Cupid the Katydid Brings True Love to the Big Easy

Cupid, a rare pink katydid, welcomes visitors at the Audubon Insectarium in New Orleans this Valentine's Day. Cupid and his siblings are the first pink katydids bred in captivity for almost a century. Last summer, donors brought two pink katydids to the Insectarium, and staff at Audubon's Insect Rearing Facility successfully mated the pair.

Cupid, a rare pink katydid, is on display at the Audubon Insectarium in New Orleans.
Photo © Audubon Institute

Cupid is an oblong-winged katydid, Amblycorypha oblongifolia. New Orleanians could be in for a lot of romance this year, in light of the old Cajun adage,” If a pink katydid lands on your shoulder on Valentine’s Day, you will find true love that year!”

You can see Cupid, along with hundreds of other unusual insects, at the Audubon Insectarium, 423 Canal Street (inside the U.S. Custom House) at the corner of North Peters and Canal Street. For more information about the Insectarium and other Audubon Institute attractions, visit their website, AudubonInstitute.org.