I recently was given the opportunity to work with Rochaina yet again! This time, an ootheca of R.bilunata (formerly a Paratropes species) from Costa Rica.
The last time I had a Rochaina ooth (of R.peruana specifically) I failed to incubate it successfully. However, not only do I suspect that that ooth was damaged by cold weather in transit to me, but I also think that I was not keeping the air humidity high enough in it's setup, and perhaps kept it too hot as well. I was heating everything with heat cables back then, now I have a space heater and my entire room is kept at a warm ambient temperature. Additionally I have placed this ooth in a setup that I mist daily, so the air humidity is sure to stay high (aiming for 80% RH in it's container).
I have the oothecae in a 16 Oz deli cup with a fabric mesh lid. There is about an inch of coco fiber substrate, kept moist, topped with a few bark pieces. The ooth has been placed on top of one of those bark pieces. This container is inside the center of my current Hemithyrsocera vittata enclosure, which is well ventilated and misted daily. So the air humidity is consistently very high inside the deli cup, however it should still have adequate airflow, and the bark inside is dry to the touch, which is important for oothecae of this genus (they want stupid high air humidity but low surface moisture). The whole setup is kept at around 80-85F°.
Fingers crossed I'll succeed in incubating Rochaina this time.
Then comes another hurdle, rearing nymphs to adulthood. I know a couple people who've hatched oothecae of this genus, but no one who's reared those nymphs to maturity with success. They seem to be very fragile in their first couple of instars.
The last time I had a Rochaina ooth (of R.peruana specifically) I failed to incubate it successfully. However, not only do I suspect that that ooth was damaged by cold weather in transit to me, but I also think that I was not keeping the air humidity high enough in it's setup, and perhaps kept it too hot as well. I was heating everything with heat cables back then, now I have a space heater and my entire room is kept at a warm ambient temperature. Additionally I have placed this ooth in a setup that I mist daily, so the air humidity is sure to stay high (aiming for 80% RH in it's container).
I have the oothecae in a 16 Oz deli cup with a fabric mesh lid. There is about an inch of coco fiber substrate, kept moist, topped with a few bark pieces. The ooth has been placed on top of one of those bark pieces. This container is inside the center of my current Hemithyrsocera vittata enclosure, which is well ventilated and misted daily. So the air humidity is consistently very high inside the deli cup, however it should still have adequate airflow, and the bark inside is dry to the touch, which is important for oothecae of this genus (they want stupid high air humidity but low surface moisture). The whole setup is kept at around 80-85F°.
Fingers crossed I'll succeed in incubating Rochaina this time.
Then comes another hurdle, rearing nymphs to adulthood. I know a couple people who've hatched oothecae of this genus, but no one who's reared those nymphs to maturity with success. They seem to be very fragile in their first couple of instars.
I will say though, without a thermostat for each, it can be a challenge to control the temp. Speaking of, I'll be posting a thread about the M. blaberoides ooth to get ideas on improving the set up and would love your input.