{"id":893,"date":"2020-09-19T16:47:56","date_gmt":"2020-09-19T16:47:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keepingbugs.com\/?page_id=893"},"modified":"2020-09-19T16:47:56","modified_gmt":"2020-09-19T16:47:56","slug":"basics-of-breeding-stick-insects","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/keepingbugs.com\/basics-of-breeding-stick-insects\/","title":{"rendered":"Basics of breeding phasmids: stick insects and leaf insects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Breeding stick insects and leaf insects is not difficult. If you keep them and care for them properly, they will mate and produce eggs without much effort. You should check the guide on the care for phasmids<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, to have better breeding success, you need to take some effort in the care for the eggs and nymphs. We describe here the basic principles on how to breed stick insects and leaf insects, together named as phasmids. These notes are based on my own experience breeding several species of phasmids and experiences of my colleagues. Always check for specific detailed information on the species breeding aspects for additional tips and recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to begin a breeding group: eggs or nymphs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, I like to quickly discuss the best way to start with keeping phasmids. It can be difficult when starting with new nymphs or adults when you receive them from another breeder. An explanation of why it is more challenging to start with older nymphs (from L4) or adults is that possibly phasmids become adapted in the environmental conditions they are previously kept. Transferring to a new home can lead to problems to acclimate to a new environment. It seems that newly hatched nymphs can better cope with such a change in the environment. Also, when sending with parcel shipment can pretty stressful, especially when you realize how some post offices treat the parcels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this reason, I highly recommend to start or renew your group with eggs. Eggs can endure and cope better in changing environmental conditions. Another major benefit is that eggs don’t spread diseases easily. Diseases inflicted by viruses, bacteria and fungi are often spread by phasmids and not by their eggs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, for many species, you don’t even need a male to breed. The nymphs are born from parthenogenic females that lay fertile eggs. However, the nymphs that are born from these eggs are often weaker. Also, the eggs seem to need much more time (up to twice the time!) to hatch than fertilized eggs do. So although this strategy may work, it has its downsides. And let’s be honest, it is also really fascinating to see the mating behaviour of stick insects. Once the male and female have mated, a female does not have to mate again to produce fertile eggs. She will remain to lay fertile eggs during the rest of her life. Although matings may still occur, they are not necessary and not harmful to the female. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Have you read the page on the general care of phasmids already?<\/strong><\/strong>

I highly recommend to first read the page on the general care of stick insects and leaf insects<\/a> before reading further about how to breed with phasmids.<\/div>