Which order has an ovipositor that is typically flattened and sword-like?

• A. Gryllacrididae
• B. Tettigoniidae
• C. Acrididae
• D. Plecoptera

Answer: (B)

Think about how eggs are laid and what shape helps the female do that best. In katydids, the female has a long, flattened ovipositor that looks like a blade. This sword-like blade is ideal for inserting eggs into plant tissue, such as stems or leaves, which is a common way these insects lay eggs. That blade-shaped ovipositor is a distinctive feature of this group, making it the best match for the description. In contrast, grasshoppers tend to have short, stout ovipositors suited to placing eggs in the soil, and the other groups don’t typically show this flattened blade-like form. So the katydids are the ones with the typically flattened, sword-like ovipositor.