Biology of Heteronemia mexicana Gray, 1835 (Phasmatodea, Diapheromeridae), an species with explosive reproduction, associated to pine forest

Abstract

The rear of Heteronemia mexicana Gray in laboratory conditions has provided the following results: a) females produced an average of 480 eggs each (N = 10), b) only 31,4% of these eggs has succeeded in beeing born. c) the ninfs that rised up reached the first moulting on an average of 1,7%, but then only a 1,3% of them arrived to the imago state. Males height reached 8,7 cm on average, while females reached 10,6 cm, though all of the individuals measured 10 mm at birth, after the first moulting they double their height; this is the largest growing in the whole postembryonic cycle. The largest mortality rate (about 98%) has occurred at the state just before the first moulting, the following postembryonic states having an average of 0,4%. d) sexual rate got to be 19 males to 7 females (1:2). e) the whole development period has taken 114 days, divided in 7 moultings in the case of males and almost all the females. Yet, several females has shown a longer development, 144,2 days on average, and an eighth moulting. f) males adult life is 59,1% shorter than females. It lasted an average of 47,3 days while females live 80 days. g) the egg-laying period (65,1 days) lasts more than twice the time than the previous state (17,6 days). h) life cycle lasted 171,1 days in males case, and 215 in females.