Lichen Katydid Facts
- The Lichen Katydid or Markia hystrix represents a recently discovered new genus of the katydid. Just like all katydids, it remains a master of camouflage.
- However, this rather incredible species excels at this, even among other katydids.
- Given the extreme difficulty in studying this invertebrate in its natural habitat, entomologists also know very little about this fascinating creature.
- Sadly, it faces the threat of extinction, due to the continued devastation of its natural habitat, just as many other creatures now do.
Lichen Katydid Physical Description
The remarkable Lichen Katydid carries the principle of camouflage further than any other known species of katydid. Further, its body primarily displays varying shades of green in color.
Also, all portions of the body possess spindly protrusions. These aid in creating the appearance of the lichen it inhabits and serves no other known purpose. In fact, the adaptation provides excellent camouflage from predators.
For all its splendor, this also remains a very small species. Mature adults rarely exceed 1 in (2.5 cm) in overall body length, with no discernible sexual dimorphism.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Family: Orthoptera
- Genus: Markia
- Species: M. hystrix
Lichen Katydid Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
Little specific information is available about the particular biology of the Lichen Katydid as of yet. To date, the species has been spotted in Queensland, Australia, and portions of Ecuador and Costa Rica.
Scientists believe that the Lichen Katydid principally inhabits the upper regions of the forest canopy as there it would naturally find greater quantities of lichen on the trunks of trees.
The katydid also appears to be nocturnal in nature. It still remains unclear what it prefers to eat because the majority of katydids feed as herbivores but a few appear to be omnivores.
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