Phaneroptera nana, common name southern sickle bush-cricket is a species in the family Tettigoniidae and subfamily Phaneropterinae.  It has become an invasive species in California where it may be called the Mediterranean katydid.

This bush cricket is native to mainland Europe, the Near East and North Africa. As an invasive species, it has spread to the San Francisco Bay Area and may be widespread in the Los Angeles Basin.  It mainly inhabits sunny and dry habitats, especially shrubs and low branches of trees.

Distribution and habitat

The adult males grow up to 13–15 millimetres (0.51–0.59 in) long, while females can reach 15–18 millimetres (0.59–0.71 in) of length. The basic coloration of the body is light green, with many small black spots. Head, legs and wings are green. The eyes are bright orange. Hind wings are longer than fore ones (tegmina). In some specimens the elytra reache the apex of the posterior femurs. The ovipositor is about 5 millimetres (0.20 in) long and has the shape of a sickle.

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Is mediterranean katydid poisonous?

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