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Phasmid Study Group Culture List

In this illustrated PSG culture-list additional information is provided on the preferred breeding conditions, precise localities and origins of the culture-stocks. For viewing photos of a certain species simply click on the scientific name.

Explanation of symbols & abbreviations:

Scientific name: If the species has not yet been identified to species or genus level, the common name that has been used when it was introduced is given.

Reproduction: S = Sexual;  P = Parthenogenetic;  SP = Sexual and parthenogenetic cultures occur

Body length: Body length of cultured specimens (in mm); for females including the subgenital plate (if extending beyond abdomen)

Foodplants: This column lists the most preferred alternative foodplants but is not complete for all species. Often further plants are readily accepted. Where a species is known to have a clear preference to a certain plant, the first plant listed is the preferred alternative foodplant and recommended for starting a culture or newly hatched nymphs.

Culture status: C = Cultured;  T = Tentative / difficult to maintain (very few cultures reported);  L = Lost (no cultures reported)

The symbols given provide a general guide to the general preferences of species. The desirable conditions may however vary - depending on the age of the insects (nymphs or adults).

Cage:

   =  small: height 20-50 cm

   =  medium: height 50-80 cm

   =  large: height > 80 cm

   =  Put soil / substrate on the cage-floor (e.g. sand, peat) because females bury their eggs

   =  No soil needed (use kitchen-paper or similar)

Climate:

   =  Tropical climate (warm and humid)

   =  Very high humidity / spray regularly

   =  Moderate to cool temperatures (< 25°C)

   =  Good ventilation needed / keep airy

   =  High temperatures > 25°C / use extra lightning or heating

Info-Lamp: A separate window will open when you press this button. This provides additional information on the precise origin and locality, as well as the collectors name and date of the culture-stocks. Stock of several species has been imported more than once and often from different localities. These are listed as well. The information is by far not complete yet and the origins of many of the older cultures in particular are difficult to reconstruct. We are here trying to collect and save the collecting data of all our culture-stocks in order to make them accessible not only to breeders but also to scientists, who cannot work with captive reared specimens probably without knowing the exact origin of the insects. This especially concerns to DNA-barcoding projects currently undertaken by various workers. Hence we are most gratful for any help or info that you may contribute to completing this information. Thanks a lot!

Newly introduced species: Species newly cultured but not officially given a PSG culture-number yet are found at the end of this list and marked "0".

NOTE: If you have a species established in culture and wish to have it placed on the PSG culture-list, please contact Dr. Phil E. Bragg (Pbragg[at]aol.com). To avoid confusion, species will only be added to the list when Phil Bragg has received either some eggs or specimens for the PSG reference collection at the Natural History Museum, London (BMNH).