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Lobolibethra sp. "Tinga Maria"
(von Bruno Kneubühler)
 

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General Notes

• 2010 - this species has been importet and cultured for the first time by Bruno Kneubuehler
• 2010 - the taxonomic position of this species is subject to current research by Oskar Conle and Frank Hennemann

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Origin

• Lobolibethra sp. "Tinga Maria" has been collected in the area of Tinga Maria in July 2010

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Females

• stocky insects
• about 3.5 - 4 cm long
• variable colouration amongst females
• mainly combinations of different brown tones, sometimes with black spots
• some females do have a somewhat fan-shaped protuberance on their abdomen (dorsal, in the are of the 3rd or 4th abdominal segment)
• antennae are slightly longer than the forelegs
• no wings

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Males

• slim creatures
• about 3.5 - 4 cm long
• males are uniformly coloured
• dark brown body
• underside of meso- and metathorax is bluish-grey
• antennae a bit longer than the forelegs
• no wings

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Nymphs (L1)

• green
• about 1 cm long
• light-coloured antennae tips
• antennae about the length of the forelegs

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Eggs

• about 2 x 1 mm
• roundish
• dark brown, almost black
• whitish microphylar plate
• light grey area around the microphylar plate
• very glossy (this is causing the light reflections on the eggs in the photos)

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Food Plants

• nymphs and adults do accept bramble (Rubus sp.) very well

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Behaviour

• they do not show a particular active defensive behaviour at any stage of their development
• generally they just freeze and just depend upon their camouflage
• some specimens try to crawl away from danger, just to freeze again after a short distance
• matings can be observed frequently
• males do not stay with the same female for a longer time period

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Breeding Notes

• a very easy to breed species
• incubation with the HH-method (on slightly damp sand) yields a good hatching ratio
• some moss spread over the eggs reduces mould growth and strongly facilitates successful hatching
• incubation time at room temperatures (20 - 23°C) is about 2.5 - 3 months
• hatching ratio was very high (75+ %)
• keep the nymphs in a cage with good ventilation
• 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 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
• males will be adult after about 3 months (at 20 - 23°C), females after 4 months
• females start to lay eggs after about 2 - 3 weeks
• eggs are just dropped to the ground
• about 10 - 12 eggs per female and week

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References

• Phasmida Species Files  (www.phasmida.orthoptera.org)