Leiophasmatinae sp. “Marofanidilia“

(by Bruno Kneubuehler)

General Notes

• 2010 - cultured for the first time by Bruno Kneubuehler
• 2011 - Nicolas Cliquennois identified this species as belonging to the subfamily Leiophasmatinae (species not yet identified, probably new)

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Origin

• Marofandilia (Morondava, Madagascar) 
• their natural habitat is a deciduous forest, typical for the west coast of Madagascar (dry period from May until November)

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Females

• typical, elongate phasmids
• about 10 cm long
• greenish-brown body
• legs pale green
• distinct orange-brown spines on the head
• no further spines and expansions on the body and legs
• long, curves subgenital plate
• antennae slightly longer than forelegs
• no wings

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Males

• thin phasmids
• about 8 cm long
• head and legs are brown with a greenish hue
• upper side of body brown
• lower body side light grey-brown
• antennae longer than forelegs
• no spines or expansions on the body
• no wings

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Nymphs (L1)

• rather robust appearance
• dark brown with many fine, light-coloured spots
• thighs (femora) and lower legs (tibiae) partially green
• antennae about half as long as foreleg

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Eggs

• about 3 x 2 mm
• dark red-brown
• not shiny
• on the back end of the eggs are lip-like expansions, which are typical for the subfamily
• microphylar plate and it's neighbouring area lighter in colour

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Food Plants

• nymphs as well as adults do feed on bramble (Rubus sp.)

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Behaviour

• nymphs can hatch over a period of up to 8 weeks, even though the eggs have been laid within a few days only
• nymphs are quite good at escaping, thus one should make shure to cover all cracks in their cage
• they try to crawl away when feeling threatened
• males do not stay together with the same female for a prolonged time
• females start to lay eggs after about 3 weeks
• eggs are just dropped to the ground

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Breeding Notes

• an easy to breed species - once the nymphs have started to feed
• incubation with the HH-method (on dry sand) yields a good hatching ratio
• some moss spread over the eggs reduces mould growth and strongly facilitates successful hatching
• incubation time at room temperatures (20 - 23°C) is about 7 months
• hatching ratio has been high for the F1 generation (50+ %)
• only about 50% of the nymphs started to feed (for F1)
• keep the nymphs in a cage with good ventilation
• the natural habitat is rather dry during the period when the nymphs appear - thus a high humidity might not be necessary
• a humid paper towel on the floor of the cage helps raising humidity a bit
• nymphs and adults can be kept in a Faunabox (or similar cages)
• move nymphs to a bigger cage as they grow bigger
• I have never sprayed nymphs or adults with water
• make shure that nymphs, which are about to undergo their adult moult, do not find places in the cage which would not offer them enough space beneath to moult successfully
• males will be adult after about 3.5 months (at 20 - 23°C), females after 4 months
• about 20 - 25 eggs per female and week