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Paracalynda picta picta
 

 
general informations

• this species has been described as Bacunculus pictus by Brunner von Wattenwil in 1907
• die first successful culture of this species by Jan Meerman (Belize, 2006) and Bruno Kneubühler (2006)
• 2006 - I have distributed this species as Paracalynda picta picta to other breeders
• thanks a lot to the following breeders for their additional notes:   Jan Meerman

origin

• found in 2006 by Jan Meerman in Green Hills, Cayo District, Belize

females

• thin and fragile lookig phasmids, they even look like nymphs when being already adult
• body length is about 11 cm (the orginal specimens were 11,5 cm)
• wingless
• antennae longer than the forelegs

males

• thin, about 9 cm long
• wingless
• thorax is green, the rest of the body is brown with some light markings
• antennae are longer than the forelegs

eggs

• smooth, shiny, translucent and lentils-like shaped
• 3mm long, 2 mm wide
• in the beginning the eggs are light brown in colour
• as the embryo is close to hatching, the eggs turn green

food plants

• they easily accepted cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) as food plant, nymphs as well as adults
• bramble has also been accepted, though a bit reluctantly
• out in the wild of Belize, Piper amalgo seems to be their natural food plant. And there they have also accepted a Paulina sp. (Sapindaceae)

breeding notes

• incubation on damp sand, with springtails to inhibit mould growth
• nymphs will hatch after 2-3 months
• keep the nymphs in a well ventilated cage, with wet paper towel on the bottom
• males will be adult after about 3,5 months, females after 4 months
• females start to lay eggs about 2 weeks after their final moult
• they just let the eggs drop to the ground