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Spiny Stick Insect
Extatasoma tiaratum
The Spiny Stick
Insect is an easy to keep species of stick insect and is one of the larger species, that has been known to reach an adult
size of 150mm in females but on average they reach 130mm. The females are wingless only having small wing buds, where as the
males are fully winged and able to fly. The males are smaller than the females averaging 90 - 100mm. Both sexes can range
from light to medium brown, or a greenish colour. The females have lots of sharp spikes all over the body, but the males tend
to be rather smooth. The legs are lobed and these too have small projections of spikes present.
Found
in Australia, this species is happy at room temperature (around 20C to 24C) although
the temperature is not critical. Lightly spray water on the food plant every few days. Their native food is the Eucalyptus
and most species of eucalyptus commonly found in South Africa
are acceptable. In Europe bramble, oak and other trees are accepted.
Cut
food in jars of water is a convenient way of feeding them, with the food being changed every few days or when it becomes dry.
Due to this species
growing so large, it's best to use a cage with plenty of height. This allows them to hang down when changing skin. Air circulation
is a bonus. They do not require special lighting but should be kept out of direct
sun to avoid drying out the cut food.
The females can
lay large numbers of eggs, which are just dropped on the floor. These can be
hatched at room temperature if placed on tissue in a plastic box and very lightly sprayed daily.
Click here for the Care Sheet on egg hatching
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| Goliath Stick Insect |
Eurycnema goliath
From Australia this species is easy to rear in similar conditions to the
common Spiny Stick Insect. It also eats eucalyptus. The eggs may take between 4 and 8 months to hatch, with most
hatching early but don't be in a hurry to throw the eggs away! Due to their large size the nymphs need a lot of room
to hang down when they are changing skin.
As with most phasmids, they enjoy a light spray of water daily but this
is not essential.
| Achrioptera fallax |
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| Stunning blue male |
Madagascan Blue
Achrioptera fallax
This is a spectacular
species from Madagascar, only introduced into captivity a few years ago (2007/2008). The female can grow to 26cm. She is heavily built, mainly
brown with spiny legs and small, red wings. The male is smaller, up to 16cm,
and much thinner. The striking feature of this species is his bright metallic
blue colouring and red wings.
I feed
them on bramble but they also feed on oak. They feed well but sometimes adult
females will stop feeding without any obvious reason. If this happens, they should
be given an alternative food plant otherwise they may starve to death.
Incubate the eggs
on dry sand with the HH-method as they can get mouldy on damp substrate. (see http://www.phasmatodea.com/web/guest/227) If incubated at room temperatures (20 - 23°C) the eggs take about 3
to 4 months to hatch.
Males
typically take about 5 - 6 months (at room temperatures) to mature whereas females take about 6 - 7 months. Adult males will need a week or so to get the full blue colour.
Pairing does seem
to need any special conditions but once paired males should be removed from the females to avoid unnecessary hassling of the
females. They can be reintroduced periodically for pairing. The eggs are simply dropped on the cage floor.
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