Genus
Species
Stock
CLP
851
Culture status
In culture
Foodplants
Bramble (Rubus spp.)
Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Breeding notes
(by Bruno Kneubuehler)
General Informations
- provenience: Verón, about 7km west of Punta Cana Internat. Airport, La Altagracia Prov., Dominican Republic
- location in Véron: about 300m south of Hotel Yonu/El Verón Road Hoyo Azul
- ID and taxonomic evaluation by Oskar Conle (DE)
- F1 CB culture in 2014 by Matthias Helb (DE)
- further taxonomical informations ➤ Phasmida Species Files
- this is a pure culture, and all serious breeders are kindly requested to avoid mixing this culture with similar populations from a different provenience / location. When spreading this culture to other breeders, then always use the full name with provenience
Females
- small, stury, often with warts
- body length ≈ 6 - 7 cm
- females coloration is highly variable across individuals
Males
- slender, with spines
- body length ≈ 5 - 6 cm
Nymphs
- newly hatched nymphs are dark brown
- on how to distinguish between male and female nymphs
Eggs
- ≈ 3.5 x 2 mm
- dark brown
Food Plants
- bramble (Rubus spp.)
well accepted by nymphs and adults - hazelnut (Corylus avellana)
well accepted by adults, not tested with nymphs - beech (Fagus sylvatica)
well accepted by adults, not tested with nymphs - other possible food plants (not tested though):
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
oak (Quercus spp.)
Breeding, Behaviour
- very easy to breed
- active mainly during the night
- they feign death when touched
- a defensive spray has not been observed
- females fling the eggs away with a swift swing of their abdomen
- eggs just drop to the ground
- about 5 - 8 eggs per female and week
- incubation (Cup-Incubation-method, on medium damp vermiculite) about 4 months at 20 - 24 °C
- general note - it is quite common that, from the very same batch of eggs, some nymphs will hatch weeks or even months after the first nymphs
- eggs can be covered with 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 particularly prone to get mouldy
- nymphs hatch during the night
- a humidity of about 65 - 75 % rH 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
- small nymphs can be kept in a Faunabox (or a similar cage), which shall not be too small
- provide a cage of about 30 x 30 x 30 (cm, L x B x H) for 3 adult couples
- males will be adult after 4 months (at 20 - 24°C), females after 4 - 5 months
Basics of phasmid 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 (down to around 20°C)
- do not spray too much, phasmids are no fish ! Allow the water to 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.)