Genus
Species
Stock
CLP
791
Culture status
Probably lost
Foodplants
Oak (Quercus robur)
Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa)
Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Bramble (Rubus spp.)
Breeding notes
(by Bruno Kneubuehler)
General Informations
- provenience: Ba Vi NP (Vietnam)
- ID by Joachim Bresseel (BE)
- taxonomic evaluation by Joachim Bresseel (BE)
- F1 CB culture in 2015 by Bruno Kneubuehler (CH)
- further taxonomical informations ➤ Phasmida Species Files
- this is a pure culture, and serious breeders are asked to avoid mixing this culture with similar populations from a different provenience. When spreading this culture to other breeders, then always use the full name with provenience
- this culture has the number CLP 791 (Online Phasma Culture List)
Females
- small, rather colorful and active phasmids
- body length 7.5 cm
- glossy green with blueish head, and yellow area on forewings
- well developed wings
Males
- colorful, small and very active phasmids
- body length 6 cm
- glossy green with blueish head, reddish legs and yellow area on forewings
- well developed wings
Nymphs
- freshly hatched nymphs are yellow-brown
- about 10 mm
- on how to distinguish between male and female nymphs
Eggs
- 2 x 1.5 mm
- brown with net-like pattern
Food Plants
- oak (Quercus)
well accepted by nymphs and adults - sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa)
well accepted by nymphs and adults - beech (Fagus)
well accepted by nymphs and adults - bramble (Rubus spp.)
bramble with an oak coating is well accepted by hatching nymphs (offered together with apple slices). After a short time they will also accept bramble without coating
Breeding, Behaviour
- easy to breed
- very active species, often also during the day
- due to its tendency to be active, this species needs a big cage
- provide a cage of about 40 x 40 x 60 (cm, L x B x H) for 3 - 4 adult couples
- they can behave very frantic when startled
- a defensive spray has been observed
- eggs just drop to the ground
- at least 40 - 50 eggs eggs per female and week
- incubation (Cup-Incubation-method, on medium damp vermiculite) about 5 weeks to 3 months at 20 - 24 °C
- on the incubation time
- first generation (eggs collected from wild-caught females) hatched after only 5 weeks
- 2nd gen eggs hatched after 3 months
- 2nd gen eggs which have been kept in the fridge (LTD-method) hatched after only 5 weeks
- eggs can be covered by vermiculite (about 5 mm high), which makes it easier for the nymphs to hatch without getting stuck in the eggs shell
- nymphs hatch in the early morning, before dawn
- a humidity of about 65 - 75 % seems to be good enough for nymphs and adults
- one can spray them regularly with chlorine-free water, but allow the water to dry up before spraying again
- males and females will be adult after 2 months (at 20 - 24°C)
- incubation time can be extended with the LTD-Method (up to at least 3.5 months), as some of their food plants are not easily available during european winter time.
Basics of phasmids breeding
- keep only one species per cage, overpopulation is one of the main reasons for breeding failures
- keep nymphs seperate from the adults, mainly to protect them during the crucial moulting phases
- choose the cage big enough. When in doubt, too big is (usually) better than too small
- a ventilator often supports good breeding results, as it seems to increase activity and feeding
- provide enough light, but avoid direct sunlight (overheating)
- try to keep day time temperatures below 25°C
- a nocturnal fall of temperature is natural, and thus advantageous
- do not spray too much, phasmids are no fish ! Allow the water to dry up before you spray again
- minimize disturbances (loud music, commotions, light at or during the night, opening up cages in the morning [often a moulting phase] ect.)