Pet Project: Katydid

Well, we have a new pet today - a katydid.

Turns out they are pretty easy to keep, unlike the toad we collected a couple of weeks ago, but I digress.

If you happen upon a katydid and want to keep it as a pet, check out this informative WikiHow article on katydids:  http://www.wikihow.com/Take-Care-of-a-Katydid-Insect  Here's how we followed the handy tips provided in that article.

We made the suggested habitat using an empty container that once held snacks from Costco.  We began with a layer of potting soil, topped it with some sandy soil out of the yard, stuck some recently propagated spearmint into the dirt, and added a stick, rocks, pine straw, etc. And, voila!!  We have a katydid habitat:

Be sure to mist your katydid daily and provide it with some Romaine lettuce, as mentioned in the link.

"He" has been named "Climber."  Never mind, that I think "he" is trying to lay eggs at the moment.

A picture of Climber trying to lay eggs.  On a related note, in my Googling, I found that Katydids/Bushcrickets have the largest testes in proportion to the their body size (up to 14% of  their body) of all insects.  <<Something to share at the water cooler.

An enjoyable and informative blog on katydids that you may like if you enjoyed this post: http://capeblogfromthebog.blogspot.com/2012/05/cacophony-of-katydids.html

And, on a side note, if you are looking for great information about that toad that your kids have brought into the house, check out this helpful site:

http://www.toadilytoads.com/toadilytoads_faqs.html  

For a chuckle, be sure to read the answer to "My toad begins making cute little chirps when I pet him. I think this means he's singing because this feels good. What do you think, am I right?"