Genus
Species
Stock
CLP
734
PSG
166a
Culture status
In culture
Foodplants
Alchemilla spp.
Strawberry (Fragaria sp.)
Fuchsia spp.
Oenothera spp.
Potentilla spp.
Breeding notes
(by Bruno Kneubuehler)
General Informations
- provenience: Mulu NP (Sarawak, Malaysia)
- F1 CB culture in Europe by Bruno Kneubuehler (2015)
- further taxonomical informations ➤ phasmida.speciesfile.org
- this is a pure culture, and serious breeders are asked to avoid mixing this culture with similar populations from a different provenience
Females
- small, big, sturdy species
- body length 6 cm
- dark reddish-brown
Males
- slender, fully winged
- body length 5 cm
- brown
Nymphs
- freshly hatched nymphs are brown and about 13 mm long
- on how to distinguish between male and female nymphs
Eggs
- 3.5 x 2 mm
- brown
- hairy surface
Food Plants
- lady's mantle (Alchemilla spp.)
well accepted by nymphs and adults - strawberry (Fragaria spp.)
well accepted by nymphs and adults - Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.)
well accepted by nymphs and adults - evening primrose (Oenothera spp.)
well accepted by nymphs and adults - cinquefoil (Potentilla spp.)
well accepted by nymphs and adults
Breeding, Behaviour
- active mainly during the night
- they feign death when touched
- the like very much to stay on barky twigs during the day, these should be availabe in the cage
- eggs are usually stuck into some humid substrate, few just drop to the ground
- dry sand is not accepted as a laying substrate
- about 10 - 15 eggs per female and week
- incubation (HH-method on slightly damp vermiculite) about 2.5 - 3 months at 20 - 23 °C
- it is easy to extend the incubation time with the LTD-Method, as their food plants are not available during european winter time
- males will be adult after 3.5 months (at 20 - 24°C), females after 4 - 5 months
- a higher humidity of about 75 - 80 % RH is needed
- one can spray them regularly with chlorine-free water, but allow the water to dry up before spraying again
- easy to breed, if the food plants are available
- the LTD method can be applied to avoid food plant shortage in winter
Basics of phasmids breeding
- keep only one species per cage, overpopulation is one of the main reasons for breeding failures
- keep nymphs seperate from the adults, mainly to protect them during the crucial moulting phases
- choose the cage big enough, when in doubt it is (usually) better to choose a cage too big than too small
- a ventilator often supports good breeding results, as it seems to increase activity and feeding
- provide enough light, but avoid direct sunlight (overheating)
- try to keep day time temperatures below 25°C
- a nocturnal fall of temperature is natural, and thus advantageous
- do not spray too much, phasmids are no fish ! The water should dry up before you spray again
- minimize disturbances (loud music, commotions, light at or during the night, opening up cages in the morning [often a moulting phase] ect.)