|
Home Page
About Me
Phasmids
Mantids
Other Pets
Egg Ident
Tanks
Features
Links
Events
Mantisheaven
|
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 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,
but I am glad to say that recent cultures in the
last two years have been much stronger and appear to
be problem free.
Back to Phasmids Menu
|
|
