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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Christian" data-source="post: 17341" data-attributes="member: 62">Hi.The horn or crest found on the head is present in almost all Vatini to a more or less extent. Sometimes there are just two teeth, other species have a bilobate horn, which may even vary considerably among specimens.It should have a cryptic function, at least, that is the primary function of such appendages in other species. The cryptic function may be found in dissolving the typical "insect shape".Regarding the breeding of those, they seem to be rather complicated. We had Vates weyrauchi for some generations, I had a single female of Vates amazonica which did not lay any ooths, and currently we try to breed Phyllovates tripunctata (a species looking similar to Pseudovates arizonae, but without lobes and with two teeth instead of a horn). I had two fertilized females, which laid several ooths, but just one hatched, producing 13 larvae, of which I managed to grow 12. They are not adult yet, but I fear this may well be the last attempt. There is a good chance that the laid ooths will not hatch, but hey, you never know...Some collegues had Zoolea gigas some 10 years ago, a breathtaking fabulous species, but, again, managed to raise just one generation.There seems to be a trick with these fellows which still has to be cracked.There is also one member of Phyllovates in the US, a rather rare species called Ph. chlorophaea, found in SE Texas.Regards,Christian</blockquote>