Balloon Winged Katydid In Bunbury: Tympanophora Sp.

Location: Bunbury, South West, Western Australia

Season: Early Summer, November
Order: Orthoptera
 Family: Tettigoniidae
Genus: Tympanophora
Tympanophora insolita

When I saw this perching on the tree, I thought it was a tiny reptile but on close inspection it turned out to be a large katydid. The long antennae, the really long ovipositor and the presence of abdominal segments confirmed that it was a female katydid, not a reptile. The Balloon Wing Katydids are called so because the wings of the male resemble a balloon. The females are wingless, as seen above.

Balloon Winged Katydid belongs to the genus Tympanophora. There are many described species, one of which is local to Bunbury called Tympanophora insolita. The species identification requires detailed anatomical description which unfortunately are not very clear in the photos above. There is limited literature for description of this species, especially for the female but below are some great references pointing towards identification.

   

Reference: A Guide to the Katydids of Australia By David Rentz

Tettigoniidae of Australia Volume 3: Listroscelidinae, Tympanophorinae, Meconematinae and Microtettigoniae By David Rentz

Australian Tympanophora White