Leaf mimick katydid - Phyllomimus truncatus - Butterfly Plants

Phyllomimus truncatus, is a beautiful, fairly new katydid to the hobby. With its easy care and fascinating camouflage it has quickly become a popular species. 

Originating from Thailand they have developed large wings which they flatten against their bodies, perfectly blending in to their surroundings. Although having large wings, they can't fly, but instead can produce a loud squawk like a bird, which they use to scare away any predators. They squawk at any movement around them, so if your just walking past their enclosure they will loudly tell you to go away.

Care requirements:
Temperature: 18-26 degrees
Humidity: 70%-90%
Food: Brambles, Rose, Oak, Hazel and the odd bit of fruit.
Size: 6-9cm (body size) They have very long antenna which double their size.
Lifespan: 8-12 months
Breeding: Once mated the females use their blade like ovipositor to lay their eggs into soft plant stems and bits of rotting wood/foam. The eggs take about 2-3 months to hatch, young nymphs hatch about the size of a fruit fly but are fast growing and reach full size in a 4-5 months.
How I keep them: To house 4 I would use a 20cm by 30cm arboreal enclosure with a layer of substrate on the bottom to raise humidity, be careful to make sure they can't fit through the ventilation holes as they are very small when young. I spay them once a day and feed them shoots of bramble which can be kept fresh in little pots of water. You can also house them with other insects as this species of katydid only feeds on plants and won't try nibbling other stick insects.