I am sorry if this is a common topic. I have managed to use the search function for such topics as diapause, freezing, and various care issues. But this specific one, I am unclear how to search for and have not turned up any useful hits.
The core question, is it possible to stagger ootheca hatchings from the same generation to the point where you will be able to have adults or large late instars most of the time.
For the purpose of this discussion, and because I don't know better or more accepted terms I would like to define as follows;
1 generation per year, and the various hatching when staggered would great sub-generations.
It is likely, though not strictly impossible, that adults from various sub-generations won't over lap enough to mate.
But if each sub generation reproduced on it's own, then that would create the needed stability for each sub generation to produce adults at different times per year.
The general idea is that when the adults of one sub generation die off the next oldest subgen is old enough to be at or near adult stage.
It of course looks possible. Is this what is normally done in the trade? I'm not looking to open a business, just looking to sustain adults for display.
We will ignore for the moment the vast amount of extra nymphs this would create, and the issue that once they are off the natural cycle it would be hard to release some of the sub generations to the wild (in the winter for example).
Can this be managed with 2 sub generations, or would it have to be 4, or more?
My concern is that 2 hatchings and 2 breeding cycles per year is already a decent amount of work, and pushing up from that sounds unmanageable.
On the plus side, extra Oothecas could be refrigerated and released to their own abilities in the wild.
The core question, is it possible to stagger ootheca hatchings from the same generation to the point where you will be able to have adults or large late instars most of the time.
For the purpose of this discussion, and because I don't know better or more accepted terms I would like to define as follows;
1 generation per year, and the various hatching when staggered would great sub-generations.
It is likely, though not strictly impossible, that adults from various sub-generations won't over lap enough to mate.
But if each sub generation reproduced on it's own, then that would create the needed stability for each sub generation to produce adults at different times per year.
The general idea is that when the adults of one sub generation die off the next oldest subgen is old enough to be at or near adult stage.
It of course looks possible. Is this what is normally done in the trade? I'm not looking to open a business, just looking to sustain adults for display.
We will ignore for the moment the vast amount of extra nymphs this would create, and the issue that once they are off the natural cycle it would be hard to release some of the sub generations to the wild (in the winter for example).
Can this be managed with 2 sub generations, or would it have to be 4, or more?
My concern is that 2 hatchings and 2 breeding cycles per year is already a decent amount of work, and pushing up from that sounds unmanageable.
On the plus side, extra Oothecas could be refrigerated and released to their own abilities in the wild.
