Genus
Species
Stock
CLP
160
PSG
229
Culture status
In culture
Foodplants
Bramble (Rubus spp.)
Oak (Quercus robur)
Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Rose (Rosa spp.)
Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)
Breeding notes
(by Dr. Sascha Eilmus)
Orgin
- stock 1
Thailand, Nakhon Ratchasima Region. [this culture stock might be lost - stock 2
Thailand, Khao Yai National Park
_________________
Females
- typical brown, bright green or beige phasmids
- size varies around 9 to 9.5 cm
- not winged
- entire body is covered with small bright spots
- the front legs bulge (femora) is colored red
- the overall appearance is reminiscent of the Mediterranean stick insect Bacillus rossius. However, they are not closely related
_________________
Males
- also typical phasmids
- about 8 cm long
- they are not winged
- males are red-brown in color
_________________
Eggs
- dark grey
- round
- bright operculum and micropylar plate
- very small, only 1 mm
_________________
Food Plants
- bramble (Rubus spp.)
easily accepted by both nymphs and adults - other plants which are eaily accepted:
hazel (Corylus avellana), oak (Quercus spp.), beech (Fagus spp.), rose (Rosa spp.), raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and many other plants - natural host plant is unknown but it is likely that this species is polyphagous
_________________
Behaviour
- freshly hatched nymphs are very small (less than 1 cm) and prefer to rest on dry leaves on the ground of the cage
- therefore it is recommended to offer fresh food plants also on the ground of the cage when hatching starts
- during the day, young nymphs are usually on the leaves of the food plants
- older nymphs and adults prefer to rest on the screen of the cage with head down.
Developement
- incubate the eggs at room temperatures (18-25°C) on some slightly humid substrate, e.g. vermiculite
- incubation time is about 6 - 7 months at 23°C (but sometimes it can take much longer – up to 1 year)
- they will be adult after about 3 to 4 months at about 23°C
- females lay several eggs per day, which they just drop to the ground
_________________
Breeding Notes
- an easy to breed species
- one just needs to be patient because the development in the egg takes some time
- adults and nymphs can be kept together in a big and quite airy cage
- young nymphs have been sprayed with water 3 to 4 times a week, older nymphs an adults do not need additional water spraying
- for a successful development and molting the terrarium was filled with a thin layer of slightly moist vermiculite on the cage floor
- best rearing results have been achieved by just leaving the tiny eggs in the cage and keeping the vermiculite slightly moist. Drought for a few weeks does not seem to affect the eggs