32 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Vol. xiv. 



Class I, HEXAPODA. 



Order XI, ORTHOPTERA. 



THE CYRTOPHYLLI OF THE UNITED STATES. 



By A. N. Caudell, 



Washington, D. C. 



(Plate I.) 



The members of the group Cyrtophylli, generally known as true 

 Katydids, are rarely numerously represented in collections, though at 

 times they are rather common in some localities. The nights may re- 

 sound with the song of the males and yet the listener never see one of 

 the songsters. This is accounted for by the habitat of the insect, which 

 is in the tallest trees available. In the vicinity of Washington they 

 live in tall trees in the woods, thus escaping notice by the greater 

 number of people. In some localities they are numerous and, in the 

 absence of large trees, live in orchards and shrubbery. In such localities 

 they are no rarity to the farmer or fruit grower but in places where 

 large trees abound one may live a life time and rarely see one, though 

 often hearing the stridulations of the male. The sound made by these 

 insects is the loudest made by any orthopterous songster known, being 

 indeed, unsurpassed by any insect of any order except the Cicada, or 

 harvest fly. The song of the common species, perspicillatus, consists 

 of a rasping note repeated from two to five times, usually three, fol- 

 lowed by a short pause. The same species seems to vary its song from 

 time to time, sometimes the note being repeated but twice and again 

 as many as five times, the number probably depending upon the vigor 

 of the insect as well as upon the temperature. The number is said to 

 vary quite regularly in the number of beats per minute according to 

 whether the temperature is higher or lower. The number per minute 

 at a temperature of 82 ° is said to be about 89 while at 58 it is but 15 

 to 20. The notes have a fancied resemblance to the words "Katy- 

 did," or " Katy-did, she-did." 



The female of these insects, at least that of the common species, 

 perspicillatus, is unique among Orthopterous insects, so far as known, 

 in that they stridulate in a manner similar to that of the males. The 

 elytra are partially opened and closed just as are those of the males 

 during stridulation. The roughened surface of the triangular anal 



