Extatosma tiaratum Australian stick insect

Extatosma tiaratum L4-5 and adults. Aussies 

Brown morph. Limited Quantity

──────────────

general remarks

Australian Stick Insect-Common names are E.T., Macleys Spectre, Giant Prickly Stick, or Australian Stick. These are a large stick insect, with an abdomen the size of a thumb, and a circumference to fill your palm. They rock when blown on, or are sprayed, and will walk on people willingly. They look like a scorpion in body shape.

• Macleay described this kind 1826 as Phasma tiaratum
• Synonyms: Ectatosoma tiaratum , Gray 1835
• for further taxonomic information → Phasmida Species Files
• Extatosoma tiaratum was one of the first stick insect species bred in Europe, since the early 1960s,
• Over the years various Extatosoma tiaratum strains of different origin from Australia were then introduced, and unfortunately mixed by unserious and naive breeders. This even though there are between geographically separated populations certainly more or less pronounced differences
• for the moment all are Extatosma populations of Australia in styleExtatosoma tiaratum summarized. Whether it actually but is only one type or several types or subtypes, future DNA studies will show
• the tribe Extatosoma tiaratum "Innisfail" is a pure strain 
• Its colors and shapes may change depending on the surrounding environment . These are the Extatosoma tiaratum
• LICHEN colors-  Getting them to mimic lichen.  The color factor is genetic in E.T. lichen morphs. We selectively breed ours with those who have proven to have strong lichen color factor, Though you'll need to raise them with lichen in the habitat.
  Green and lichen are both color patterns that are possible for this species of stick insect. Lichen is a common part of the natural habitat Australia. Adopting the lichen color will therefore help the insects blend into their environment.
  To create lichen-morph Raise E.T. Insect nymphs with enclosure full of lichen! Some of the nymphs will molt into lichen color morphs, first molt, some green color morph and some will not and stay light brown. 

   

Breed History

• 2014 - offspring of the pure strain Extatosoma tiaratum "Innisfail" by Bruno Kneubühler
• 2015 - as Extatosoma tiaratum leave "Innisfail" to other breeders
• An interesting survival technique is that the ova are collected by ants and taken back to the underground nests. When the ova hatch they look and move fast like the ants, escaping 

──────────────

origin

• Eggs were collected from Tomboy females (Innisfail, Queensland, Australia) by Jack Hasenpusch

──────────────

female

• Body length about 12-14 cm
• the body length of females is only about measurable since the females almost always bend the abdomen upwards
• Coloration of the females is different and lichen phase can be obtained)
• dark brown, red brew, pale brew and greenish female
• many, green thorns on the head, thorax, abdomen and legs
• short antennae
• short front and rear wings
• thumb-thick abdomen (if full of eggs)
• lateral, leaf-shaped, spined extensions especially on 5th and 6th abdominal segment
• strong leaf-shaped extensions on the legs
• Subgenital plate approximately the same length as the abdome

──────────────

male

• Body length about 9 - 10.5 cm
• Coloring of the males is very uniform
• short, brown thorns on head, chest and legs
• Antennas in about as long as the front legs
• clearly recognizable ocelli (simple eyes) on the head
• well-developed, long wings reach which almost to the abdome
• lateral, leaf-shaped extensions on the 5th - 7th abdominal segment
• strong leaf-shaped extensions on the legs
• membranous area of ​​the rear wing checkerboard chiaroscuro
• a light-green area near the neck of the hind wings

──────────────

larvae

• Length (L1) about 17 mm, but difficult to measure
• short, brown monochrome antennas
• dark brown with lighter dorsal drawing on the Mesothorax

eggs 

• about 5 x 5 mm
• plump
• bright light-dark marbled
• also there are almost white and almost black eggs
• Surface smooth and shiny
• significantly from Eideckel (operculum) Detachable Capitulum available
• Micropylar plate long and usually light in color

──────────────

feed plants

• It highly recommended the sheet edges for larvae in L1 cut away, if possible 1x per week
• the plants and the water in which they should be regularly be changed
   
