PHYLLIUM ERICORIAI N.SP.

My second Phylliun discovery after PSG278 I found 10 years ago in Ilanin forest. This one I found in the same location as the previous species (orthomeria sp). Nearly going back home and close to the parked car, took a last check on a cut guava tree that was growing again from the soil in a mess of mixed plants and climbers > lifted a small branch and there they were, 5 small nymphs underneath those leaves protecting themselves from the rain !!!! I was just stunned and could'nt believe it !!! Same species was already found in the island of Marinduque, south-Luzon, only a few months before I found those....!

ORTHOMERIA SP (Pandora?)

Here yet another fantastic species I found a few weeks ago in Real / Quezon province, East-Luzon. Small species, male 40/50mm - female 70/80mm, male is a very good flyer and can fly for quite a long distance ! The "thing" with that species is its extreme attitude > highly nervous, almost epilleptic, drops on the floor and run/thumbles franticly !!!! It takes some habitude to be able to handle them without having a nervous breakdown :)) Pictures 2 and 3 are the nymphs stages of the male, quite extraordinary how each stage looks sooo different for the previous one, isn't it ? According to Bruno (kneubuhler) that had a one time breeding try of that genus, they accepted Pyracantha as foodplant in Europe.

NECROSCIINAE SP "Tapulao 1"

Another species of that beautiful genus I collected last end of January on the foot of Mount-Tapulao / Zambales province, West-Luzon. Collected a single specimen then, a female that was a subadult (unfortunately). She moulted to adulthood a couple of weeks later and lived pretty long feeding on guava (psidium gujava). Of course eggs laid were sterile and I lost the culture of that species too [for the moment till my next trip to Mt-Tapulao....:) ]

NECROSCIINAE SP. "Cristobal"

Rare species I collected end of November 2008, midway up to Mount-Cristobal / Laguna (sister mountain of Mt-Banahaw). Despite having accepted Guanabano (annona muricata) as foodplant here in Manila, the only couple I had then died quickly within a week, the 20 eggs laid then never hatched !!!!

TISAMENUS SP. (clotho?)

Probably the most beautiful of the 3 species I found so far ! Found it in 2 different locations, 1st in the Sierra Madre mountains on the way to Real / Quezon province, East Luzon and also in Real itself. Have still today 3 females in culture, feeding on guava and avocado, laying few eggs 1 or 2 a week only.

TISAMENUS SP. (fratercula?)

Beautiful species, small size, I found in the middle of the Quezon National Park (QNP), Atimonan, Quezon province, South-East Luzon, last end of November 2008 ! She died only a couple of weeks in captivity having laid only very few eggs, which have not at this day emerged ! like the previous species she was feeding on guava.

TISAMENUS SP "Baras"

Small species I caught in Baras / Rizal province only 51 km from Metro Manila, In a tiny saved forest heaven, last end of august 2008 ! kept her alive for a very long time, 8 months as she died last march 2009. She laid many eggs but unfortunately to this day nothing emerged from !
She was easily feeding on Guava. Very slow moving phasmid, looking like a relique from ancient times isn't it ?

UPDATE #2

After further checkings, species formerly Sosibia morio? and Sosibia sp"Ilanin" changed names and are now respectively : Asystata sp "QNP" and Asystata sp "Ilanin". All former eggs buyers please take note of the changes. Thank you.

UPDATE #1

UPDATES > an additional posting to update some previous posts with missing pictures at that precise time of a male / female species, eggs, variations.......
Today 2 pictures :
The first one of the adult male of the species Asceles scabra which at the time was not featured as only the adult female was collected. Cultured the said species and produced many pairs :))
The second one of a variation of the species Mnesilochus capreolus?, a beautiful female with a few nicely placed white spots.......Very nice camouflage isn't it ?

ASYSTATA SP "ILANIN"

Very nice species I found a few weeks ago on the West coast of Luzon, Bataan Province. Easy breeding here on guava (Psidium gujava).

MITHRENES SP "Real"

Quite large species that varies from a nice olive green colour to dark brown in some individuals. Found it in several locations, confined to the East Luzon Pacific coast. Here in Manila the species accepts African tulip tree as foodplant.

NECROSCIINAE SP "QNP"

Very beautifull species isn't it ? and pretty rare too !!! Very active males and females too, both sexes flying very well and "spraying" a strong repelant odor. I breed them on Annona muricata (annonaceae) they accepted immediately as a substitute plant. Found them deep in the forest on an unidentified climber plant and quite high on it about 2 to 2,50m (7 to 8ft) which is "unusual" for most Phasmids. I suppose those "winged" species due to their flying capabilities venture higher in the trees and bigger shrubs.
And their eggs, amazing shape, almost paper thin, have to be kept in a humid environement all the time. Just astonishing how anything can emerge from that kind of egg, but it does and quite big size even !!!!!

EUBULIDES ALUTACEUS

Another beautiful species from the Obrimini family. Found those in several places but always in very wet terrain, even swampy, where the foodplant grows ! Female has a very developped and strong ovipositor. Nymphs very variable in colors and difficult to imagine those becoming those adults as they look very far appart...:)

Pictures of Sites # 6

Tayabas > Quezon Province ---> South-East Luzon
# First picture shows landscape arround us on our way going more inside the hills side.
# Second picture shows our "targeted hill" in the background.
# third picture : Trail start.
# Fourth/Fifth and sixth pictures shows a "resting plaza" we found perfect for us to start our collecting night, about 1km or so inside the lower part of the said hill side. Approximate altitude at 500/550 m asl, approximate air temperature 24/25 degrees centigrade. Sky pristine, no clouds in sight and almost no wind at all.
Beautiful place we visited yesterday March 24th, 4 hours of collecting from 7pm (19:00) to 11pm (23:00). Just a few minutes in collecting and already signs of many phasmids activity in the area, a couple of minutes later already a couple of Asceles males, several mithrenes species in various stages. Going back to the main trail, collecting left and right sides of the tiny trail, beautiful stenobrimus bolivari, Eubulides sp, some Necrosia sp (muna??), clitumnus nematodes, sosibias and countless Rhamphosipyloidea philippa.....!
We had a wonderfull time on a perfect night ----> definitively a place to go back again and again and again ..... :))

ASYSTATA SP "QNP"

Beautiful species from Quezon National park (yet again !), I caught last end of November 2008, so toward the end of the raining season, nice black with 2 small white spots ! Next generation, now in early summer and surprise ---> color changed to grey and more widespread white patches, beautiful as well....! Species is feeding here on Annonaceae (Annona muricata) and accept Hypericum in Europe (cf. Joachim Bresseel / Belgium)