Caribbiopheromera jamaicana "Trinidad"

(by Yannick Bellanger, ASPER)

General Notes

• 2008 - first description of the female of this species by Yannick
           Bellanger (France) and Frédéric Langlois (France) after an
           expedition in Tobago. Unsuccessful attempt of culture
• 2010 - first successful culture by Yannick Bellanger
• 2012 - first distribution of surplus by ASPER

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Origin

• Trinidad

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Females

• fine and elongated species
• between 6 and 9 cm
• coloration very variable from a female to an other : green, brown, grey, with or without mottlings of white or brown
• some female are smooth on the abdomen but most of them have some large tubercles, especially on tergum VI
• antennae usualy longer than the extremity of fore legs

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Males

• fine and elongated, smaller than females
• between 5 and 6 cm
• coloration not variable, brown
• legs annulate
• antennae a little bit shorter than the body
• very characteristic and conical subgenital plate

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Nymphs

• greyish body

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Eggs

• globulous and smooth brown capsule
• total length is about 2.8 mm
• very lengthened micropylar plate
• brown to dark brown oval operculum, with a yellowish lamellar excrescence

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Food Plants

• honeysuckle (Lonicera sp.)
  common and winter green garden plant, is well accepted by nymphs and adults
• bramble (Rubus sp.)
  very common and winter green plant, well accepted by nymphs and adults
• privet (Ligustrum sp.)
  common winter green garden plant, quite well accepted by nymphs and adults
• many other plants of the Rosaceae family
• in the wild, this species eats Gonzalagunia hirsuta and Pachystachys coccinea

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Behaviour

• typical nocturnal species, nymphs and adults spend the day time in the branchs and under leaves
• matings can occur for a quite long time, even during the day, but males do not stay with the same female
• if taken by a leg, nymphs and adults can easyly brake it (autotomy)

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Development

• incubation (on wet peat at 18-20°C) is about 3 months, until 5 months
• males are adults (at 18-22°C) in a little bit more than 4 months, females in 4,5 to 5 months
• eggs are thrown at random
• adults live for several months

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Breeding Notes

• an easy to keep species, in a humid cage with a little bit of ventilation
• nymphs can be kept with adults
• I spray water to nymphs and adults about 2 times per week

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References

• Langlois & Bellanger, « Inventaire des Phasmatodea de Tobago », Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, 117 (1), 2012 : 91-110
• Phasmida Species Files  (www.phasmida.orthoptera.org)