Necroscia robustior "Me Linh Biodiversity Station"

(by Bruno Kneubuehler)

General Informations

• provenience: Me Linh Biodiversity Station (Vietnam)
• ID by Joachim Bresseel (BE)
• taxonomic evaluation by Joachim Bresseel (BE)
• F1 CB culture in 2016 by Bruno Kneubuehler (CH)
• further taxonomical informations ➤ Phasmida Species Files
• this is a pure culture, and serious breeders are requested 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 826   (Online Phasma Culture List)

Females

• medium-sized, fully winged phasmids
• body length 9 cm
• females coloration does not vary considerably between specimens
• mainly light green
• long antennae
• fully developed wings
• yellow lateral stripe, along thorax and wings

Males

• slender phasmids
• body length 7 cm
• males coloration does not vary considerably between specimens
• upper side mainly brownish, lower side green
• yellow dot on forewings

Nymphs

• freshly hatched nymphs are green
• on how to distinguish between male and female nymphs

Eggs

• 8 x 2 mm
• brown, matt

Food Plants

• privet (Ligustrum spp.)
  well accepted by nymphs and adults
• hazelnut (Corylus avellana)
  well accepted by nymphs and adults
• beech (Fagus sylvatica)
  moderatly accepted by nymphs and adults

Breeding, Behaviour

• easy to breed
• active mainly during the night
• they often behave very frantic when being touched and handled
• a defensive spray has not been observed
• eggs are stuck into filerwool (used in fish keeping), spread a layer of filter wool on the cage bottom
• about 5 - 8 per female and week
• incubation (Cup-Incubation-method, medium damp vermiculite) about 7 months at 20 - 24 °C (F1)
• stick the eggs into the vermiculite, make sure the egg lid is up
• eggs of this species are not prone to get mouldy
• nymphs hatch during the night
• it is quite common that some phasmid nymphs hatch weeks after the first nymphs - from the same batch of eggs
• 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 - 4 adult couples
• males will be adult after 3 months (at 20 - 24°C), females after 4 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 ! 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.)