Eurycantha Horrida "Popondetta"
(Boisduval, 1835)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Phasmatidae
Subfamily: Eurycanthinae
Eurycantha horrida is native to Popondetta in Papua New Guinea. It is a very imposing species!
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.
%20(1).png)
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 make it easier to maintain 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 for a terrarium of 45cm x 45cm x 60cm. 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 oak, rose, raspberry, hazel, ivy, St. John's wort or rhododendron.
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).
Renew as soon as the food begins to fade.
Be careful, Eurycantha horrida are big eaters 😏
Temperature: between 20°C and 25°C.
Humidity:
For the eggs: The incubation medium and the atmosphere must remain moist. To do this, spray a little water whenever necessary. Be careful if it is too dry, either there will be no births, or the young may not be able to come out of the egg completely 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 nourishing 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 ovipositor. She begins laying about one to two months after her last moult.
Frequency of laying: The layings are done by period. Indeed as soon as the female becomes an adult, her abdomen is still thin. After a few weeks and after mating the abdomen will grow and dilate until laying. She will lay about 2 to 3 eggs per day. Then it will return to its normal size until the next laying cycle. This is the development time of the eggs in the abdomen of the 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 nest in order to extract the eggs and then place them in the incubator.
Incubation time: Approximately 5 months. Care must be taken to maintain good humidity and to ensure that no mold develops.
Development time : 5 to 7 months.
Means of defense: None
Reproduction: sexual.
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: Medium to high
