Necrosciinae sp. "Negros"

(by Bruno Kneubuehler) 

General Notes

• the taxonomic position of this species is subject to current research by Joachim Bressell. Results on this will be available soon and also published here
• 2008 - first successful culture by Bruno Kneubuehler
• 2009 - distribution by the preliminary name Necrosciinae sp. "Negros" to other breeders

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Origin

• Mt. Kanlaon and Mt. Mandalagan, North-Negros, Philippines

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Female

• slim and nimble phasmids - about 8,5 to 9 cm long
• wings are fully developed and they also fly very well

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Male

• pretty coloured - about 6 to 6,5 cm long
• very nimble and they fly very well

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Eggs

• 4 x 2 mm
• dark brown
• paperthin, flat

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Food Plants

• bramble (Rubus sp.), cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus, a very common and wintergreen plant in many gardens and parcs), Hypericum
• the first generation accepted only Hypericum
• but the nymphs of the 2nd generation also started to feed on Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus). Although the nymphs look quite fragile, still they can feed on the thick leaves of this plant easily, and they thrive on it. Cut the leave edges away for the small nymphs !
• the new generation now also accepts bramble (Rubus sp.) easily

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Defensive Behaviour

• when being touched, males as well as females usually try to escape immediately - either by running away, dropping from their resting place or flying away
• usually they fly only for a short distance - until they bump into something they can cling to. As soon as they land they freeze

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Breeding Notes

• an easy to breed species
• incubation of the eggs on damp (not too wet) sand, with springtails to reduce mould growth
• incubation time at room temperatures (20 - 23°C) is about 4 months
• hatching ratio was high (75% and higher)
• keep the nymphs as well as the adults in a cage with good ventilation
• take care that the humidity does not drop too low. A constantly wet paper towel on the bottom of the cage helps raising humidity
• nymphs and adults can be kept in a Faunabox (or similar cage)
• 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 the adult moult, do not find places in the cage which would not offer them enough room beneath to moult successfully
• male will be adult after about 2 months (at room temperatures), females after 2,5 months
• females start to lay eggs after about 2 weeks
• eggs are just dropped to the ground