Species: Heteropteryx dilatata (PSG
18).
Common Name: Malaysian Jungle Nymph.
Size: Maximum: Males,
8cm. Females, 14cm.
Breeding: Sexual.
Eggs: These will be laid in to a pot
of sand or peat. A depth of 8cm is usually sufficient. They
usually take between 12 and 18 months to hatch.
Food: Bramble.
Humidity: Medium to high, spray every two days.
Comments:
What can I say? WOW. This has got to be one of the most
impressive species to own, but do they have attitude! This
has got to be the most anti-social stick insect to own. As
nymphs they will usually play dead (see pictures) as soon as
they are handled and as sub-adults/adults hate to be handled,
usually trying to 'spike' you with their very spiny rear legs.
It is advised that you avoid 'spiking' as it can actually draw
blood. You will know when an adult is annoyed because it
will put its hind legs high in the air and 'rustle'
(understated) their hind wings. Wearing gloves with this
species is usually a must, this is no joke, after the first 'leg
grab' you will understand!
Regardless of the
danger, with regular handling they will tolerate be held and can
sometimes even have a good temperament (very rarely).
Males remain brown though out their lifetime, although go
mottled as adults and have wings. Females are brown up to
their forth shed, then turn lime green for the rest of their
life.
This is generally
an easy species to keep, but care must be taken when the female
has her final moult. They have a habit of getting stuck in
their skin and 50% of the time this can lead to death. To
prevent this, observe your female when she stops eating in the
later stages of stage 5 and expect her to moult within the next
two weeks. Keep the cage humid throughout this time and
the process should be successful. The only other problem
that can occur is that this species can be a bit silly and try
to moult just above the cage floor, with obvious results.
If this is witnessed, move the insect to a higher position and
this can be done even if they are in the process of moulting.
