How to hatch assassin bug (P. biggutatus) eggs?

[Tellorcha]

Hello everyone,

I've posted a few times during my journey to start a White Spot Assassin Bug colony, and I can proudly say that eggs have finally been laid! Like 45 of them, whoa!

Anyways, this is my first time with this species, and I'd like to make sure I'm doing everything right to hatch some eggs. From what I understand, the eggs can be kept on a sand and/or coco fiber substrate, and require misting once or twice a week. Is this accurate? Any other tips I should know to succeed in hatching these little guys?

Side note on the humidity: Many people have suggested misting the White Spots or providing a damp cup for them to lay eggs in, but I've had the most success keeping everything totally dry with mine. While my current adults were still nymphs, I noticed misting them actually slowed their growth. Also, I did provide a small damp cup for egg laying for a month or two, but all the eggs they have laid have been directly in the sand, none in the damp substrate at all. It has made me wonder if humidity is really the way to go with these guys? Anyone else have similar experiences? Point being, do I definitely need to mist the eggs or are they likely to hatch without misting? If they do need humidity, any input on the frequency of misting as to not over or under humidify them?

I also noticed about half of the eggs are a bit shriveled. Does this mean they won't hatch or are they just funky shaped/dehydrated?

Thank you for all your help and input!

 

[Arthroverts]

Eggs typically take several months to hatch from what I've noticed, and they can be kept completely dry, although occasional mistings don't hurt. After those few months, they hatch when misted thoroughly.

Hope this helps,

Arthroverts

 

[MasterOogway]

Eggs IME will not hatch without misting or some humidity. They will lie dormant until you spray them, then in a couple of weeks to a month start hatching if you keep humidity elevated.

 

[Tellorcha]

Eggs typically take several months to hatch from what I've noticed, and they can be kept completely dry, although occasional mistings don't hurt. After those few months, they hatch when misted thoroughly.

Hope this helps,

Arthroverts

This is very helpful, thank you!

 

[Tellorcha]

Eggs IME will not hatch without misting or some humidity. They will lie dormant until you spray them, then in a couple of weeks to a month start hatching if you keep humidity elevated.

Thank you for the input! So far I have given them one misting, so perhaps I'll keep that up a few weeks and see what happens. Good to know they'll lie dormant if I don't spray, I keep finding more eggs every day. Assuming most hatch I won't know what to do with them all haha

 

[MasterOogway]

Thank you for the input! So far I have given them one misting, so perhaps I'll keep that up a few weeks and see what happens. Good to know they'll lie dormant if I don't spray, I keep finding more eggs every day. Assuming most hatch I won't know what to do with them all haha

I honestly cull 90% of my eggs, or I'd be over-run. They're an incredibly prolific species once you have a colony. I've frozen literally thousands of eggs from my colony over the last couple of years.

 

[Tellorcha]

I honestly cull 90% of my eggs, or I'd be over-run. They're an incredibly prolific species once you have a colony. I've frozen literally thousands of eggs from my colony over the last couple of years.

Whoa, yeah I'm getting that vibe from them. They've continued to lay eggs constantly since they started, and I only have 3 adults. Quite impressive! I'm trying to see how many I can get to hatch from these first few batches, but beyond that I will likely start dry storing eggs in a sealed container or something.

 

[me and my Ts]

Hi, so I know this is an old thread but I’ve had eggs for a while and have been misting them and yet the won’t hatch, I’ve tried leaving them in and I’ve also taken some out and put them in a more humid box with springtails and they won’t hatch either, any help is welcome, thanks

 

[Arashimaru]

It can take quite some time for them to hatch, how long have you had them for? Personally I don't mist them, but keep them in a closed box on moist cocopeat, that way they are always humid. Also, I've heard that Platymeris biguttatus females can lay unfertilized eggs, are you sure you have males as well?

 

[me and my Ts]

I have around ten adults, the first one molted out in early July. I started seeing eggs about a month after that. As for having males, idk I mean I assume I do but I don’t know how to check. I have also tried keeping some of the eggs in a closed box with moist coco peat and those have not hatched either.

 

[Arashimaru]

Hmm, not sure what the problem is then. I would say wait some more, maybe something went wrong with the first generation of eggs. At what temperature do you keep them?

Sexing them can be a bit tricky, the abdomen of the males is more rounded and pointy at the end, while that of the females is flatter and somewhat truncated. These are P. rhadamanthus but it should be the same.
Male:

Female: