PestControlBasics
Menu

Identify

Treat

Local

About

Greater Angle-Winged Katydid

Microcentrum rhombifolium[3]

The greater angle-winged katydid is a large, bright green false katydid whose broad wings look like a leaf.[1][2]

Group
Insect
Order
Orthoptera
Family
Tettigoniidae
US records
41 states
Sources
3 cited
Updated
2026-10-16
Greater angle-winged katydid, a leaf-like green katydid, on a plant
Greater angle-winged katydid, a leaf-like green katydid, on a plant. Photo: Vasily Reinkymov, public domain (CC0), via iNaturalist
On this page
  1. Identification
  2. Look-alikes
  3. Where it lives
  4. Biology
  5. Damage and signs
  6. Health risk
  7. Control
  8. Related profiles
  9. Common questions
  10. Sources

How to identify it

  • Adults are 2 to 2 1/2 inches long and bright green, with threadlike antennae longer than the body.[1][2]
  • It is similar to the lesser angle-winged katydid but larger, lacks a brown patch on the back and has a small tooth on the front edge of the shield behind the head.[2]
  • Eggs are oval, brown or gray, and laid in a row along the edge of a leaf.[1]

Look-alikes

Look-alikeHow to tell them apart
Lesser angle-winged katydidSmaller, with a brown patch behind the pronotum and no tooth on its front edge.[2]
Oblong-winged katydidAnother false katydid; a round-headed species with very long hind legs.[2]

Where it lives

Broad range across the eastern and southwestern United States; common throughout Florida.[1][2]

US map: public records from 41 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

Nymphs closely resemble adults.[1]

In Florida, numbers are highest from June through September.[1]

The song is a sharp single tick given every few seconds plus an even, rapid series of 10 to 20 ticks.[2]

Damage and signs

  • Like grasshoppers, katydids leave leaf edges notched and jagged, and they can leave smooth sunken areas on fruit.[1]
  • They rarely cause extensive damage; young citrus trees and nurseries are the most likely to need protection.[1]

Health risk

Harmless to people and pets.[1]

Control

Prevention

Damage is usually minor; young citrus is the main case where protection from this katydid is needed.[1]

Common questions

What are the flat seeds lined up on my leaf edge?
Often a row of greater angle-winged katydid eggs.[1]
Do katydids hurt citrus?
They can notch leaves and scar fruit, mostly on young trees.[1]

Sources

  1. University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS, Featured Creatures), “Citrus Pest Quick Guide: Broadwinged Katydid (Microcentrum rhombifolium) (ENY-2109).” ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1423 (accessed 2026-10-16)
  2. Missouri Department of Conservation, “Katydids (Field Guide).” mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/katydids (accessed 2026-10-16)
  3. iNaturalist, “Microcentrum rhombifolium taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/84752 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-16. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.