Sub Family:  Necrosciinae

Foodplant in captivity:  Bramble

Humidity requirements:  Lopaphus caesius appears to be rather fragile, in that my initial attempts to rear nymphs of this species ended in failure.  Some of these deaths were from failed moults (insects getting stuck in the old skin) and I therefore increased the humidity levels of their environment by transferring them to a semi-closed glass tank.  Unfortunately this caused the rest of the insects to develop soft bodies and subsequently die.

I have since acquired a number of sub-adults and adults, and so far have had no losses.  However, I am aware of the existence of some correspondence regarding the humidity requirements of the species, in PSG newsletter number 73.  I shall make an attempt to obtain this paper and in the meanwhile I would appreciate any advice on this species, please!    sally@microcosmos.org.uk

Comment:  In my opinion, Lopaphus caesius adult males are one of the most beautiful phasmids in captivity.  At approximately 8 - 9 cm in length (with an additional 9 cm of antennae length), these winged insects have an attractive copper-coloured body and a dark turquoise-coloured spiny thorax.  In books I have seen photographs of other members of the Necrosciinae, and I am thus well aware that the colour blue does exist in the phasmid order.  However, I am sure that this is one of the only 'blue' phasmids in culture.

The females are a little less stunning.  They are a light-green colour, with fairly thick legs and pale brown/ green-coloured wing cases.  The forewings each have a 2 mm-long black marking, and the thorax is rather knobbly/ spiny.

I do not know whether or not this species is capable of flight, though I wouldn't be surprised if the male could flutter for some distance, judging by the length of his hindwings.