Lamachodes sp. "Nui Chua"

(by Bruno Kneubuehler)

General Informations

• perviously also known as Necrosciinae sp. "Nui Chua, yellow stripe"
• provenience: Nui Chua NP (Vietnam)
• ID and taxonomic evalutaion by Joachim Bresseel (BE)
• taxonomic evaluation by Joachim Bresseel (BE)
• further taxonomical informations ➤ Phasmida Species Files
• this is a pure culture, and serious breeders are requested to avoid mixing this culture with similar populations from a different provenience. When spreading this culture to other breeders, then always use the full name with provenience
• this culture has the number CLP 753   (Online Phasma Culture List)

Females

• medium-sized, rather colorful species
• body length 9 cm
• females green with a lateral yellow stripe and red antennae

Males

• slender, rather colorful phasmids
• body length 6 cm
• bright green body and legs, lateral yellow stripe, dark dorsal thorax area, red antennae

Nymphs

• freshly hatched nymphs are brown with lengthways stripes and reddish-brown legs
• about 17 mm long
• on how to distinguish between male and female nymphs

Eggs

• 4 x 2 mm
• light brown
• a membrane on the eggs flakes off

Food Plants

• privet (Ligustrum spp.)
  well accepted by nymphs and adults
• Hypericum (Hypericum spp.)
  well accepted by nymphs and adults
• common lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
  well accepted by nymphs and adults
   

Breeding, Behaviour

• very easy to breed
• active mainly during the night
• they can behave quite frantic and run about when being touched
• adults (nymphs too?) produce a clear defensive spray which smells a similar like Corvalol (a herbal medicine used in eastern Europe)   (info by Michael Михаил Литвиненко, Russia)
• eggs are stuck into different substrates (sand in low container on cage floor, cracks of the cage, filter wool on cage floor or attached to the side of the cage)
• eggs are laid in clutches of up to 12 eggs
• 1 clutch per female every 2 - 3 weeks
• incubation (Cup-Incubation-method, on medium damp vermiculite) about 3 months at 20 - 24 °C
• eggs can be covered by 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 prone to get mouldy
• nymphs hatch during the night
• it is quite common in phasmids that nymphs hatch even weeks after the first nymphs - from the same batch of eggs
• 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 40 (cm, L x B x H) for 3 - 4 adult couples
• males will be adult after 3 months (at 20 - 24°C), females after 3 - 4 months

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, 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, and thus advantageous
• 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.)