For the past few days, I have been roaming Piney Woods Church Road, seeing few four-legged creatures of any kind — even the flies seem to have grown scarce. Often I would hear the katydids and other musical insects calling high up in the trees, and I would wish that one would make itself visible so that I could take a few photographs. I am delighted to say that a True Katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia) appeared this very day, resting placidly on a white oak leaf near eye level. I took quite a few photographs — these are my favorite four, beginning with the one I will designate the “official” photo for Day 205. Is it my imagination, or does she (I can tell this is a female from her flat, curved ovipositor on her back end) appear a bit upset that a photographer is getting in her face? I tried to disrupt her as little as possible, though I admit that I took another collection of photos on my return walk — all of my favorite images are from that later set.
