How difficult is it to keep Kutsuwamushi?

Intermediate. This is an intermediate-level species. Some prior experience and knowledge of environmental management are recommended.

How large does Kutsuwamushi get?

Kutsuwamushi typically reaches Up to about 70mm as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.

What should I feed Kutsuwamushi?

Kutsuwamushi feeds on: Herbivorous (mainly kudzu and other legume leaves). Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.

What is the typical price for Kutsuwamushi?

The price of Kutsuwamushi varies significantly depending on bloodline, size, captive-bred generation, and sex. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Kutsuwamushi

Intermediate

Mecopoda niponensis

A tall, bulky katydid in green or brown forms that calls a loud 'gacha-gacha' at night. Unusually for its predatory relatives, in the wild it eats almost nothing but kudzu leaves.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Temperature

20〜28℃

Lifespan

Adults from late July to October (captives have lived until February)

Size

Up to about 70mm

Humidity

60〜80%

Diet

Herbivorous (mainly kudzu and other legume leaves)

About

Mecopoda niponensis (Haan, 1843) is a katydid (Tettigoniidae) of Honshu from Ibaraki and Niigata southward, Awaji, Shikoku, Kyushu, Oki and Tsushima, as well as Korea and eastern China. It is big, tall and bulky, with the largest side profile of any Japanese katydid, growing to about 70mm. Green and brown individuals occur side by side. It is nocturnal with a very loud call, avoids open ground and lives in undergrowth at woodland edges. Unusually for this carnivorous group it is a herbivore, favouring legumes, especially kudzu, and it grows perfectly well on kudzu alone. Adults appear from late July and are heard in the wild until the end of October. Females lay in soil with a sword-shaped ovipositor, and nymphs hatch the following year from late April to early June. Tied to kudzu thickets, slow-moving and a poor flier, it is vulnerable to habitat loss and is declining, with local populations dying out in many places. It is told from the related M. elongata by wing shape and a darkened pronotum. In Japan live insects are sold in autumn, mainly by shops specialising in singing insects.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Size of the Kutsuwamushi

The Kutsuwamushi grows to Up to about 70mm.

Basic Info

Origin

Honshu (from Ibaraki and Niigata south), Shikoku, Kyushu, Oki, Tsushima, Korea and eastern China

Lifespan

Adults from late July to October (captives have lived until February)

Size

Up to about 70mm

Temperature

20〜28℃

References & Sources

Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team

The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.

Primary sources

Taxonomy & Authority

Accepted name: Mecopoda niponensis (Haan, 1843)

Synonyms: Locusta niponensis Haan, 1843

Authority databases: GBIF · GBIF

Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.

Regulations & Conservation Status

Not CITES-listed

Not covered by CITES or the Invasive Alien Species Act. It is a native species declining with habitat loss, so follow local rules when collecting and never release captives away from their place of origin.

Sources: Ministry of the Environment: List of invasive alien species (JA) / Species+ CITES query (no listing)

Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.