Genus
Stock
CLP
857
Culture status
In culture
Foodplants
Bramble (Rubus spp.)
Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
Oak (Quercus robur)
Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Breeding notes
(by Bruno Kneubuehler)
General Informations
- provenience: Copia Nature Reserve, Vietnam
- ID and taxonomic evaluation by Joachim Bresseel (BE)
- F1 CB culture in 2017 by Bruno Kneubuehler (CH)
- further taxonomical informations ➤ Phasmida Species Files
- this is a pure culture, and all serious breeders are kindly requested to avoid mixing this culture with similar populations from a different provenience / location. When spreading this culture to other breeders, then always use the full name with provenience
- this culture no CLP number yet (Online Phasma Culture List)
Females
- medium-sized, long-legged
- body length ≈ 6 cm
- females coloration is highly variable across individuals
- rather spiny
Males
- slender, very long-legged
- body length ≈ 5.5 cm
Nymphs
- newly hatched nymphs are greenish-brown
- about 9 mm long
- on how to distinguish between male and female nymphs
Eggs
- ≈ 1.5 x 1.5 mm
- light brown with dark markings
Food Plants
- bramble (Rubus spp.)
well accepted by nymphs and adults - hazelnut (Corylus avellana)
rather well accepted by adults, not tested with nymphs - Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
rather well accepted by adults, not tested with nymphs - oak (Quercus spp.)
rather well accepted by adults, not tested with nymphs - beech (Fagus sylvatica)
rather well accepted by adults, not tested with nymphs
Breeding, Behaviour
- easy to breed
- active mainly during the night, yet adult males are sometimes also active during the day
- when touched, they feign death when touched or drop to the ground and try to escape
- a defensive spray has not been observed
- females fling the eggs away with a swift swing of their abdomen
- eggs just drop to the ground
- about 15 - 20 eggs per female and week
- incubation (Cup-Incubation-method, on medium damp vermiculite) about 4 months at 20 - 24 °C
- general note - it is quite common that, from the very same batch of eggs, some nymphs will hatch weeks or even months after the first nymphs
- eggs can be covered with vermiculite (about 5 mm high), which makes it easier for the nymphs to hatch without getting stuck in the eggs shell
- eggs of this species are not particularely prone to get mouldy
- nymphs hatch during the night
- a humidity of about 65 - 75 % rH seems to be good enough for nymphs and adults
- one can spray them regularly with chlorine-free water, but allow the water to dry up before spraying again
- small nymphs can be kept in a Faunabox (or a similar cage), which shall not be too small
- provide a cage of about 30 x 30 x 30 (cm, L x B x H) for 3 adult couples
- males will be adult after 3 months (at 20 - 24°C), females after 4 months
Basics of phasmid 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, too big is (usually) better 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 (down to around 20°C)
- do not spray too much, phasmids are no fish ! Allow the water to 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.)