See text Insects in the family Tettigoniidae are commonly called katydids (especially in North America)[1] or bush crickets.

Many species are nocturnal in habit, having strident mating calls and may exhibit mimicry or camouflage, commonly with shapes and colours similar to leaves.

[4] The family name Tettigoniidae is derived from the genus Tettigonia, of which the great green bush cricket is the type species; it was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.

[11] The smaller species typically live in drier or more stressful habitats which may lead to their small size.

[4] However, katydids are found in the cool, dry temperate regions, as well, with about 255 species in North America.

[15] The diet of most tettigoniids includes leaves, flowers, bark, and seeds, but many species are exclusively predatory, feeding on other insects, snails, or even small vertebrates such as snakes and lizards.

Some are also considered pests by commercial crop growers and are sprayed to limit growth, but population densities are usually low, so a large economic impact is rare.

[17] By observing the head and mouthparts, where differences can be seen in relation to function, it is possible to determine what type of food the tettigoniids consume.

Large tettigoniids can inflict a painful bite or pinch if handled, but seldom break the skin.

Some species of bush crickets are consumed by people, such as the nsenene (Ruspolia differens) in Uganda and neighbouring areas.

For American katydids, the formula is generally given as the number of chirps in 15 seconds plus 37 to give the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.

[22] When tettigoniids go to rest during the day, they enter a diurnal roosting posture to maximize their cryptic qualities.

By flicking their wings open when disturbed, they use the coloration to fool predators into thinking the spots are eyes.

LITTLE friend among the tree-tops, Chanting low your vesper hymns, Never tiring, Me inspiring, Seated 'neath the swaying limbs, Do you know your plaintive calling, When the summer dew is falling, Echoes sweeter through my brain Than any soft, harmonic strain?

Others call you an intruder, Say discordant notes you know; Or that sadness, More than gladness, From your little heart doth flow; And that you awake from sleeping Thoughts in quiet they were keeping, Faithless love, or ill-laid schemes, Hopes unanchored — broken dreams.

Oft I fancy when your neighbors, In some secret thicket hid, Are debating, Underrating What that little maiden did, That above their clam'rous singing I can hear your accents ringing, Like a voice that must defend From abuse some time-loved friend.

Dream I not of fame or fortune, Only this I inward crave, Sweet assurance, Long endurance, Of a love beyond the grave.

When males possess a large spermatophore, they benefit by being more highly selected for by females, but they are only able to mate one to two times during their lifetimes.

Inversely, male Tettigoniidae with smaller spermatophores have the benefit of being able to mate two to three times per night, but have lower chances of being selected by females.

Studies found that the tuberous bush cricket (Platycleis affinis) has the largest testes in proportion to body mass of any animal recorded.