Jungle Nymph Stick Bug (Heteropteryx dilatata) (PSG-18)

They are nocturnal. This specie is good for starters, although takes a bet of work and a lot of patience to hatch their eggs. The substrate must be at least 2 1/2 inches (6cm) deep and kept lightly moist at all times. The best substrate to use is vermiculite since it holds the water best. Its best to keep them at the temperature of 24-26°C during day time, and about 20°C during night time. Heteropteryx dilatata has sexual reproduction, you need both males and females if you want to breed them. Each egg is quite large about 8.5 by 5.5 mm. The eggs have to be in a dark place, temperature 24-26°C, and the humidity around 70-80 %. When the nymph hatches after 10-14 month, it will come out already 1-1 1/4 inches (2.5-3cm) long.

Females: are even more spectacular then males. Females usually get about 6 inches (15cm) long, and are very heavily build. Each female lays about 100-150 eggs. After they starts to mature, and get a green color, they will be a bet more violent when they feel threatened. When disturbed the female will curl her abdomen up over the back and point the long thorny hind-legs backwards, widely spread. If something comes between the legs she will fold them together in a scissor like movement which will lightly scratch the intruder. They will make loud hissing noise using their small wings. Immature females can change colors with differing degrees of light and darkness. Every day antill they mature, by day they can be pale beige, by night rich pinkish-tan. If threatened they will drop to the ground as if they were a stick or a leaf. The female will deposit her eggs about 1 1/2 inches (4cm) deep in the substrate.

Males: are smaller than the females, get up to 4 3/4 inches (12cm) long and are more slender. Males have the same behavior but do not make the hissing noise.

Diet: Bramble, Hawthorn, Rose, Mango (Mangifera indica), Hazel, Red/ Yellow Salmon Berry.

Ova.

L1 3 days old nymph.

L2 male nymph.

L2 female nymph.

L3 male.

L3 female.

A female, two moults away from becoming an adult.

Subadult female, will become an adult on the next molt.

Adult male.

Adult male, just landed.

Sub-adult female, moulting into an adult stage.

Adult female.

Adult female's mandibles.

Adult pair, with a subadult male on the left.

Male flapping his wing (please allow a few seconds to load).

Female trying to pinch in defense mode (please allow a few seconds to load).