September 28, 2009 06:01 by
Luke Several Giant Katydids were captured by Live Exhibits staff last December during the annual field collection trip to tropical north Queensland. The adults mated, laid eggs and died, as they do. Now almost a year later, the eggs have begun hatching and we currently have seventeen nymphs with more emerging every day. This nymph is the first hatched and has just shed its skin to reveal the typical body form of the adult. No larger than your fingernail, this nymph will eventually grow to about 5cm with antennae even longer. They are currently feeding on live guava tree leaves which seems to work well for the babies. These will go on display in the Museum's Bugs Alive exhibition with a mixture of other cricket and katydid species in a couple of months.
3rd instar Giant Katydid nymph. Photo: Luke Simpkin Source: Museum Victoria
3rd instar Giant Katydid nymph side on. Photo: Luke Simpkin Source : Museum Victoria
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