Anallacta methanoides

Housing:

A tall enclosure is preferable, height seems to be more important than width, as this is a climbing species. Something like a gallon jar will work for a starter culture, they may need to be moved to something much larger after a generation or two though, they are very prolific if kept correctly. An airtight lid is a must, as the nymphs are quite small, and this species is an excellent climber at all life stages.

A thin layer of coconut fiber works well as the substrate, and a layer of leaf litter on top of that adds some nice hiding places for smaller nymphs. Plenty of hides should be provided in the form of vertically slanted bark slabs, toilet paper rolls, sturdy leaf litter, etc.

This species appreciates high humidity, and seems to accept a wide range of ventilation levels. If kept on the drier side, most keepers experience high nymph and oothecae die offs, as it's very easy to let them get too dry and desiccate. They can be slightly territorial, so you should provide them with as much surface area as possible.


Diet:

Apple slices seem to be a favorite, followed by several other fruits and then dog/cat/chick food. They aren't very picky.


Temperature:

75-85F° seems to be optimal for breeding and rapid growth, but the oothecae will still hatch at around 72F°.


Breeding/Life cycle:

Adults live for around 4-5 months, with females living a bit longer than males. The females lay long, sausage shaped oothecae once every week or two, and glue them onto bark and dead leaves. The ooths take around 2 months to hatch, and usually contain about a dozen nymphs. The nymphs reach maturity in 4-5 months, depending upon temperature. If kept sufficiently warm and humid, they can be very prolific, and could possibly be used as occasional feeders.