Dares sp. "Gunung Gading"

(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.)