Rearing unlikely dragons: Breeding of the dragon headed katydids, Eumegalodon blanchardi (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

Abstract

The Dragon headed katydid (Eumegalodon blanchardi), is a long-horned grasshopper. They have proven to be a difficult species to breed under human care. One of the major challenges in the breeding process is a low egg hatch rate. In this study we trialled three different incubation methods to determine which has a higher hatchability and monitored hatchling growth. Method A was a typical incubation technique used for other katydid species, Method B left the eggs in the banana pseudostem longer before placing in incubator and Method C only used the pseudostem. Method C had a significantly higher hatching success rate of 96.3% versus Method A’s 38.1%. Perhaps the banana pseudostems’ antimicrobial properties protected the eggs against microbial attacks and provided adequate insulation and humidity. Humidity in particular is an important factor in other katydid species’ hatch success. Optimising growth rates based on diet is a logical next step.