Giant Spiny Stick Bug (Eurycantha calcarata) (PSG-23)

They can reproduce both with and with out males in the culture. They should be kept at 70-80% humidity, 20- 30° Celsius. Ova takes 5- 6 month to hatch. Nymphs take 4- 6 month to mature, and can live up to one year. They are nocturnal and will spend most of the day in a pile (literally) under a piece of bark or shelter somewhere. You will hear them at night, as they are not so subtle as they crash around looking for food. Ova are laid below ground. A small container with water should be placed on the bottom of the cage for them to drink from (this is not recommended for most other species as they can drown).

Care must be taken when lifting this species, as it can grasp on to you. They would sometimes sooner lose a leg than let go. Some will even freeze and not move while you are watching. They are even know to eat some fruits! Fortunately Eurycanthas do become docile if handled regularly.

Females: get 5 1/8inches (13cm) long.

Males: get 4 1/4inches (11cm) long. Males do have a very large spine on the femur of their hindmost legs. Adult males are often kept separate, as they have been known to fight, and eat each other! Only the males spray an unpleasantly smelling smell during contact.

Diet: Bramble, Oak, Ivy, Grape, Hawthorn, Pear, Rose, Mountain ash, Oregon grape.

Ova.

Subadult female.

Adult female.

Adult male.