Katydids Harmful Enough to Warrant Control?

In most garden and orchard settings, katydid damage is cosmetic and minimal. The fruit’s internal quality is usually unaffected. Unless feeding injury becomes economically significant—such as in commercial blueberry production—routine chemical control is not necessary.

Instead, consider these simple, non-chemical options:

• Handpick and remove katydids in the early morning when they’re less active
• Use garden lighting at night to detect adult movement
• Monitor for nymphs after petal fall if previous seasons showed high damage

5. Chemical Control: When Needed

If katydid damage has been severe in past seasons, you can apply targeted control after petal fall, when fruit is still small and vulnerable.

Recommended Active Ingredient: Spinosad

Spinosad is a naturally derived insecticide that is effective against chewing insects like katydids. It works best when applied in the early nymph stages.

• For improved results, combine spinosad with horticultural oil to enhance coverage and residual activity.
• Do not spray spinosad during bloom—it is toxic to bees and beneficial insects during the first few hours after application.

Always follow label instructions and safety precautions, especially if fruit will be harvested for consumption.

Issue	Recommendation
Light leaf chewing	No treatment needed
Minor fruit scarring	Monitor and remove manually if practical
Commercial fruit production	Apply spinosad post-petal fall if damage exceeds thresholds
Sustainable farming	Use early-morning scouting and integrated pest management

If you are managing fruit crops across multiple climates or regions, the timing of katydid emergence and impact may vary. Contact local advisors or agricultural extension offices to adapt this guidance to your growing zone.

For insecticide distributors or farm supply networks, consider stocking spinosad-based formulations during early summer, especially in regions with high katydid activity.