This is my second NY native Orthoptera breeding project post!

Amblycorypha oblongifolia, the Oblonged-winged katydid.

I collected this group of 8 or 9 Amblycorypha oblongifolia nymphs back on 5/17/25 and collected some more on 5/26/25. As of now they have grown substantially in the past couple of weeks. They now range in size from roughly 2cm or 0.8in long, almost doubling their size from the last time I updated you guys. Although there are 1 or 2 individuals who are slightly smaller right now, at around 1.7cm or 0.7in long, if I had to estimate.

My feeding schedule is very basic, I add more food once they have finished the majority of their food or when their food goes bad (moldy). I've recently been feeding them celery leaves, which have been readily devoured. I have also given them some protein in the form of generic fish flakes, however, they have not seemed to be interested, but I will keep the flakes in their enclosure just in case.

Their enclosure has remained the same, besides creating a more ventilated lid, keeping the humidity more similar to the NY area humidity. Spraying down the enclosure regularly, however, I believe that the nymphs get the vast majority it their moisture content from the food they eat.

I have had no deaths so far!

Pterophylla camellifolia, the common true katydid.

I collected 2 nymphs back on 5/17/25, on the same trip I collected the Microcentrum nymphs. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any more since, so I'm really hoping for a pair. My two P. camellifolia have been growing slowly but steadily. They are both around 2.5cm or 1in long and have been putting on some weight. The previously smaller individual has caught up in size to the other, so I believe both are readily eating.

As they are nocturnal, I have only seen them asleep (or at least resting) during the daytime. I see some nibbles on the maple leaf in their enclosure, however, I did catch one feeding on some strawberry I had given them. Just like the Microcentrum sp. I remove their food once it gets moldy or otherwise goes bad. I offered them some of the celery leaves, but have not noticed any interest so far. I will probably collect some more deciduous leaves for them to snack on soon.

Since my last update, I have not changed their enclosure, but I plan to move the pair into something bigger soon.

I have had no deaths so far!

Meconema thalassinum, the oak bush-cricket or the drumming katydid. Technically not a native species but a very well-established introduced species, native to Europe. I do not know of any accounts of anyone trying to raise or breed this species in captivity, maybe I am the first. This is a rather common species in my area, I was able to collect over 10 of them on 5/24/25; however, unfortunately, I am down to 3 individuals. I believe they cannibalized each other as they haven't been eating. Since my last update, these three individuals have put on a lot of size!!! They will soon double in size with all three measuring roughly 1.5cm or 0.6in!

Kyle’s suggestion worked! I have witnessed two of these individuals snacking on pumpkin seeds! I will definitely try different seeds, including local wheat seeds (which I assume make up a significant portion of their natural diet. I also ordered a culture of flightless Drosophila melanogaster to try to feed, as adult M. thalassinum are known to feed on small invertebrates, so I assume nymphs also require some protein and at least some variety.

Their enclosure has remained the same from my last update, so check it out for more info on their setup.

I have had no deaths since the last update!

Myrmecophilus pergandei, the eastern ant cricket. This is an awesome native species of ant cricket found across the eastern US. They are technically kleptoparasites living among ant colonies (of the genera Lasius, Camponatus, Formica, Aphaenogaster, Crematogaster, and Tapinoma) and are believed to feed on ant secretions and debris found in ant nests. A couple of people have had limited success with this and other Myrmecophilius sp., raising them with and without ant hosts. I have so far been keeping them in a species-only setup (excluding Springtails). I collected a handful of adults and nymphs, maybe around 12 individuals, back on 5/10/25, and then some more from a different location on 5/26/25. These guys are tiny, ranging in size from 2-5mm or 0.1-0.2in long (adults being on the larger end of the spectrum). M. pergandei take 2 years to reach maturity!

I've read that captive-raised individuals have been fed on a diet of apple and fish food, so that's what I have been feeding (I also suspect they feed on fungi and other detritus and organic matter such as rotting wood in their enclosure. I’ve seen them feed despite them being almost completely subterranean. All individuals look healthy, and I haven't seen any deaths so far. These guys are rather bold for being subterranean species. I often find them at the surface looking for food, but they may just be hungry.

I keep this group in a small 32-oz tall deli cup. Half filled with coco fiber substrate, topped with a good amount of leaf litter and some bark. I also keep Springtails in this setup to keep the substrate clean and feed on leftover food. I have small ventilation holes poked at the top of the enclosure, so I keep them with minimal ventilation and somewhat high humidity. I spray down thoroughly at least once every week. I also want to state that I keep this colony in a dark environment (8 hours of dim indirect artificial light) as well as heated to around 78°F. I don't have any major plans for these guys for a while, as they are very small and don’t need much room, as well as their long maturity time, I'm probably just going to have to wait. There probably won't be much to update on this culture.

I have had no deaths so far!

The final Orthopteran I am keeping is Ceuthophilus maculatus, the spotted camel cricket. One of my bucket list Orthopterans that I have wanted to keep for a while. These guys are native to southern Canada and the eastern US, being found under decaying logs, bark, and in caves. I collected a group of around 9 of these individuals back on 5/17/25. They are all adults or at least subadults, measuring 2-2.5cm or 0.75-1in long.

I've been feeding them a variety of foods, as they are scavengers and generalists. A variety of fruits and vegetables have been working as well as protein such as fish flakes and pellets, along with small dried-up fish. They have been readily eating and are quite bold, coming out to feed from time to time despite spending the majority of their day under the bark. I remove food once it either goes bad or they finish it, and feed every week, with a variety of protein and vegetables.

I keep them in a large 13 by 9 by 4-inch tub with good ventilation. I keep them on 1.5in of coco fiber as they lay their eggs in the substrate. As well as a small amount of leaf litter and many pieces of cork and oak bark. I have one side of the enclosure dry and the other side with sphagnum moss to keep a humidity gradient. I have noticed them hanging around the middle of the gradient and exploring both sides of the enclosure. I also want to state that I keep this colony in a dark environment (8 hours of dim indirect artificial light) as well as heated to around 78°F. I have a small cleanup crew in the enclosure with them: Springtails and powder orange isopods (Porcellionides pruinosus). This has been a very fun colony to raise. They are very jumpy. I'm not entirely sure how to stimulate breeding, however, I hope to see babies soon. I don't have any major plans for this colony right now, but I think if I see a population boom, I will need to increase the size of the enclosure.

I have had no deaths so far!