LOOK
WHEN YOU
The Katydid Family
When you look at katydids, you see an example of cultural disparity.
What is a katydid?
The Katydid Family (scientific name Tettigoniidae) is a massive family of insects composed of over 7,000 different species with 20 different subfamilies. Katydids can be found on every single continent except for Antarctica, generally being found in tropical climates or various locations containing trees, bushes, or tall grasses. Katydids are generally about 2-4 inches in length, with one notable exception being the currently unidentified specimen on display at the Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History, which clocks in at nearly 7 inches. Katydids are well known for their songs and choruses which are produced by rubbing their wings together at incredible speeds, and their mating calls are of particular interest to the scientific community. This is due to the social aspect of katydid choruses where males are either leading males or following males, with leading males chirping slightly earlier during katydid songs. Katydids are generally omnivorous with the exception of certain species such as the predatory bush cricket, Saga pedo.
The katydid on display at the Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History. Picture courtesy of Alan Gilogly
Katydids, Taoism, and Consumerism
During my research on katydids, I was initially frustrated when I attempted to find sources discussing cultural views of katydids. This was because I was looking at predominantly American articles, and when I looked from a global view I soon noticed that in the country of China there is a vibrant katydid culture (katydids and crickets are interchangeable in most Chinese insect traditions). China has a tradition of keeping katydids as pets dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), largely due to their appreciation of katydid songs and the spiritual value that they place on insects such as crickets, katydids, and cicadas. This high valuation of katydids can be traced to a prominent Chinese philosophy known as Taoism, which emphasizes the importance of being in connection with the natural world and its inhabitance. This heavy appreciation of the natural world directly translates to an appreciation for katydids given their participation in said natural world, paving the way for Chinese culture to find lots of value in katydids as a whole. In contrast, American culture tends to assign value to objects and specimens based on their monetary and functional value. This is largely due to the heavily consumerist culture that dominates the lifestyle of the Americas, which favors monetary gain over spiritual connection. Through this mindset it is easy to see why America holds little interest in katydids, as they have next to no economic value and serve as a pest to farmers' crops. There is no functional or monetary value attached to the katydid, meaning that there is no reason to value them at all in American society. The difference between the way these two different cultures values katydids shows just how much people's perception of katydids can change from one culture to the next.
Photo Courtesy of Karen Lanier
The most prominent symbol of Taoism: The Yin-Yang