Black Beauty Stick Insect (Peruphasma schultei)

Black Beauty Stick Insect Peruphasma schultei
Name	Black Beauty Stick Insect
Name Lat.	Peruphasma schultei
Family	Striped Walkingsticks
Family lat.	Pseudophasmatidae
Order	Phasmids
Order lat.	Phasmatodea
Origin	Peru
Habitat	Tropical forest
Diet	Privet, lilac leaves
Humidity	40-60 %
Behavior	Nocturnal, peaceful
Keeping	Pair, group
Care Level	Easy
Housing	Semi-humid terrarium
Breeding	Simple
Life Span	1-2 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	4-7 cm
Temperature Day	20-26 °C
Temperature Night	18-20 °C
Housing Size	30 x 30 x 50 cm
US Units
Size	1.6"-2.8"
Temperature Day	68-79 °F
Temperature Night	64-68 °F
Housing Size	10" x 10" x 20"

Distribution and habitat

The nocturnal velvet grasshopper is found exclusively (endemically) in the Cordillera del Condor, a small-scale mountainous area in northern Peru, where it lives primarily in the branches of the evergreen Peruvian pepper tree at altitudes of about 1200 to 1800 m.

Maintenance

We recommend an insectarium of at least 30 x 30 x 50 cm (L x W x H) for a small group (2-3 pairs), which should be placed in a quiet place without sunlight.

The most suitable is an insectarium with a cover made of gauze or a fine metal grid, which should be placed in a quiet, place without sunlight.

They need climbing facilities, such as cork backs, twigs and branches, which also serve as food plants. To keep them fresh longer, they should be served in narrow-necked, well-sealed (danger of drowning), stable containers (e.g. vase). Furthermore, a small, shallow drinking vessel with water gel or a cotton trough. Suitable substrate is terrarium humus or a soil-sand mixture covered with moss, which should always be kept slightly moist. Several times a week, preferably in the evening, the inside of the insectarium should be finely sprayed with water (humidity), but a rain or mist system is better. Too high humidity and waterlogging should be avoided at all costs. Good ventilation is especially important

Temp. day: 20-26°C

Temp. night: 18-20 °C

Humidity: 40-60

The lighting duration should be 10-12 hrs. Light sources that also produce the necessary heat are ideal.

Diet

In the wild, they feed primarily on the foliage of the Peruvian pepper tree (Schinus molle)

The food supply consists of fresh leaves of privet, lilac, forsythia, etc. Cherry laurel, ivy and ash are also accepted with individual variation. Evergreen plants are ideal as food in winter. Eaten branches, dried or spoiled foliage must be removed regularly.

A regular and varied diet promotes the well-being of the animals.

Reproduction and breeding

The females grow slightly larger than the somewhat slimmer males. Both sexes have the same coloration.

After the often long lasting mating the female lays about 3 mm long eggs. At 25-27 °C the approx. 15 mm long nymphs hatch after about 4-5 months. They feed on the same food as the adults. After 3-4 months they are fully grown

After the imaginal molt, females are ready to mate after about 14 days. Females reach an age of up to 2 years, males live only about 9 months.

Important

The velvet cricket was only discovered in northern Peru in 2004.

When threatened, velvet grasshoppers can spray a foul-smelling defensive secretion of stomach acid, which can cause irritation of the mucous membranes.

Before purchasing, a terrarium should be prepared that meets the species specific needs. Necessary is good ventilation without drafts, as well as equipment for measuring temperature and humidity. The lighting has to correspond to the species-specific day-night rhythm and has to be placed in such a way that the animals cannot injure themselves

The terrarium should be locked in such a way that neither unauthorized persons can open it nor the animals can escape. Special attention must be paid to thorough hygiene and impurities must be removed regularly

Further literature can be found in your pet store

References

Text: Serena Werle; Image: petdata

Source: ENGELMANN & LANGE (2011): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Wirbellose, Harri Deutsch Verlag; HENKEL & SCHMIDT (2010): Taschenatlas Wirbellose für das Terrarium, Verlag Ulmer