Acacus sp. "Sibayak"
(by Bruno Kneubuehler)
| Order | Phasmatodea
| |
| Suborder | Verophasmatodea | |
| Infraorder | Anareolatae | |
| Family | Diapheromeridae | Kirby, 1904 |
| Subfamily | Necrosciinae | Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1893 |
| Tribe | Necrosciini | Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1893 |
| Genus | Acacus | Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1893 |
| Species | Acacus sp. "Sibayak" | (not yet described) |
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General Notes
- the genus Acacus has been set up by Brunner v. Wattenwyl
- the type species for this genus is Bacteria sarawaca (= Acacus sarawacus) Westwood 1859
- 2010 – first successful culture of this species by Bruno Kneubuehler
- 2011 – a few starter cultures have been distributed to some of my friends
- 2011 – this species is momentarily under taxonomical examination
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Origin
- this species has been collected by Jimmy Gideon (Sumatra) in November 2010 on Mt. Sibayak near Brastagi (nothern Sumatra)
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Females
- inconspicuous, typical phasmids
- about 7 cm long
- coloration is rather variable between amongst females
- different brown shades
- many small tubercles, especially on the dorsal thorax area
- antennae longer than fore legs
- small, faintly yellowish wing rudiments
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Males
- thin phasmids
- about 5.5 – 6 cm long
- several small tubercles, especially on the dorsal thorax area
- different brown shades
- coloration is rather consistent amongst males
- antennae longer than fore legs
- small, faintly yellowish wing rudiments
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Nymphs
- L1 nymphs are about 17 mm long
- a light band near the antennae tips
- antennae longer than fore legs
- dark knees
- it is possible to distinguish male and female nymphs by L3
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Eggs
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Food Plants
- freshly hatched nymphs accept bramble (Rubus sp.) easily
- also older nymphs and adults feed well on bramble (Rubus sp.)
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Behaviour
- nymphs as well as adult specimens show no active defensive behaviour. When the feel threatened, then they just freeze and rely on their camouflage
- thus it is a rather calm species
- females start laying eggs about 3 weeks after their final moult
- they lay about 8 – 10 eggs per week
- females will stick some eggs into cracks (e.g. bark), most mostly they just let the eggs drop to the ground. Eggs were not stuck into sand
- matings can be observed regularely during the night, they last for some hours at the most
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Developement
- incubation time (HH-incubation method on slightly humid sand at 20 – 23°C) is about 5 months
- hatching ratio in F1 was high (50+ %)
- males will be adult after about 3 months (at 20 – 25°C), females after about 4 months
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Breeding Notes
- an easy to keep species
- incubation with the HH-incubation method (on slightly damp sand) yields good hatching ratios
- spread some dry moss over the eggs, this will make it much easier for the nymphs to hatch properly
- 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
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References
- Phasmida Species Files (www.phasmida.orthoptera.org)
