
Genus
Species
Stock
CLP
474
PSG
324
Culture status
In culture
Foodplants
Bramble (Rubus spp.)
Breeding notes
(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