Necrosciinae sp. "Attapeu"

(by Bruno Kneubuehler)

General Informations

• 2012 - so far it has not been possible to identifiy this species. Some
           taxonomic characteristics imply that this species belongs
           to the subfamily Necrosciinae (Joachim Bresseel, pers. comm.)
• 2012 - first successful culture by Bruno Kneubuehler
• 2012 - this species is being distributed as Necrosciinae sp. "Attapeu"

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Origin

• Attapeu (Laos)

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Females

• inconspicuous, typical phasmids
• about 8.5 - 9.5 cm long
• coloration is variable between amongst females (in F1 generation)
• brown, reddish-brown, brown-green and green females
• antennae longer than fore legs
• they have very small, rudimentary hind wings (alae)
• body surface is strongly granulated

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Males

• thin phasmids
• about 7 - 7.5 cm
• coloration of males in F1 generation is highly variable
• very dark (almost black), brown, reddish-brown and green males
• a reddish-brown stripe borders the pro- and mesothorax (laterally)
• they have very small, rudimentary hind wings (alae)
• antennae are longer than fore legs

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Nymphs

• about 16 mm (L1)
• dark brown (L1)
• older nymphs have a wide colour spectrum - brown (with or without dark longitudinal stripes), green, green-brown
• antennae longer than fore legs
• distinction between males and females (by the naked eye) is easily possible with older nymphs (about L4)

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Eggs

• about 2 x 1.5 mm
• mottled with shades of brown
• no Capitulum present
• the micorpylar plate is light brown, with a clear Y-shaped structure

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Food Plants

• bramble (Rubus sp.) - is easily accepted by freshly hatched nymphs, older nymphs and adults

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Behaviour

• nymphs and adults often fein death when being touched or let themselves drop to the ground
• if they feel threatened, the might try to crawl away - just to freeze again after a few steps
• matings occur during the night, males do not stay with a single female for a prolonged time

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Developement

• incubation time (HH-incubation on slightly damp sand at 20 - 23 °C) is about 4 - 4.5 months
• spread some dry moss over the eggs - this will make it much easier for the nymphs to hatch unscathed and it also reduces mould growth to some extend
• hatching ratio was high (> 50%)
• males will be adult after about 2.5 months (at 20 - 23°C), females after about 3 - 3.5 months
• females start to lay eggs after about 2 - 3 weeks
• eggs are just dropped to the ground
• about 20 - 30 eggs per week and female
• adults live for several months

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Breeding Notes

• an very easy to keep species
• keep the nymphs in a cage with good ventilation
• but take care that the humidity does not drop too low
• a constantly wet paper towel on the floor of the cage helps raising humidity
• nymphs 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