A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
This large, dark-colored cricket had a sharp point extending form its abdomen
Found in the Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica sitting on a large leaf
Don't know the specific species, but will keep researching.
The insect order orthoptera includes grasshoppers (liver on ground or grass; short antennae), crickets (ground dwelling), katydids and others. Katydids are arboreal, nocturnal and have long antennae. This is a katydid. I think it is the same as the well noted specimen on latimerias cap. I don't have an exact match but this one (called spiny lobster) is very close. http://www.flickr.com/photos/artour_a/22...
I found one but mine didn't move even when i touched it http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/754...
It looks similar to some of the katydids I found in Costa Rica, namely one from La Selva (http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/658...) and Bribri (http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/575...). Can't say for sure though.
It's a female, they use the knifelike organ to lay their eggs in the ground, the males don't have these organs.
Good spotting!
Spotted on Jun 6, 2011
Submitted on Jul 6, 2011
+1
