Parapachymorpha sp. "Ngo Luong"

(by Bruno Kneubuehler)

General Informations

• provenience: Ngo Luong NR, 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 ≈ 9 - 10 cm
• females coloration is highly variable across individuals
• rather spiny

Males

• slender, very long-legged
• body length ≈ 6.5 cm

Nymphs

• newly hatched nymphs are brown
• on how to distinguish between male and female nymphs

Eggs

• ≈ 2 x 2 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 10 - 15 eggs per female and week
• incubation (Cup-Incubation-method, on medium damp vermiculite) about 3.5 - 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 40 x 30 x 30 (cm, L x B x H) for 3 adult couples
• males will be adult after 3 - 4 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.)