Diapherodes martinicensis "Martinique"

(by Bruno Kneubuehler)

General Notes

• 2011 - first successful culture of this species by Christian Bouladou Dupré
           (Martinique)
• 2012 - first successful culture in Europe by Bruno Kneubuehler

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Origin

• Martinique

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Females

• sturdy, stout phasmids with a beautiful coloration
• rather short, compared to other species of this genus
• about 10 - 11 cm long
• coloration is not variable amongst females
• main coloration is a luminous neon-green, with yellow areas
• several pink spines and humps on the head, pro- and mesothorax (dorsally)
• mesothorax and metathorax has laterally a row of pink spines
• many small, green humps on the meso- and metathorax (ventrally)
• laterally, the body is bordered laterally by a white line (especially well visible ventrally in thorax area)
• few spines on the legs
• long subgenital plate
• fore wings (tegminae) well developed
• hind wings (alae) only rudimentarily developed
• pink antennea are about as long as fore legs

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Males

• rather sturdy phasmid too
• about 8 - 8.5 cm
• coloration is rather consistent amongst males
• body and antennae mainly brown
• legs green with a pink area
• eyes slighly pink
• several big, dark spines on head and Mesothorax (dorsally)
• many small, green humps on meso- and metathorax (ventrally)
• several spines on legs
• fore wings (tegminae) as well as hind wings (alea) are well developed
• fore wings (tegminae) and the first part of the hind wings (alea) are bordered laterally with a white band
• the membranous part of the hind wings (anal region of alae) is smoke-colored and semi-transparent
• antennae distinctly longer than fore legs

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Nymphs

• about 17 mm (L1)
• green body with brown areas (L1)
• antennae light-dark brown banded (L1)
• legs green-brown banded (L1)
• antennae slightly shorter than fore legs (L1)
• distinction between males and females is in L1 possible, but easier when the nymphs are older

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Eggs

• about 5 x 3 mm
• dark brown
• surface strongly textured
• matt
• capitulum well developed
• micropylar-cup well visible (dark dot) at the hind end of the micropylar plate

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Food Plants

• firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea)
  this very common and winter green garden plant is well accepted by freshly hatched nymphs, older nymphs and adults
• beech (Fagus sylvatica)
  well accepted by freshly hatched nymphs. So far this plant has not yet been tested with older nymphs or adults, as it is not a winter green plant
• Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
  well accepted by freshly hatched nymphs, older nymphs and adults
• bramble (Rubus sp.)
  quite well accpeted by older nymphs. So far this plant has yet not been tested as a main diet
• cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
  adults feed a bit on this plant (further tests would be needed if this plant is well accepted as the sole food plant)
• common guava (Psidium guajava)
  well accepted (Christian Bouladou Dupré, Martinique)
• Acacia muricata
  well accepted, could be a natural food plant (Christian Bouladou Dupré, Martinique)
• Tapura latifolia
  well accepted (Christian Bouladou Dupré, Martinique)
• Pimenta racemosa
  well accepted (Christian Bouladou Dupré, Martinique)
• Ocotea coriacea
  is accepted by nymphs as well as adults (Christian Bouladou Dupré, Martinique)
• Avocado (Persea americana)
  is accepted by adults (Christian Bouladou Dupré, Martinique)
• dog rose (Rosa canina)
  is well accepted by nymphs (Yannick Bellanger, France)

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Behaviour

• nymphs are calm, even when they are being touched
• adults (especially females) are often seen active during the day, mainly feeding
• adults will continue to feed, even when their cage is being moved around
• males fly very rarely
• matings occur during the night and are rather short
• males do not stay with the same female
• if they feel threatened, then they try to crawl away - but will again freeze up after just a few steps

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Developement

• incubation (HH-Inkubation on slightly damp sand at 20 - 23°C) is about 3 - 5 months
• spread some moss over the eggs, this make hatching much easier for the nymphs and it reduses mould growth somewhat
• hatching ratio in F1 generation was high (> 50%)
• males will be adult (at room temperature) after about 3 months, females after about 4 months
• females start laying eggs after about 3 - 4 weeks
• eggs are being flinged away forcefully
• about 20 - 25 eggs per week and female
• adults live for several months

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Breeding Notes

• an easy to keep yet very beautfiul species
• keep the nymphs in a cage with good ventilation
• a humidity level of about 60% rh seems to be good enough
• if humidity is too high (spraying water, wet paper on cage floor), this seems to cause an increase in mortality amongst nymphs
• nymphs can be kept in a Faunabox (or similar cages)
• move nymphs to a bigger cage as they grow bigger
• I have never sprayed nymphs or adults with water
• make shure that nymphs, which are about to undergo their adult moult, do not find places in the cage which would not offer them enough space beneath to moult successfully