Obrimus bicolanus "Pulog"

(by Bruno Kneubuehler)

General Notes

• 2010 - first successful culture of this species by Thierry Heitzmann (Philippines)
• 2011 - this species is currently being examined taxonomically by Joachim Bresseel (Belgium)

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Origin

• Pulog Mountain (Pocdol mountain range, Sorsogon, Bicol Province, Südost-Luzon, Philippines) 

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Females

• sturdy and spiny phasmids
• 9.5 - 10 cm long
• many spines on the body and the legs
• varied coloration amongst females - dark brown, greyish-brown to light brown with greenish areas
• antennae longer than the fore legs
• no wings

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Males

• 6 - 6.5 cm long
• several larger spines on the body
• many small spines on the legs
• brown head, thorax and legs
• greenish-brown (dorsally) and light-brown (ventrally) abdomen
• some males do have a light brown stripe on their back
• antennae considerably longer than the fore legs
• no wings

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Nymphs

• about 19 mm (L1)
• coloration varies amongst nymphs - different shades of brown
• older nymphs appear to be more spinous than adults
• differentiation between males and females is possible in L1
• by L3, female nymphs have a clear prolongation at the abdominal ending (dorsally)

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Eggs

• about 5 x 4 mm
• grey
• black lid (operculum)
• many small pores
• irregularely shaped
• matt

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Food Plants

• nymphs as well as adults feed easily on bramble (Rubus sp.)

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Behaviour

• nymphs and adults just feign death when being threatened
• males will be adult after about 4months (at 20 - 23°C), females after about 4 - 5 months
• females start laying eggs after about 3 - 4 weeks
• eggs are being stuck into the ground
• a sand-filled (at least 4 cm high dry sand) rectangular box in a corner (!) of the cage is accepted as substrate where they bury their eggs. Thus the eggs can be sieved out easily
• about 5 eggs per week and female
• mating are frequent and to not last for long

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Breeding Notes

• a very easy to keep and nice species
• incubation with the HH-incubation method (on slightly damp sand) yields good hatching ratios
• spread some dry moss over the eggs, this will make it much easier for the nymphs to hatch properly
• incubation time (at room temperature) is about 4 - 4.5 months
• keep the nymphs in a cage with good ventilation
• take care that the humidity does not drop too low
• a constantly wet paper towel on the floor of the cage helps raising humidity
• nymphs and adults can be kept in a Faunabox (or similar cages)
• if necessary move nymphs to a bigger cage as they grow bigger
• I have never sprayed nymphs or adults with water
• make shure that nymphs, which are about to undergo their adult moult, do not find places in the cage which would not offer them enough space beneath to moult successfully