Paracalynda picta picta
(von Bruno Kneubuehler)
| Ordnung | Phasmatodea
| |
| Unterordnung | Verophasmatodea | |
| Infraordnung | Anareolatae | |
| Familie | Diapheromeridae | Kirby, 1904 |
| Unterfamilie | Diapheromerinae | Kirby, 1904 |
| Tribus | Diapheromerini | Kirby, 1904 |
| Gattung | Paracalynda | Zompro, 2001 |
| Art | Paracalynda picta picta | Brunner von Wattenwil, 1907 |
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General Informations
- this species has been described as Bacunculus pictus by Brunner von Wattenwil in 1907
- synonyms: Pseudobacteria picta (Zompro, 1998), Paracalynda picta (Zompro, 2001)
- 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
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Origin
- found in 2006 by Jan Meerman in Green Hills, Cayo District, Belize
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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
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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
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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
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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)
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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
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References
- Phasmida Species Files (www.phasmida.orthoptera.org)
