(by Vítězslav Krejsa)
Origin
Ilocos region (Luzon island), Philippines.
Females
Body length ≈ 12 cm
The colouration of females is mostly olive-green with typical white and yellow spots on their legs.
The Colour of a female´s body can be variable
Black stripe on the side of the thorax
Long antennae (longer than fully extended front legs)
Males
Body length ≈ 10 cm
Very colourful phasmids
Rich red colour, back part of the abdomen and legs are black (with red spots)
Thinner and shorter than the females
Long antennae (longer than fully extended front legs)
Nymphs
Body length ≈ 15 mm
Bright green colour
Nymphs are becoming inactive after contact with the food plant
Autotomy in this stage is relatively common
Eggs
≈ 2,5 x 1,5 mm
Bright grey and yellow with very typical irregular shape
Incubation time is about 4-5 months on dump substrate (temperature 18 – 25°C)
Food Plants
bramble (Rubus spp.)
is very well accepted by nymphs and adults (it is not necessary to cut the edges of the leaves for nymphs in L1)
oak (Quercus spp.)
is very well accepted by freshly hatched nymphs, older nymphs and adults
beech (Fagus spp.)
is very well accepted by freshly hatched nymphs, older nymphs and adults
hazel (Corylus spp.)
is very well accepted by freshly hatched nymphs, older nymphs and adults
Additional notes
It is easy to breed this species.
They can eat a large number of plants without any problems.
2 weeks after their final moult, females start laying eggs (10 or more a week). Eggs are dropped to the ground.
Males are quite active also during the day
A cage of at least 30 x 30 x 30 cm should be provided for 2 – 3 adult couples
It is good to spray small nymphs at least once a day. Older nymphs and adults once every 2 days.
Do not keep a lot of nymphs in small ubications (they can easily lose legs during moulting)
Make sure 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
I recommend keeping different phasmid species separately to have better control over the species you are breeding.
No defensive spray was observed.