Spine-headed Katydid -Nicsara sp.

Family TETTIGONIIDAE

This page contains pictures and information about the Spine-headed Katydids that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.

Female, body length 40mm

 

The Spine-headed Katydids are active at night. They hide in their nest during the day.

 

 

 

Mid summer in Karawatha Forest, we were chasing a Common Pardillana nymph. It jumped and land on a bundle of leaves, looked like a nest or something. We knew there must be something inside. We change our point of interest to this nest. We carefully opened it and  found the Spine-headed Katydid nymph hiding inside.

 

 

 

We took the nymph home, fed it with fresh gum leaves. Few days later, it did the final moulting and became an adult. From its long sword-like ovipositor we can tell it is a female. When it just came out from the last moulting, it was pale brown in colour. It body was still soft, had to wait for a few hours for its skin to became harden. 

 

 

 

Then the dark colour patterns also appeared on its body. The first thing the Katydid did after moulting was to eat its old shell.  

 

 

 

 

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Last updated: February 21, 2005.