Recently I discovered this beautiful eastern shieldback katydid (Atlanticus gibbosus), also known as the robust shieldback or robust shield-bearer resting on my garden fence. I was very excited to get the chance to see one since they are nocturnal and spend days hidden in the grasses and underbrush where they blend in remarkably well. Katydids are closely related to grasshoppers and crickets. This particular individual happens to be a male since he lacks the long ovipositor coming off his abdomen. I love the detail of the large rounded pronotum (first thoracic segment) that covers most of the thorax and gives this guy his common names. As you can see, these large insects have long, powerful legs that allow them to leap long distances. Those jumps allow them to escape predators and also to pounce on other insects that they will eat along with some plant material. These guys will eat many other smaller insects including ones that are damaging to crops and gardens and a number of invasive species. There are quite a few Atlanticus species in the United States and in parts of Europe and Asia, but this particular species is found only in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama. Yet another reason that I was terribly excited about finding it.