Asprenas femoratus "Koghi"

Asprenas femoratus "Koghi"
Genus
Asprenas
Species
femoratus Stål, 1875
Stock
"Mt. Koghi"
CLP
659
Culture status
Unknown
Foodplants
Bramble (Rubus spp.)
Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
Breeding notes

Asprenas femoratus "Koghi"
(by Bruno Kneubuehler)

 

General Informations

  • this culture was formerly known as Asprenas sp. "apterous, Koghi"
  • ID by Frank Hennemann (DE)
  • provenience: Mt. Koghi (New Caledonia)
  • different phasmid taxonomists suggest that this might be Asprenas impennis, a definite ID is not yet available
  • F1 CB culture by Bruno Kneubuehler (20145)
  • further taxonomical informations ➤ phasmida.speciesfile.org
  • this is a pure culture, and serious breeders are asked to not mix it with cultures of a different provenience

Females

  • sturdy, medium sized phasmids
  • body length 10 - 11 cm
  • brown mottled or green-brown
  • short antennae
  • long "ovipositor" (subgenital plate, supraanal plate)
  • spines on thorax and head
  • black cheeks

Males

  • rather sturdy too
  • 8 - 8.5 cm
  • brown with greenish legs
  • spines on thorax, head and legs
  • black cheeks

Food Plants

  • bramble (Rubus spp.)
    very well accepted by nymphs and adults
  • hazelnut (Corylus avellana)
    very well accepted by nymphs and adults
  • Salal (Gaultheris shallon)
    very well accepted by nymphs and adults

Breeding, Behaviour

  • active mainly during the night, though males are sometimes active during daytime too
  • they try to drop to the ground and / or crawl away when they feel threatened
  • eggs are stuck into a suitable substrate, e.g. humid peat
  • a sand-filled (about 3 cm high), shallow box is also well accepted for oviposition. But the box in a corner of the cage. Eggs have to be sieved out of the sand once per week (to prevent that they dry out)
  • 30 - 40 eggs per clutch
  • 1 clutch of eggs every 1 - 2 weeks
  • incubation (HH-method on slightly damp sand) about 3 - 4 months at 20 - 23 °C
  • nymphs hatch during the night
  • a higher humidity of 75 - 80 % rH is needed
  • one can spray them regularly with chlorine-free water, but the water should dry up again
  • very easy to breed in my experience

Basics of breeding phasmids

  • only one species per cage, overpopulation is one of the main reasons for breeding failures
  • keep nymphs seperate from the adults
  • choose the cage big enough, when in doubt it is better to choose a cage too big than too small
  • a ventilator often supports breeding results
  • provide enough light, but avoid direct sunlight (overheating)
  • try to keep temperatures below 25°C
  • a nocturnal fall of temperature is healty for the phasmids
  • do not spray too much, phasmids are no fish ! The spray should dry up again
  • minimize disturbances (loud music, commotions, light at night, ect.) minimal

useful Informations