How about naming it Fred???? No, this looks like a leaf hopper. As adults they are a sucking insect that in small numbers is not a major problem. The biggest concern is that they, regardless of numbers, transmit diseases from one plant to another. Pryrethin is a good safe control insecticide if the a problem exists.

How big is the thing? Leafhoppers are small, about 1/4 inch.

Looks to me like a katydid. Much larger.

Yep, a katydid and not related to leafhoppers at all. They are plant chewers, but pose little problem unless you're farmer growing nothing but stuff that they like to eat. If your neighbor were to find one munching away on a valuable plant, she should simply encourage it to jump or fly away with her hand. Don't bring the pesticides out for something like this.

Pretty, aren't they?

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1185919}}

Okay..so Fred the Katydid it is! (haha).

We only found one and she let it loose in her garden...we just thought it was cool and didn't know what it was. Thanks!