Megacrania tsudai
(by Bruno Kneubuehler)
| order: | Phasmatodea |
| suborder: | Anareolatae |
| family: | Phasmatidae |
| subfamily: | Platycraninae |
| tribe: | Platycranini |
| genus: | Megacrania (Kaup, 1871) |
| species: | Megacrania phelaus (Westwood, 1859) |
General notes
- often this species is thought to be parthenogenetic in the wild. There might be areas with parthenogenetic populations - but in fact males are known
- to my knowledge all culture stocks are at the moment parthenogenetic
- 2008 - I got eggs of a sexual culture, but I could raise only females
Origin
- this species can be found in different areas on main island of Taiwan (costal regions) and also on nearby Green Island
Female
- about 9 to 10 cm
- wings are not suitable for flying
Male
- smaller than females
- colouration is very similar to the females
Eggs
- about 1 cm long (including protruding capitulum)
- brown
- easy to distinguish from eggs of M. phelaus
Food Plants
- different Pandanus plants
- more on food plant for Megacrania - see care sheet for Megacrania phelaus
Defensive Behaviour
- both nymphs and adults can spray a strong defensive secretion from glands on their prothorax (pronotum). This secretion will burn strongly when it gets into the eyes or on mucosus membrane, but the effect will fade away after some minutes
- therefore one should handle these insects carefully and keep them away from small childern
Breeding Notes
- a beautiful species.... just their food plants it not that easy to get - Pandanus
- the eggs were incubated on a damp damp sand. Springtails were used to control fungus (mould)
- incubation temperatures were 18 – 25 °C
- nymphs hatch after about 5 - 6 months
important - nymphs may drown in the water container for the food plant ! Therefore cover the container for the food plant, for example with cotton wool
once you have a steady source for Pandanus to feed them with, they will grow up without much problems
I am breeding them in an airy cage
on the bottom of the cage there is paper tissue which is being kept constantly wet
I do never spray their cage with water, neither nymphs nor adults
nymphs and adults are being kept at room temperatures (18 – 25 °C)
females reached adulthood after about 4,5
3 weeks after their final moult, females start to lay eggs - about 8 – 10 a week. They just drop them to the ground