A typical katydid, with remarkable leaf-like camouflage. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension
The intricate camouflage developed within the animal kingdom never fails to fascinate me. From fish that look like seagrass blades to butterflies that look like tree bark—or a pair of eyes—the variety, color, and textures are just mind-boggling. Among those are the leaf bugs, or katydids, that flawlessly evoke natural foliage. I had one join me on a patio chair recently, and I couldn’t stop starting at the detailed venation on their wings, which perfectly mimicked the veins on a leaf.
One of the pink katydids on display at the Audubon Insectarium. Photo credit: Amy Pitre courtesy LSU AgCenter
There are well over 6,000 species of katydids, and they’re found on every continent but Antarctica. Related to crickets and grasshoppers, they are similar in that they are remarkable jumpers, with strong hind legs that can also produce recognizable scraping, buzzing, and trilling sounds. The insects got their name from the perception that the noises they produce sound like, “Katy did!, Katy didn’t!” which are primarily made by males of the species. Song production and recognition among katydids are highly developed, used for warnings, attracting mates, or defending territory. Katydids detect sounds by raising their front legs, which have sensing/hearing patches called tympanum. Katydid and cicada songs can be differentiated by timing—cicadas trill during the day, while katydids are active at night.
Katydids have antennae nearly as long as their bodies, and despite their large wings are not strong flyers. Every katydid I’ve ever seen is a leafy green color, blending perfectly into its surroundings and hiding in plain sight from avian predators. However, they come in several different colors, including tan, yellow, orange, and hot pink. I cannot fathom how hot pink is an effective adaptation, but they are occasionally found—at a rate of 1 in 500—in the wild. The pink coloration is due to a genetic condition called erythrism, which is similar to the recessive traits causing albinism. New Orleans’ Audubon Insectarium exhibits several pink katydids, which, with no natural predators, can live typical katydid lifespans.
Katydids are found widely in the state and can be a pest of citrus, but are not considered a major issue. In a home garden, they are generally considered beneficial. While they might nibble on plant parts, they also feed on pest insects like aphids and can aid in pollination.
It started with a quiet day, and a curious bag of sand brought into the extension office but inside was more than just sand. It was crawling with tawny crazy ants (Nylanderia fulva), one of Florida’s fastest-spreading invasive pests. Known for their erratic movement and massive colonies that can make the ground seem alive, these reddish-brown ants are now a growing concern for gardeners across some Florida counties. Unlike fire ants, tawny crazy ants don’t sting, but they can nip with their chewing mouthparts. Their sheer numbers can overwhelm outdoor spaces, crawling on people and spoiling the enjoyment of patios, gardens, and recreational areas. They nest in moist, protected areas such as leaf litter, potted plants, and under debris, often forming sprawling colonies with multiple queens.
Beyond being a nuisance, these ants pose serious risks. They’ve been known to cause electrical shortages by infiltrating equipment, sometimes leading to costly damage. In some Caribbean islands, they’ve harmed organic crops, and in Colombia, infestations have even led to the death of small animals due to asphyxiation. Larger animals have been attacked around sensitive areas like the eyes and hooves. Tawny crazy ants also disrupt local ecosystems. Their aggressive spread displaces native ant species and reduces biodiversity. While Florida hasn’t reported agricultural damage yet, the potential remains, especially in organic farming systems.
Identification Tips
Workers are small (less than 1/8 inch), monomorphic, and covered in fine hairs that give them a matte appearance. They have one petiole segment and 12 antennal segments, including a long first segment called the scape. Colonies don’t form mounds but may tunnel in sandy soil. Queens are often found among workers, especially in warmer months. If you suspect an infestation, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension office.
Management Challenges
Controlling tawny crazy ants is notoriously difficult. Spraying alone is ineffective, and most insecticides only work for a few days before ants’ return. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the recommended approach. IPM combines multiple tactics, starting with accurate identification and monitoring, followed by strategic product application and habitat modification. Professional pest control services that specialize in IPM are often necessary. Timing is critical, and overuse of products is not only ineffective but may violate legal limits. Keep records of infestation locations to anticipate reinvasion, which typically occurs annually. While complete eradication is unlikely in established areas, population suppression is achievable. Interestingly, research suggests that within about a decade, populations may naturally decline, allowing native species to rebound.
Tawny crazy ants are more than just a backyard annoyance they are a complex ecological and household threat. Awareness, early identification, and professional management are key to minimizing their impact. As these ants continue to spread, staying informed and proactive will help protect your property and Florida’s delicate ecosystems.
For more information call or visit your local extension office or follow the link below.
A tiny juvenile praying mantis stalks prey on a gloriosa lily. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension
The gloriosa lilies have been in full glory, so to speak, in our garden at the Extension office the last few weeks. While photographing them, I noticed a tiny visitor hidden in plain sight among the flower’s frilly petals and stamen. A bright green juvenile praying mantis, no more than an inch long and the same shade of green as the plant, stood still directly in front of me.
A Larger Florida Mantis perches on blazing star flowers in Sarasota. Photo credit: chaseyb via iNaturalist
Praying mantids are often recognizable and well-known due to their interesting body shape and posture. They have other wild features, too, like gigantic folding “raptorial” (grasping/predatory) front legs and the ability to swivel their big-eyed, alien heads 180°. The large European mantid’s Latin name, Mantis religiosa, comes from the insect’s posture when hunting. It sits or stands with its forelegs folded up as if in prayer, before deploying them rapidly for a meal. All mantid species are ambush predators, capturing prey by sitting in wait, camouflaged in color and shape. They’ve even been observed swaying gently to appear like leaves in the breeze. But when they spring to attack, they are deadly accurate.
