Species: Extatosoma tiaratum (PSG 9).
Common Name: Macleay’s Spectre, E.T.
Size: Maximum: Males,
9cm. Females, 12cm.
Breeding: Sexual, parthenogenetic
without males.
Eggs: This species lays up to 200 eggs
approx., which are catapulted to the floor. A hatch rate of up to
60% can be expected, but will be a lot lower for eggs that were
laid parthenogenetically. Hatching can take between 7 and 12
months.
Food: Bramble, Eucalyptus, Oak, even
beech has been used on occasion.
Humidity: Light to medium spray once
every one or two days. Nymphs appreciate less, a light spray
every three days.
Comments: A lovely bulky insect that
is easy to handle and inquisitive. Both sexes are normally brown,
although they can also be straw coloured and even green on
occasion. The male is the only sex to have wings and is able to
fly, although in my experience I find them reluctant. Both
have the ability to release a pungent smell if surprised or
handled roughly although this is not harmful.
There have been recent problems with raising
this species past nymph stage, most likely due to in-breeding, so
out-breeding has been taking place to try to rectify this. I
myself have suffered from this problem, along with a few of the PSG members and have managed to raise only a few nymphs recently.
I am glad to say that viable cultures are already being produced.
Mating Pair:
