Necrosciinae sp. "Tam Dao"

(by Bruno Kneubuehler) 

General Notes

• 2012 – taxonomical aspects of this species are being examined by
           Joachim Bresseel (Belgium)
• 2012 – first successful culture by Bruno Kneubuehler (Switzerland)
• 2012 – has been distributed as Necrosciinae sp. „Tam Dao“

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Origin

• Tam Dao, Vietnam 

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Females

• hindwings (alae) are very unusually shaped. These are angled laterally (see photos)
• the strutted posture of the hindwings is also uncommon. At first sight they appear to be underdevelopped, but all females have this, even the wild-caught ones
• the shape of wings give the females a rather flat appearance
• about 8.5 – 9 cm
• coloration amongst females is very consistent
• head, antennae, body and legs are mainly bright green
• orange stripe alongside (laterally) the pro- and mesothorax
• white-black stripe alongside (laterally) the forewings (tegmina)
• fine yellow-black stripe alongside (laterally) the hindwings (alae)
• upper and lower surface of the thorax is strongly granulated
• antennae a bit longer than the forelegs
• the membranous part of the hindwings (anal region of the alae) is yellowish and transparent, with yellow veins

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Males

• colorful, typical phasmids
• about 7.5 – 8 cm long
• coloration is very consistent amongst males
• head, thorax, upperside of the wings and upper side of the abdomen is mainly bright green
• white stripe across the eyes
• black-blue stripe alongside (laterally) pro- und mesothorax
• white-black-orange stripe alongside (laterally) the forewings (alae)
• lateral area of hindwings (tegminae) is orange
• lower side of abdomen is orange-brown
• the dark colored antennae are considerably longer than the forelegs
• the membranous part of the hindwings (anal region of the alae) is transparent, with yellow veins

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Nymphs

• lenght (L1) about 14 mm
• coloration (L1) is green
• black cerci and dark antennae tips
• by L4 it is quite easy to draw a distinction between ♀♂ (by the naked eye)

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Eggs

• about 2.5 x 2 mm
• reddish-brown
• hairy
• roundish
• glossy
• distinct capitulum and lid (operculum)
• micropylar plate with clearly visible micropylar pore

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Food Plants

• Hypericum
  is very well accepted by freshly hatched nymphs, older nymphs and adults
• hazelnut (Corylus avellana)
  is very well accepted by older nymphs and adults (has not been tested with freshly hatched nymphs). Hazelnut leaves appear very early in spring, so it is a great alternative to hypericum
• bay laurel (Laurus nobilis)

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Behaviour

• if being touched, especially small nymphs behave very hectically. But usually the freeze again after a few steps
• otherwise nymphs as well as adults are rather passive during the day
• males can fly, but their flight is short and they can not fly upwards
• is seems that females can not fly, even though they are fully winged
• matings are mainly during the night and last for some hours at the most
• males do not stay with the same female for a prolonged time

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Developement

• incubation time (HH-incubation on slightly damp sand at 20 - 23 °C) is about 5 – 5.5 months (F1)
• spread some dry (!) moss over the eggs - this will make it much easier for the nymphs to hatch unscathed and it also reduces mould growth to some extend
• hatching ratio (F1) was high (> 50%)
• males will be adult after about 2.5 months (at 20 – 23°C), females after about 3 months
• females start to lay eggs after about 2 – 3 weeks
• eggs just drop to the ground
• about 25 – 30 eggs per female and week
• adults can live for several months

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Breeding Notes

• it is very easy to breed this species, if the food plants are available
• keep the nymphs in a cage with good ventilation, but take care that the humidity does not drop too low
• a constantly wet paper towel on the floor of the cage helps raising humidity
• a humidity level of about 60 – 65 % rH seems to be sufficient
• nymphs can be kept in a Faunabox (or similar cages)
• move nymphs to a bigger cage as they grow bigger
• a cage of 30 x 30 x 30 cm should be provided for some couples of this species (or considerably larger if the cage also contains other species !)
• generally I advise to keep different phasmid species seperately (unfortunately, overcrowed cages are still very common ...)
• I have never sprayed nymphs or adults (or their cage) 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