• Blackberry ( Rubus spp.)
  Is very well accepted by nymphs and adults
• Hasel ( Coryllus avellana )
  is very well accepted by nymphs and adults
• Salal ( Gaultheria shallon )
  is very well accepted by nymphs and adults
• Eucalyptus
  is the natural food plant
• elsewhere other forage plants are mentioned, such as oak ( Quercusspp.) , guava ( Psidium guajava )
• very likely is a wide-range of food plants of this type well received

──────────────

behavior

• fresh born larvae are very active, and running around a lot
• after a few days they are quiet when they have started to eat
• already these larvae often take the typical for this genre entertainment, with aufwärtsgebogenem abdomen, a
• older larvae and adult animals behave more passively during the day and eat preferably during dusk / night. However, even during the day activity is observed repeatedly
• Nymphs and adults dropped if they feel threatened by touch often, but mostly solidified after a few steps back
• particularly adult females seek a potential attacker also pinch between the hind legs
• the animals exude no visible defensive secretions. However, a very characteristic odor when handling these animals can be perceived, which may also be attributed to a secretion on the prothorax glands
• adult males could fly, do make but rarely
• Fixtures are often and the couples can also 1 - 2 remain days together
• the eggs are thrown away by the female with a graceful curve of the abdomen (eggs can break when they hit glass or similar hard materials terrariums)

──────────────

development

• the incubation time ( HH-incubation on slightly damp sand at 20 - 23 ° C) is about 4 - 5 months
• the LTD method (low-temperature-induced-diapause) was successfully applied to this type. We tested a LTD-period of 3 months at 8 - 10 ° C, the slip rate then was high
• for information, at Phasmiden it is not uncommon that even a long time after the first larvae can still slip further larvae
• dry pine needles ( Pinus sylvestris ) spread over the eggs - this facilitates the larvae that hatch intact
• the slip rate is usually high
• Males are adult after about 3.5 months (at room temperature), females after about 4 - 4.5 months
• females start after about 3 weeks of oviposition
• about 20-25 eggs a week and females
• the adult animals can live for several months

──────────────

Comments for breeding

• this type should be separately held in a cage (like most phasmid species).The breeding success is greater than in cages with several types, which are too often overcrowded
• Difficulty = 1                 (1 = very easy / 5 = very difficult)
• the larvae separately from the adult animals raise. This allows a better overview of the healthy growth of the larvae, protecting them from interference from the adult animals much larger (for example, during the molting)
• Rearing in a cage with plenty of ventilation areas
• a humidity of 60 +% RH (for nymphs and adults) seems to be sufficient for healthy development
• Screen Cages are very well suited for rearing
• larger larvae if necessary, translated into correspondingly larger breeding cages
• a cage of about 30 x 30 x 60 cm in height is large enough for about 3 - 4 adult couples
• there are 2 (3) required cages for breeding this kind - a cage for the little larvae, possibly another cage for the older larvae, and a cage for adult animals.
• Small larvae about 2 - 3 times a week with water spray (no chlorinated water use). The water should be able to dry again within a short time (good ventilation of the terrarium important)
• in older larvae and adult animals (and their cage) is spraying with water is not necessary but does not hurt
• , particularly in adult molt, make sure that the animals no opportunity can be found near the cage floor to hang for molting. If necessary, the vessel for the forage crops should be raised to a pedestal.

• Reproduction-Males are rarely found in the US, and in the absence of males, females can produce fertile eggs (known as ova) without a male (parthenogenesis). The eggs with a male involved take 4 months to hatch, the female-only ova take eight months to hatch. The females are much bigger than males and are very heavy stick insects when producing eggs. The ova will be flung around the cage; you will find them on horizontal cage structures. They are the size of a lentil, round, dark brown to cream-colored, and shiny (see images). The ova need to incubate no higher than 77 degrees, or they tend to have low hatch rates. Ours are male-fertilized.

Attention: These are shipped on Mondays, weather permitting, and Next Day Air shipping is required.