Study on the Hatching Characteristics and Diet of Stick Insect, Baculum elongatum (Phasmida : Phasmatidae) for Artificial Mass Rearing

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Baculum elongatum has a long, thin shape that resembles a twig, propagates by parthenogenesis, changes body color, and drops eggs, all of which suggests its potential in the commercial market, especially as an educational pet insect. This study was carried out to determine the best hatching environment and an alternative or artificial diet for rearing B. elongatum to be developed as a commercial and educational pet insect. Oviposition was performed by females without fertilization by the sperm of males. The oviposition period was 42.2 ± 22.7 days and the number of eggs per female was 109.5 ± 70.5 eggs. The hatch rate was 73.3% at 25°C and 66.7% after low temperature treatment (8°C for 60 days). In nature, B. elongatum overwinters as an egg, but it can be assumed from the results that cold temperatures were not required for hatching. The hatch rate was 98.2% in the treatment using floral foam, fermented sawdust, and leaves. Clover(Trifolium repens) was an excellent diet as it was similar to the host plant and could be used as an alternative diet. The rate of reaching adulthood for the insects was 66.7% on an artificial diet containing 25% acacia leaves. For sustainable mass rearing of nymphs or adults of B. elongatum, a natural diet could be used such as acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia), white oak (Quercus aliena), chestnut (Castanea crenata var. dulcis), and bush clover (Lespedeza bicolor), or an alternative diet such as clover or artificial diet. To rear nymphs and adults of B. elongatum, natural diet such as acacia, white oak, chestnut, or bush clover leaves, or an alternative diet such as clover or an artificial diet can be used.