Eurycantha calcarata
(PSG 23 - Lucas, 1869 )
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Phasmatidae
Subfamily: Eurycanthinae
Very beautiful species of massive stick insect, they are also called " Leather stick insect" or "shelled stick insect" and they are well named! Eurycantha calcarata is native to Papua New Guinea.
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Males have a large spur under the large femurs of their hind legs. To defend themselves, they will curl their abdomen like a scorpion and try to pinch you. They will also emit a nauseating odor from glands located at the end of their abdomen, with the aim of scaring away the aggressor.
For the eggs:
Provide an incubation box. We recommend our micro-perforated boxes with lids. Then several possibilities:
For young people:
Either you raise them with the adults (be careful when changing food, the young are small and fragile) or you raise them separately. You will therefore have to use the same model of terrarium as the adults but of a smaller size.
The floor of the terrarium will be covered with damp paper towels to maintain good humidity and facilitate maintenance of the terrarium.
For adults:
Minimum (recommended) height of the terrarium: 2.5 times the size of the adult female.
The size of the terrarium will depend on the number of specimens. For example, for 3 or 4 specimens, plan a terrarium of 40cm x 40cm x 60cm for example. It is important to have sufficient height for moulting.
In addition, the terrarium must be partially ventilated . For example, with only one side made of mesh and the others made of glass. This will help maintain sufficient humidity.
The floor of the terrarium will be covered with damp paper towels to maintain good humidity and make it easier to maintain the terrarium.
Adults love to hide, so it is highly recommended to have several pieces of bark, branches, roots or stumps.
For the female to lay eggs, a nest box must be provided, i.e. a box with at least 6/7 cm of organic potting soil, vermiculite, peat, sand or a mixture with these elements. A shallow container is therefore required so that the laying substrate is accessible.
It is a very polyphagous species. Mainly bramble. But it is also possible to use ivy, hazel, rose, raspberry, oak, pyracantha, hawthorn ....
To do this, you need to arrange the branches in the terrarium by placing the stems in a jar of water (to avoid drowning, be sure to block the entrance to the jar with paper towels, for example).
Be careful, it is best to avoid changing food plants during their development.
Renew as soon as the food begins to fade.
Be careful, they are big eaters 😏
Temperature: between 20°C and 25°C.
Humidity:
For the eggs: The incubation medium and the atmosphere must remain humid. To do this, spray a little water whenever necessary. Be careful if it is too dry, either there will be no birth, or the young may not be able to fully emerge from the egg or will be poorly formed.
For young: Humid atmosphere required, approximately 70/90% humidity. Be careful if it is too dry, the moults will be missed. Humidity can be provided by the food plant thanks to the foliage. Otherwise, you must spray a little water as soon as necessary.
For adults: Humid atmosphere required, approximately 70/80% humidity. Humidity can be provided by the food plant through the foliage. Otherwise, spray a little water as needed.
Lighting : Lighting is optional if the ambient light is sufficient. Otherwise, additional lighting will be required.
Laying method: The female buries her eggs in the nest using her oviscape. She begins laying 3 weeks after her last moult.
Laying frequency: 1 to 2 eggs per day or approximately 100 to 300 eggs per female.
Egg collection: As soon as possible or each time the terrarium is cleaned and the bottom paper towel is changed. It is therefore necessary to search the substrate of the laying box in order to extract the eggs and then place them in the incubator.
Incubation period: approximately 5 months. Care must be taken to maintain good humidity and to ensure that no mold develops.
Development time : 4 to 7 months.
Number of stages: 5 to 6.
Means of defense: None
Reproduction: sexual or parthenogenetic.
Means of defense: Pinching with the spur present under the large femurs of the hind legs . "Scorpion" attitude by curving the abdomen. Nauseating odor. Females are less aggressive.
Activity : Nocturnal stick insect. During the day it hides under bark. At night it moves, feeds and the females lay eggs.
Lifespan: The life span is approximately 6 months to 1 year.
Prolificacy: Very high
