Genus
Species
Stock
CLP
817
Culture status
In culture
Foodplants
Strawberry (Fragaria sp.)
Bramble (Rubus spp.)
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
Breeding notes
(by Bruno Kneubuehler)
General Informations
- provenience: Ba Vi NP (Vietnam)
- ID and taxonomic evaluation by Joachim Bresseel (BE)
- F1 CB culture in 2016 by Bruno Kneubuehler (CH)
- further taxonomical informations ➤ Phasmida Species Files
- this is a pure culture, and serious breeders are asked 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 817 (Online Phasma Culture List)
Females
- sturdy, small species
- body length 5.5 cm
- mottled greenish-brown
Males
- slender, very small phasmids
- body length 3.5 cm
- mottled brown
Nymphs
- freshly hatched nymphs with dark reddish-brown body, reddish legs and strongly banded anteannae
- 11 mm
- on how to distinguish between male and female nymphs
Eggs
- 4.5 x 2.5 mm
- reddish-brown
- glossy, hairy
Food Plants
- strawberry (Fragaria)
very well accepted by all stages nymphs and adults - best to start freshly hatched nymphs on strawberry leaves
- bramble (Rubus)
reluctantly accepted - Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
very well accepted by L3+ nymphs and adults
Breeding, Behaviour
- easy to breed
- active mainly during the night
- when they get frightened, then they can behave frantically
- males stay their whole live with the same female
- they have a white defensive spray, which smells similar to the Orxines macklottii's spray and somewhat punchend (peppery)
- this defensive spray seems to be quite potent. I had a little cut on a finger, when I handled my D. napolovie "Ba Vi" (changing food plants). So some spray got into that wound - and it immediately burnt like hell. I don't wanna know how intensly it burns, if their spray gets in the eyes ...
- eggs just drop to the ground
- about 10 - 15 eggs per female and week
- incubation (Cup-Incubation-method, on medium damp vermiculite) about 6 - 7 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 daytime (around noon)
- a humidity of about 65 - 75 % 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
- their poop gets mouldy very much, thus it is best that they are not kept too humid
- males will be adult after 2.5 months (at 20 - 24°C), females after 3 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 ! The water should 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.)