Paratlanticus ussuriensis is a dark brown katydid from Korea, China, and the Russian Far East that can't fly—its wings are only short stubs—so it crawls and hops along the ground. It is not found in the United States. In Korea it became a notable orchard pest after huge numbers appeared in 2006, chewing peaches, plums, and grapes.
Appearance
- Appearance
- About 1¼ in (3 cm) long, dark brown to blackish, with bright green sides to the abdomen and a yellowish underside. The wings are reduced to short flaps, so it cannot fly.
- Voice
- Males call by rubbing their forewings together.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- leaf litter in hill forests
- orchards near forests
- mountain trails
- Range
- Korea, China, and the Russian Far East. It does not occur in North America.
- Preferred conditions
- Most common in hills with oaks and other broadleaf trees, and in orchards next to them.
Behavior
- Diet
- Omnivorous: mainly dead insects and other small animals, but it also gnaws fruit.
- Activity
- Unlike katydids that sit in foliage, it moves around on the ground, so it often turns up on paths and in fields.
- Overwintering
- Winters as eggs in the soil.
Life cycle
- Breeding season
- One generation a year. Females lay eggs in the soil in fall and then die.
- Larva
- In Korea, hatch in early to mid-April and live in forest leaf litter before moving into orchards in May. From early July they head back to the hills to lay eggs.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
- Threats
- In Korean orchards next to forests, dozens may gather on a single tree and gnaw the fruit.
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