Thoracistus is a genus of decticine or shield-backed katydids in the family Tettigoniidae.

As in all decticines a "free plantula" is found at the base of the tarsus of the jumping leg.

This pair of elongate pads may aid jumping in ground biomes.

[2] They are bush or ground-dwelling insects, but unlike the majority of decticines, occur in mesic rather than xeric habitats.

They hide by day in thickets, and become active at dusk when they ascend plants to feed on smaller insects.