Giant Prickly Leaf Bug (Extatosoma tiaratum) (PSG-9)

Extatosoma tiaratum are sexual, but parthenogenetic if there is no male in the population. Usually takes 4 month for these eggs to hatch but, can take up to 9 month for the parthenogenetic eggs which will give only females. Eggs have to be kept under 22°-25°C.

Their ova's alveolar consists of lipids and other organic compounds that serve as food for ants. They pick the egg up, carry it to their nest, eat the reward and dump the egg intact onto the waste pile. Then, when baby is hatched it mimics ants and tries to run for the trees, that's why L1 nymphs are always so fast.

Females: when adults have medium size needles all over their long and rounded body. They get up to 8 inches (20cm) long. When females lay eggs, they will flick them up to several feet away.

Males: do not have needles but got long wings, and fly very well also they are much thinner then the females. They get up to 6 inches (15cm) long. When threatened adults will stand on the front and middle legs, pointing their abdomen up or to the side, and if anything touches their abdomen they will fold the back legs to defend them selves.

See the difference between male of E. tiaratum and male of E. t. bufonium here.

Diet: Bayberry, Bramble, Eucalyptus, Hawthorn, Oak, Photinia, Raspberry, Rose, Red/ Yellow Salmon Berry.

Extatosoma tiaratum's ova.

L1, one day old nymphs.

L1, 4 days old nymph.

L2, 15 days old nymph.

4 week old male (notice the absence of needles on top of his abdomen).

5 week old female (notice the needles on top of her abdomen).

4 week old female just finishing coming out of her exuvium.

Rare green/yellow phase Extatosoma tiaratum female.

Rare white phase female.

Cloth up of female's back leg.

7 week old male, you can see its wings are starting to develop already.

Adult male stretching its wings after molting.

Adult male.

Adult female.

Male defending him self.

Male flapping his wings.

Male taking off.