Micadina sp. "Ba Vi" 1

(by Bruno Kneubuehler)

General Informations

• provenience: Ba Vi NP (Vietnam)
• ID by Joachim Bresseel (BE)
• taxonomic evaluation by Joachim Bresseel (BE)
• F1 CB culture in 2015 by Bruno Kneubuehler (CH)
• further taxonomical informations ➤ Phasmida Species Files
• 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 791  (Online Phasma Culture List)

Females

• small, rather colorful and active phasmids
• body length 7.5 cm
• glossy green with blueish head, and yellow area on forewings
• well developed wings

Males

• colorful, small and very active phasmids
• body length 6 cm
• glossy green with blueish head, reddish legs and yellow area on forewings
• well developed wings

Nymphs

• freshly hatched nymphs are yellow-brown
• about 10 mm
• on how to distinguish between male and female nymphs

Eggs

• 2 x 1.5 mm
• brown with net-like pattern

Food Plants

• oak (Quercus)
  well accepted by nymphs and adults
• sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa)
  well accepted by nymphs and adults
• beech (Fagus)
  well accepted by nymphs and adults
• bramble (Rubus spp.)
  bramble with an oak coating is well accepted by hatching nymphs (offered together with apple slices). After a short time they will also accept bramble without coating

Breeding, Behaviour

• easy to breed
• very active species, often also during the day
• due to its tendency to be active, this species needs a big cage
• provide a cage of about 40 x 40 x 60 (cm, L x B x H) for 3 - 4 adult couples
• they can behave very frantic when startled
• a defensive spray has been observed
• eggs just drop to the ground
• at least 40 - 50 eggs eggs per female and week
• incubation (Cup-Incubation-method, on medium damp vermiculite) about 5 weeks to 3 months at 20 - 24 °C
• on the incubation time
  • first generation (eggs collected from wild-caught females) hatched after only 5 weeks
  • 2nd gen eggs hatched after 3 months
  • 2nd gen eggs which have been kept in the fridge (LTD-method) hatched after only 5 weeks
• 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 in the early morning, before dawn
• a humidity of about 65 - 75 % 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 and females will be adult after 2 months (at 20 - 24°C)
• incubation time can be extended with the LTD-Method (up to at least 3.5 months), as some of their food plants are not easily available during european winter time.

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 ! 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.)