The charismatic praying mantis, in stealth attack position. Photo credit: University of Wisconsin Extension
The insects are known for their infamous (but rare in the wild) post-mating male beheading. Mantids are not alone in that cannibalistic behavior—many insects and spiders exhibit this conduct to boost the energy of females as they produce the next generation. Most mantid species are tropical, but of the 2400 known worldwide, only about 20 live in the United States (11 in Florida).
Mantids are considered natural pest control in a garden, although they are generalists and will prey on both beneficial and pest insects. With those spiky front legs raised in the air, they drop down and grasp prey ranging in size from aphids to—rarely—hummingbirds. Their effective predatory behavior doesn’t make them immune from becoming prey themselves, however. Mantids are a food source for many species, including bats, birds, spiders, and fish.
During the summer months, we can’t seem to get away from insects. Whether it’s a fly circling your food, those pesky aphids in your garden, or a mosquito out for blood, they make their presence known. But when winter rolls around and temperatures drop, they seem to disappear. But where do they go?
Unlike humans, insects are exothermic or cold blooded. They cannot regulate their own body temperature and must rely on the heat of the environment. Each insect species has its own developmental threshold, a temperature below which no development takes place. For many insects, that threshold is about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, consecutively, the insect is not active, and no development is occurring. Typically, the warmer the temperature is (as long as it is above the development threshold), the more insect activity we see.
Insects may also enter a state called diapause, which is similar to hibernation. During diapause, an insect’s metabolism slows dramatically, and the insect stops feeding, growing, or reproducing. This allows the insect to survive through cold winter conditions, conserving energy until temperatures warm up again.
Another insect survival technique during the winter is migration. Many species of insects migrate to warmer climates to escape the cold. A well-known example of this is with the infamous Monarch butterfly migration. Monarchs migrate south to Mexico to overwinter and survive the cold weather. Some other insects migrate in smaller, less noticeable ways such as moving to different micro-climates. For example, beetle grubs may move down deep within the leaf litter to stay warm. Insects like lady beetles may congregate in large numbers inside homes, barns, or buildings during the winter.
Some insect species can produce glycerol, a type of anti-freeze, that prevents their body from freezing even when temperatures drop below freezing.
While many insects seem to disappear during the winter, they’re actually using their time wisely and although, cooler temperatures may slow down their activity, they won’t necessarily change insect populations drastically. Insects are well adapted for survival, and they are here to stay. They’re just enjoying a break until the warmth of spring brings them back!
Doodlebugs create pitfall traps in dry, sandy areas to lure unsuspecting ants. Their “doodles” in the sand are visible as well. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension
It’s been years since I ran across doodlebugs. But when I saw a stretch of their pitfall traps at a campsite near Coldwater Creek in MIlton, I knew it was time to write about them. Lore says their silly name came from Southern kids like me, who watched the larvae drag their bodies around in the sand, leaving patterns (or doodles) etched behind them. These insects have long fascinated children and creative writers, with some of my favorite authors–Twain, Steinbeck, Thoreau–referencing doodlebugs in their books.
Doodlebug larvae are pretty terrifying, with those giant killer mandibles. Photo credit: UF IFAS
Doodlebugs, aka ant lions (Myrmeleon immaculatus—although we have 22 species in Florida!), are fascinating little insects that prey upon ants by creating slippery funnels in the sand. They wait underground below the funnel opening as unsuspecting ants march along the surface and slide down in the ensuing “mini avalanche.” If an ant or other prey item manages to get away, the ant lion can sling sand at it to try and knock it back down into the pit. Doodlebug larvae are the stuff of cartoon nightmares. They possess a pair of giant clawed mandibles, capable of grabbing and injecting prey with a toxin. The poison paralyzes the victim and contains digestive fluids which liquify its insides. At this point, the ant lion goes in for the kill by sucking out the prey’s juices through its deadly mandibles.
An adult doodlebug/ant lion bears no resemblance to its larval stage! Photo credit: Campbell Vaughn, UGA
Ant lions may stay in this frightening larval stage for up to 3 years. After this they undergo metamorphosis, spending 3 weeks in a cocoon. As adults, their transformation is dramatic; they are closely related to lacewings and dobsonflies, with long, thin bodies and large translucent wings.
A doodlebug captures its prey. Photo credit: UF IFAS
As kids, we always found doodlebugs under my best friend’s treehouse. In Milton, they were in a sandy area beneath a cabin roof overhang. These dry, protected sand areas are their preferred habitat and the best place to find them. We used to stick pine needles down into the openings, and watch as a flutter of insect mouthparts tried to grab it from us. Because of their fascinating life cycle and dramatic hunting technique, doodlebugs can be a captivating addition to a science classroom. In fact, there’s a reference to doodlebugs on the NASA website, due to an Apollo 16 astronaut’s mention of them. When landing on the moon, the craters reminded Charlie Duke of doodlebug pits, prompting him to recite an old children’s rhyme, “Doodlebug, doodlebug, are you at home?”
