Lonchodes sp. "Ba Bê"

(by Bruno Kneubuehler)

General Informations

• provenience: Ba Be NP (Vietnam)
• ID and taxonomic evaluation by Joachim Bresseel (BE)
• F1 CB culture in 2016 by Bruno Kneubuehler (CH)
• further taxonomical informations ➤ phasmida.speciesfile.org
• 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 812  (Online Phasma Culture List)

Females

• body length 12 cm
• green with few white dots and reddish stripes

Males

• body length 9.5 cm
• very glossy
• colorful
• red-brown with blue-green areas

Nymphs

• freshly hatched nymphs are brown
• 13 mm long
• on how to distinguish between male and female nymphs

Eggs

• 3.5 x 2 mm
• brown
• suface with many indentations

Food Plants

• bramble (Rubus spp.)
  well accepted by nymphs and adults
  young leaves (spring) are well accepted too
• beech (Fagus)
  well accepted by nymphs and adults

Breeding, Behaviour

• very easy to breed
• although their main activity is during the night, they are also fairly active during the day (especially adult males)
• they react rather frantic when being touched, often they fall to the ground
• a defensive spray has not been observed
• eggs just drop to the ground
• about 20 - 30 eggs per female and week
• incubation (Cup-Incubation-method, on medium damp vermiculite) about 6 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
• nymphs hatch during the night
• a humidity of about 65 - 70 % 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
• 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.)