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Chondrostethus sp. „red legs - Malaita"

general notes

• this species has been cultivated successfully for the first time by Bruno Kneubühler  (2006)
• 2006 - I have distributed this species as Chondrostethus sp. "red legs - Malaita" to other breeders

origin

• the culture stock of the „red legs - Malaita“ origins from Malaita, one of the big islands of the Solomon Islands
   

females

• wingless, twig-like phasmids with anteannae that are longer than their forelegs
• body length is about 10 – 11 cm
• their colouration is usually a greenish-brown with some dark brown makings, giving them also a very bark-like and attractive colouration
• the spines of the „red leg - Malaita“ females are often bigger and more pronounced than in the „green legs - Guadalcanal“ females
• some females may even have two big spines on each of their abdominal segements (exept for the last two abdominal segments
• these spines are blunt and usually coloured in a dark brown
• there are two foreward pointing spines on their head
   

males

• thin and wingless, with antennae which are longer than the forelegs
• they measure about to 7 cm
• their legs are reddish in colour and their body is brown
• on the metanotum they have two humps
• their abdominal tip is light brown in colour
   

eggs

• 2 mm long and 1,5 mm wide
   

food plants

• they feed easily on „cherry laurel“ (Prunus laurocerasus). This is a very common garden plant and it is wintergreen
• and they will also feed on different fern species (which seems to be their natural food plant)
• I have heard that other breeders even keep them successfully on bramble
   

breeding notes

• this species is very easy to breed and thus also recommended for beginners
• eggs will hatch after an incubation time of about 3 months on damp sand (with spring tail to inhibit mould) at room temperature
• nymphs grow up without problems in a airy cage with wet paper towel in the bottom
• choose the size of the cage according to the size of the nymphs
• nymphs will mature after about 3,5 months for males and 4 months for females
• copulation will take place at night and lasts for several hours
• about 3 weeks after their final moult, females start to lay eggs (7-10 a week)
• as normal, adults will need a bigger cage than the nymphs. A cage of about 30x40x40 (cm) will be good for some adult pairs
• keep them at room temperature – around 20 to 25 °C in summer and 18 to 22 °C in winter workes fine
• Important:  when you will share this culture with others, then make it clear where your culture is originating from! This shall insure that these two island Chondrostethus species do not get mixed up again