Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Photo: Bright Green Critter Spotted On The N Train
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 18, 2014
Modified Aug 18, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 18, 2014
Modified Aug 18, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Photo by Alex Staniloff
While we know there are plenty of The Bugs Who Must Not Be Named in the subway system, what other living creatures are lurking below? Tipster Alex Staniloff sent us this photo of what he says is a praying mantis (we've sent the photo to the AMNH to clarify)—he took the photo this afternoon on the N train somewhere between 14th and 34th streets.
Maybe this gloriously green critter will eat the bed bugs on that train? Nope. Lou Sorkin (an AMNH entomologist) has said in the past, "I don’t see mantids helping out much. I’m sure they won’t hunt for them and only eat those that are out in the open. Most mantids are also diurnal, while bed bugs are typically nocturnal.” But maybe they'll find the bed bugs really, really attractive? Sadly, the praying mantis doesn't always eat their mate, so we'd probably just end up with some nightmare Praying Bed Mantis hybrid fit for its own SyFy movie.
Of course, some say this is just a grasshopper. Do those eat bed bugs?
UPDATE: The AMNH tells us, "It’s a katydid (Family: Tettigoniidae)."
Tagged
insect
n train
subway
original
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 11:18 a.m. ET
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
Highlights of shifts in the city's business landscape.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
Highlights of shifts in the city's business landscape.
By
Hannah Frishberg
A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history
By
Sonia Rao
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
By
Sonia Rao
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .