Right by my front door. Had to gasp when I saw this bad boy. (Was that sexist? Don't answer that.) We are talking huge! He was there when I was going out and about around 9 this morning and was still there around noon. Don't know where he is now and whether he has a family. Hope he didn't come inside and make himself at home.


For size you can kinda compare him to one of the bricks.


Any ideas about this booger? Wonder if he's the culprit that chewed the leaves on some of my bulbs. I had blamed the squirrels aka the usual suspects

I think its a Katydid. Yes, it may be your culprit.

It is a katydid. They are more related to crickets than grasshoppers. Thought they still eat plants. The good news is that they are among the easiest pests to grab and remove.

... just don't grab it by its hind leg as it will promptly separate from the rest of the insect's body.

Well, thanks y'all. I've heard of katydids but had no idea what they looked like. This sucker is huge! And he was up too high for me to get a good picture. Fortunately I had a guest who is taller and I handed my phone to her to get more of a close up. Have to admit that I was very surprised that he hadn't moved for 3 hours that I'm aware of.

Yardenman - when you say that they are easy to grab and remove - is there a particular time of day that they hang out? Or do they get the munchies at night? Do they have a preferred diet aside from my plants?

Usually have a lot of birds at my feeders but haven't seen them for a few weeks. Am assuming that they've been eating berries or someone else has better food. If the birds are around, would they eat katydids? Most of the birds that hang around are cardinals, jays, red breasted woodpeckers, jays, finches, jays, mourning doves, jays, robins, little house sparrows, jays, an occasional starling, and the ever present crows and grackles. And did I mention blue jays?

Other than that most insects are less mobile in morning when they are cold, no. They are most active in afternoon warmth.

3mark said:... just don't grab it by its hind leg as it will promptly separate from the rest of the insect's body.

Thank you for that, 3mark. Just what I really wanted to envision.