Genus
Species
Stock
CLP
689
Culture status
In culture
Foodplants
Bramble (Rubus spp.)
Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Breeding notes
(by Bruno Kneubuehler)
General Informations
- provenience: Gunung Gading NP (Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia)
- currently there is some disagreement amongst (morpho) taxonomists, whether this is an already described or a new species. Further indepth studies (on morphology and phylogenetics) will certainly lead to more conclusive verdicts
- the fact that a hybridization experiment (by Hans Lamal, Belgium) between Dares sp. "Gading" and a D. ulula population of another origin, did not yield fertile offspring, supports the presumption that these two populations are in fact different species, and that Dares sp. "Gading" is actually a new species
- F1 CB culture by Hans Lamal
- further taxonomical informations ➤ phasmida.speciesfile.org
- unfortunately this cultures has been misidentifed (and distributed) as Dares ulula at first
- this is a pure culture, and serious breeders are asked to avoid mixing this culture with similar populations from a different provenience
Females
- small, stocky, barky species
- body length 4.5 cm
- different shades of brown
Males
- small and spiny
- body length 3.5 cm
- dark brown with light brown markings
Nymphs
- freshly hatched nymphs are dark brown (legs, head, pro- and mesothorax) and red (metathorax, abdomen)
- coloration of these nymphs are distinctively different from nymphs of other Phyllium species
- on how to distinguish between male and female nymphs
Eggs
- 5 x 3 mm
- brown
- suface looks furry
Food Plants
- bramble (Rubus spp.)
well accepted by nymphs and adults - hazelnut (Corylus avellana)
well accepted by nymphs and adults
Breeding, Behaviour
- active mainly during the night
- they feign death when touched
- eggs lay on the ground
- about 1 egg per female and week
- incubation (Cup-Incubation-method with medium damp vermiculite) about 4 - 5 months at 20 - 23 °C
- eggs of this species are not prone to get mouldy, as long as not kept too moist
- nymphs and adults like a high humidity
- very slowly growing species
- males will be adult after 12+ months (at 20 - 24°C), females even take longer
- one can spray them regularly with chlorine-free water, but allow the water to dry up before spraying again
- easy to breed
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 it is (usually) better to choose a cage too big 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.)