Parthenogenetic repro in Australian Prickly Walking Sticks

[ecryan]

HI,
I have been parthenogenetically reproducing APWS for many years at my institution. We have not had males in probably 8-10 years. Does any one know how long these ladies can go on reproducing this way. I feel every year I get a few less hatchlings and it take longer and longer for them each spring to hatch out. I seem to remember an article I came across a long time ago that stated they can only reproduce this way for so long.
thanks!

 

[goliathusdavid]

Hello! I am not sure I can be super helpful, as I don't know anyone else breeding this species exclusively parthenogenetically. I know many institutions that have been able to keep other phasmid species for decades this way, but I don't know about Extatosoma tiaratum. Mainly just wanted to respond to this to say that I'm glad to see another person on the boards working with phasmids at an institution! Gonna call in someone else who may be of more assistance, @MasterOogway any ideas on this?

 

[ecryan]

Hello! I am not sure I can be super helpful, as I don't know anyone else breeding this species exclusively parthenogenetically. I know many institutions that have been able to keep other phasmid species for decades this way, but I don't know about Extatosoma tiaratum. Mainly just wanted to respond to this to say that I'm glad to see another person on the boards working with phasmids at an institution! Gonna call in someone else who may be of more assistance, @MasterOogway any ideas on this?

Thanks anyway! So little info on this species. Any info would be great.

 

[MasterOogway]

I've had some reproduce parthenogenetically, but we always have males on hand. I know the local science museum here only keeps females and had been doing that for several years. Insects are relatively tolerant of 'inbreeding' (not really what's happening here, but no genetic flow is a similar situation); some phasmid species reproduce exclusively through parthenogenesis, with virtually no males present at all. At least that we know of. Given a choice though, I'd always rather have males present and have a mixing of genes in every generation, but you should be fine for several years through parthenogenesis at least, if not longer. I'll try and dig through the literature to see what kind of effects long term reproduction through this method has on a group, not sure if there's much out there though.

 

[Dry Desert]

Thanks anyway! So little info on this species. Any info would be great.

In Europe where Phasmids are widely kept, the only species that only have females available are the Giant Leaf insect.Phyllium gigantium. I believe that the common "lab" stick the Indian, can produce either way, but generally it's not common practice to attempt with other species as there are always plenty of males available of all species, apart from the Giant Leaf as there have been no records of any males in captivity ever.

 

[goliathusdavid]

In Europe where Phasmids are widely kept, the only species that only have females available are the Giant Leaf insect.Phyllium gigantium. I believe that the common "lab" stick the Indian, can produce either way, but generally it's not common practice to attempt with other species as there are always plenty of males available of all species, apart from the Giant Leaf as there have been no records of any males in captivity ever.

Interestingly enough a male Phyllium giganteum just popped up in an all female parthenogenetic containment facility here in the US. Fascinating case, see here. Thanks to @The Mantis Menagerie for putting this on my radar.

Also @ecryan , I forgot to note earlier that if you are definitively seeing lower hatch rates and longer incubation, it should not be too difficult to find males that could be introduced to the colony. I don't know if you are AZA, but if you PMed me with the name of your organization I am sure I could find a legal and ethical source for you. I know a few great places that even deal with non-AZA facilities, provided you are in compliance with APHIS regulations.