''Markia hystrix'' is a species of

katydid Insects in the family Tettigoniidae are commonly called katydids (especially in North America) or bush crickets. They have previously been known as "long-horned grasshoppers". More than 8,000 species are known. Part of the suborder Ensifera, the ...

in the subfamily

Phaneropterinae The Phaneropterinae, the sickle-bearing bush crickets or leaf katydids, are a subfamily of insects within the family Tettigoniidae. They are also known as false katydids or round-headed katydids. The name Phaneropterinae is based upon the Old W ...

. It occurs in highlands of western and central

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

and in southern

Panama Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the southern end of Central America, bordering South America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and ...

, up to an altitude of at least ; although sometimes reported from elsewhere, this is due to confusion with other species in the genus ''

Markia ''Markia'' is a genus in the family Tettigoniidae, sometimes called lichen katydids, which are found in Mexico, Central America and South America, often in highlands; however, the term "lichen katydids" is also used for other genera in the tribe ...

'', all of which are known as lichen katydids. These highly spiny katydids are very well camouflaged, with colors and patterns that closely resemble the ''

Usnea ''Usnea'' is a genus of fruticose lichens in the large family Parmeliaceae. The genus, which currently contains roughly 130 species, was established by Michel Adanson in 1763. Species in the genus grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anch ...

'' lichen upon which they live and feed. Adult ''M. hystrix'' have a length of about and show some variation in color depending on the exact color of the lichen in a region.

References

Phaneropterinae Orthoptera of South America Insects described in 1844 {{Tettigoniidae-stub