Haaniella Gorochovi
(Hennemann, Conle, Brock & Seow-Choen, 2016)
PSG No. 404
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Heteropterygidae
Subfamily: Heteropteryginae
Genre: Haaniella
Haaniella gorochovi is a massive, spiny stick insect. This species is native to the highlands of Vietnam, particularly the provinces of Gia Lai, Lâm Đồng, Khánh Hòa and Đắk Lắk.
This species has been in breeding since 2014 but was first described in 2016. The specific name was chosen in honor of the Russian entomologist Andrey Vasilevich Gorochov.
Adult, the female is massive and measures about 10cm. The male is smaller and measures about 6cm. Colors ranging from dull ochre to dark brown. They tend to darken over time.
The young ones measure about 2cm and are gray-brown and have conspicuous white bands on all femurs and a white spot on the fourth abdominal tergite.
The eggs are grey/brown, barrel-shaped and about 7mm long and 6mm wide. They do not have the velvety surface like H.dehaanii or grayii.
Difficulty of breeding: average. The biggest difficulty seems to be the incubation period (1 year/1 year and a half ). During this period, mold must be avoided and a fairly stable humidity level must be maintained.
Its development is very long: around 1 year.
However, Haaniella gorochovi live quite a long time, about 8 months for the male and sometimes more than a year for the female.
For the eggs:
Provide an incubation box. We recommend our micro-perforated boxes with lids . Then you place vermiculite on half the height of the box. You moisten it and place the eggs inside.
For young people:
Either you raise them with the adults 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.
We recommend that you create hiding places by adding bark to 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 a couple, plan a terrarium of 30cm x 30cm x 45cm 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.
For the female Haaniella gorochovi to lay eggs, it is necessary to provide a nest box, i.e. a box with at least 10cm of organic potting soil, vermiculite, peat, sand or a mixture with these elements. It is therefore necessary to have a shallow container so that the laying substrate is accessible. Natural moss can also be added, the eggs will sometimes be laid in it.
We recommend that you create hiding places by adding bark to the terrarium.
Mainly bramble. But it is also possible to use raspberry, pyracantha, rose, hawthorn, oak, beech, ivy and eucalyptus.
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.
Temperature: between 22°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 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, about 60/80% humidity. They can tolerate slightly lower humidity. Humidity can be provided by the food plant through the foliage. Otherwise, spray a little water as needed. This species seems to appreciate spraying.
Lighting: Lighting is optional if the ambient light is sufficient. Otherwise, additional lighting will be required.
Laying method: The female Haaniella gorochovi buries the eggs in the substrate or sometimes in the moss. Sometimes she drops her eggs directly on the ground.
Laying frequency: An adult female can lay around fifty eggs. Laying only begins 2 to 3 months after the last molt.
Egg collection: As soon as possible or each time the terrarium is cleaned and the bottom paper towel is changed. Simply collect the eggs from the substrate.
Incubation period: 12 to 18 months. Care must be taken to maintain good humidity and to ensure that there is no development of mold.
Development time : 10 months to over a year.
Means of defense: --
Reproduction: sexual. The first matings occur one to two weeks after the last molt.
Means of defense: This is a species that can sometimes pinch its fingers when it feels threatened (especially the male). Most of the time the female will emit a screeching sound by rubbing its wings.
Activity : Nocturne.
Lifespan: 10 months to over a year for females! Males seem to live less long: around 8 to 10 months.
