Lonchodes chani "Sandakaan"

Lonchodes chani       
(by Bruno Kneubühler)

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General Informations

• this species has been described first as Phasgania chani by Hausleithner in 1991
• since a long time in culture, although not widespread - several culture stock were imported over the years

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Origin

• Sandakaan (Sabah, Borneo)

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Females

• slender insects - about 11 cm long
• colouration is a light green to a light greenish brown
• 2 foreward pointed spines are on the head
• 2 lobes on the lower legs of fore and mid legs

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Males

• pretty, thin insects - about 7,5 - 8 cm long
• shiny green
• leg joints (coxae) of mid and hind legs are bluish
• knees are yellow-black
• surface is slightly granulated
• they too have 2 small foreward pointed spines on their head
• anteannae are longer than the fore legs

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Eggs

• about 2 x 1,3 mm
• brown
• surface has a net-like structure

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Food Plants

• nymphs and adults feed easily on bramble (Rubus sp.)

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Breeding Notes

• easy to breed
• incubation of the eggs on damp (not too wet) sand - with springtails to reduce mould growth
• incubation at room temperatures (20-23°C) is about 3-4 months
• freshly hatched nymphs have brownish colour
• nymphs grow up well in a humid atmosphere and well ventilated cage - I am using Fauna boxes for the smaller nymphs and bigger cages for the medium grown nymphs and adults
• I do never spray them with water - a constantly wet paper towel on the cage floor provides enough humidity
• especially adult males, to a lesser degree also adult females and nymphs, behave quite excited when being touched and will wriggle
• males take about 3 months to get adult, females about 3,5 months
• about 2-3 weeks after their final moult females will start to lay eggs
• eggs are just dropped to the ground

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Quellenangaben

• Phasmida Species Files  (www.phasmida.orthoptera.org)