Pseudophasma quitense
(by Bruno Kneubuehler)
| Order | Phasmatodea
| |
| Suborder | Verophasmatodea | |
| Infraorder | Areolatae | |
| Superfamily | Pseudophasmatodiea | Rehn, 1904 |
| Family | Pseudophasmatidae | Rehn, 1904 |
| Subfamily | Pseudophasmatinae | Rehn, 1904 |
| Tribe | Pseudophasmatini | Kirby, 1904 |
| Genus | Pseudophasma | Kirby, 1896 |
| Species | Pseudophasma quitense | Saussure, 1868 |
_________________
General Notes
- 2008 - first successful culture of this species in Europe by Bruno Kneubühler
_________________
Origin
- in November 2007 Horst Kaech (Ecuador) collected this species at Rio Topo (Tunguragua, Ecuador). The habitat was the river Rio Topo - at an altitude of about 1600 m and close to the town Baños (Tungurahua)
_________________
Female
- about 5,8 cm
- they are good flyers !
_________________
Male
- about 4,3 cm
- they are very good flyers - so watch your open windows when changing their food plants
_________________
Eggs
- grey or brown
- strongly granulated
_________________
Food Plants
- nymphs as well as adults feed nicely on ivy (Hedera helix)
_________________
Breeding Notes
- an easy to breed species
- incubation of the eggs on damp (not too wet) sand, with springtails to reduce mould growth
- incubation time at room temperatures (20-23°C) is about 4 months
- hatching ratio of my first generation was about 80%
- keep the nymphs in a cage with good ventilation and still high humidity
- nymphs and adults can be kept in a Faunabox (or similar cage)
- a constantly wet paper towel on the cage helps raising humidity
- I have never sprayed nymphs or adults with water
- male will be adult after about 3 months, females after about 4 months
- females start to lay eggs after about 2 weeks
- eggs are just dropped to the ground
_________________
References
- Phasmida Species Files (www.phasmida.orthoptera.org)
