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Orthoptera make an interesting change from similar inverts (you can liken their care to that of stick insects) and are not always readily available in culture. No guides at present, but I will get around to adding a few soon! Grasshoppers and Katydids are becoming a growing interest for me. Thier unusual bright colouration, tropical sounds and relatively quick life cycle make them an interesting display and fun to rear.
Im currently breeding one species of grasshopper, and one katydid. But will be looking to aquire more species this year. Katydid | Image | Date Aquired | Status | Availability |
| Ancylecha fenestrata | | Attractive large species of Katydid from Malaysia. Otherwise known as the leaf horror. Nymphs are lime green marked with rich chestnut brown and decorated with thorn like spines. For the first week after moult adults are bright yellow and marked like butterflies, they darken to a rich lime green retaining the stunning wing markings. |  | 2009-04-06
| breeding | Not available | Care InfoThese are basic care instructions for this species based on my own experience in rearing. Environment This is a malaysian species requiring good humidity and a steady temperature. Ventilation can be restricted to keep the enclosure adequately moist, however be wary of mould and fungal build up in this environment. Food Rose, Blackberry, Raspberry, Privet, Buddleia, Cotinus and Hypericum. Substrate Substrate should help aid the humidity of the enclosure. Although no substrate is essential for the katydids themselves as egg laying takes place in leaves. Coir can be used as it retains moisture well - but much care must be taken in cleaning away detrius on a regular basis. Dampened Paper towel has been suggested for ease of cleaning but I have never used this myself as it dries quickly. Reproduction Mating occurs at night, males make a shrill call when sexually mature.
The adult females nibble small holes at the edges of thick leaves such as Privet, and lay the ova directly between the leaves epidermal layers. If no suitable leaf is provided the ova end up scattered and are infrequent.
Ova incubate for 2-3 months, the leaves around the ova will die and turn brown quickly. I recommend collecting the ova filled leaves and laying on damp sterile sand in a partially ventilated plastic enclosure. Keep around 20-25c for the incubation period. The leaves break down around the ova, but do not prevent hatch.
The nymphs emerge at night, tiny wingless examples of the adults with the same brown and limegreen colouration of the larger nymphs. They should be kept at a high humidity as moulting can be difficult for this species. Do not keep too warm, the adult temperature range of 20-25c is ideal. Provide with Cotinus and Buddleia in particular as this species does not readily take Blackberry from hatch.
The nymphs take 4/5 months to reach maturity. | | Gallery |
| Mecopoda elongata | |  | 2009-04-15
| nymph | Not available | | Gallery |
| Phoebolampta caeruleotergum | | An attractive small species of katydid originally collected from the Tapah Hills of Western Malaysia. It has a high pitched chirrup, and a delicate blue flank to the abdomen. |  | 0000-00-00
| adult | Not available | Care InfoThese are basic care instructions for this species based on my own experience in rearing. Environment A clean well ventilated and slightly humid enclosure is essential. A plastic container where two sides are ventilated 70% works well, foodplant should be provided in a container which is easily cleaned. Food Rose, hypericum and privit can be provided. Ensure that fresh foodplant is always available. Substrate Dampened kitchen towel works best, as this is easy to clean and helps maintain the high humidity. Reproduction Ova are slender and beige in colour, hatching occurs within 2 months. | | Gallery |
| Stilpnochlora couloniana | | Attractive giant green katydid, feeds on bramble, hazel and a variety of other trees and plants. Easy to rear, an interesting alternative to stick insects. Adults make a hissing sound with thier wings when startled. |  | 0000-00-00
| breeding | Out of stock | Care InfoThese are basic care instructions for this species based on my own experience in rearing. Environment Adults require a fully ventilated mesh enclosure, good airflow is a must as is strict hygiene. Build up of detritus, stagnant conditions and mould will result in the respiratory problems and eventually death.
A tall mesh enclosure is ideal, spray lightly once daily and maintain good airflow. Food Blackberry, Bramble, Raspberry, Rose, Fruit trees, Mulberry, Buddleia. Substrate This is a purely arboreal species, requiring no substrate. I recommend using paper towel or similar which can easily be changed to maintain the cleanliness of the enclosure. Reproduction Demonstrations of sexual maturity are frequently heard from an adult group, the hissing sound produced by the wings of Stilpnochlora couloniana (although also used when the species is disturbed) summon males to a female. Mated females can be identified by the presence of a spermaphore (a clear bulbous protrusion located near the ovipositor) passed to the female by the male. Shortly after ova will be deposited.
Ova are glued groups of approximately 100-150 bunched along the stems and leaves of the food plant or the sides of the enclosure during the night. These can be gently removed or the stem of the plant cut and the ova placed in a partially ventilated enclosure for incubation. The most reliable incubation medium I have found to be dampened sterilized sand.
Keep at 25-28c, incubation time at this temperature range is approximately 2 months.
Nymphs should be reared in a humid yet well ventilated enclosure until adult, moulting through instars can be a problem in the more ventilated adult environment. Due to the higher humidity a very strict level of hygiene must be maintained in the rearing enclosure; stagnant air and mould will quickly wipe out a whole generation. Light is also important for the nymphs, who seem to feed more readily with access to a decent daytime photo period.
It takes approximately 4 months for a nymph to reach adult.
Adult males live approximately 5/6 months, with adult females surviving on till 7/8 months of age. | | Gallery |
Grasshopper | Image | Date Aquired | Status | Availability |
| Apioscelis bulbosa | |  | 2009-07-07
| nymph | Not available | | Gallery |
| Aularches milliaris | |  | 2008-00-00
| breeding | Not available | Care InfoThese are basic care instructions for this species based on my own experience in rearing. Environment A tall mesh enclosure is ideal for this species. They feed high so be sure that food plants are placed high in the enclosure. A spotlight lamp will provide necessary heat, but also a basking spot which promotes a healthy appetite. Food Blackberry, Rose, Oak, Raspberry, Asclepia. Substrate Substrate necessary for adults of this species to lay ova, and is useful to maintain some humidity in an airy enclosure. Substrate depth should be 10cm or deeper and have a light airy texture whilst remaining moist (but not wet). Reproduction Adults pair during the day, and females will seek out laying substrate early morning. Burrowing their abdomen to the thorax they deposit a foam oothecae containing a number of grain like ova.
The ova can be incubated with the adults, but I have had equal success in removing the oothecae and reburying them in a partially ventilated plastic container. This allows careful observation of hatching nymphs.
The nymphs are approximately 1cm in length at hatch, black in colour marked with white and orange stripes. House in a ventilated slightly humid enclosure - a sand substrate kept damp or damp kitchen towel is recommended to maintain this. Care must be taken to maintain cleanliness, as mould will quickly develop in this environment which will cause respiratory problems and death in the small nymphs.
The nymphs will moult to adult hood within 4 months. | | Gallery |
| Phymateus sp. | |  | 2009-05-28
| nymph | Not available | | Gallery |
| Poecilocerus pictus | |  | 0000-00-00
| lost | Not available | | Gallery |
| Prosarthria latirostris | |  | 2009-05-29
| nymph | Not available |
| Proscopia luceomaculata | |  | 2009-05-29
| nymph | Not available | | Gallery |
| Tropidacris collaris | |  | 2009-05-28
| nymph | Not available | | Gallery |
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