ecology of phasmids - KLUEDO - Universität Kaiserslautern

Introduction 7
Precipitation [mm]
500
400
300
200
100
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Month
2000 2001 1929-2001
Figure 1-3: Precipitation on Barro Colorado Island in the years 2000 and 2001 compared to the long-term average
(1929 to 2001; source Paton 2002).
1.3.2 Maintenance of phasmid species in the laboratory
The phasmids used for setting up lab colonies were collected by hand in a haphazard way during
specific night walks in forest parts and clearings other than that used for line-transects. Field collections
were made during a cumulative period from July 1999 to December 2001. Lab populations of
Metriophasma diocles WESTWOOD, Bacteria ploiaria (WESTWOOD) and Otocrania sp. could be
established permanently, while nymphs of Oncotophasma martini (GRIFFINI) could be reared from
eggs but no females grew to maturity. Consequently the population collapsed in April 2000 and was
given up, as it could not be provided with sufficient animals from field collections. Phasmid species
were maintained in cages (1 m height, 0.5 m depth, 0.5 m width, covered with mosquito net) in screened
and shaded rooms. Cages were sprayed with fresh water daily and provided with edible plants
periodically. Eggs were collected weekly when cages were cleaned.
1.3.3 Identification of phasmid and plant species
Phasmid species were identified in cooperation with the taxonomist Sven Bradler at University of
Göttingen, Germany. Vouchers were deposited at the STRI insect collection in Panama City, Republic
of Panamá. Plant species were identified with the help of Croat’s Flora of BCI (Croat 1978) and verified
by Rolando Pérez, Andrés Hernández and Salomón Aguilar who work as field botanists for the Center
for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS). Plant Vouchers were deposited at the herbarium of BCI, Republic
of Panamá.