Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:57 pm Post subject: Macleays Spectre's have grown!

A few shots of females first then a couple of the male. They have grown really quickly! Their legs are a bit delicate and tend to fall off! Thye grow back though a bit each time after a shed. The males can fly but not very far.
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Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:58 pm Post subject:

,,,,,,
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Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 2:00 pm Post subject:

Last one
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keiron · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:35 pm Post subject:

looking good mate the males are definitly mature just got to wait for the females now!

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:07 pm Post subject:

Yeah the females always keep us males waiting! Wink

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cass · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:28 pm Post subject:

looking good mate well done Very Happy

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Rickeezee · Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:17 am Post subject:

Hopefully a few eggs soonish then, then a 9 month wait Confused

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Peter Parrot · Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:44 pm Post subject:

How are they doing Rick? Mine are all huge now too. Last night, I was watching a DVD, "Life in the Undergrowth". There was what looked like either the same species or one identical too it featured.

The females were flicking their eggs away, which landed on the floor. The eggs looked nearly indistinguishable from seed pods, and were collected by ants which mistook them as such. They were then carried down to the ant`s nest chamber where they incubate safely.

Through trickery with pheramones, the eggs are left alone then to hatch whilst the seeds are eaten. The whole time whilst incubating, protected by the ants. Here`s a bit you won`t like, depending on the weather, anything from 9 months to THREE YEARS later Shocked

the eggs hatch. On hatching , the nymphs look, smell, and even move like ants. They actually RUN out of the ant`s chamber and up the nearest tree. This is the only stage in their life that they move like this! Then they begin their leisurely life of an adult, munching on leaves.

I found this fascinating. If they weren`t Mcleays, then they were identical too them!
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Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 4:37 pm Post subject:

Yep mine are huge to now Pete. I think the ones u saw on the DVD are the same, I have heard this before. Yes the Macleays eggs do look like seed pods with a small lighter coloured cap at one end.

If kept at approx 75/80f in a plastic tub with a small piece of moist tissue they usually hatch within the 9 month period, yes I have been warned that they run like mad when first hatched. The adult female also shoots her eggs around everywhere apparently quite violently.

The chemical signalling is very clever, con the ants and get a free incubator! Laughing

Once again mother nature shows us how truly amazing it really is!

There is a type of moth (forget its name) that gives of the same chemicals as some form of wasp, the wasps closely guard the nest to prevent intrusion. The moth flies in they let it pass, it lays its eggs in the hive and the wasps raise the larvae, the moth when ready flies off! Clever stuff!
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-Oli-H- · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:54 pm Post subject:

Great Pics . Very nice Stick Insect species .

Eggs if fertilized can take as little as 6 months to hatch too . Wink

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