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Phasmid food 

Phasmids are Phytophagous that is 'only eat plants', they are herbivores, eating a variety of trees and shrubs. When I first received my pair NPWS has arranged to have a supply of plants available to me which were initially housed and looked after by the Australian Botanic Gardens (Mt Annan).

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As we had no knowledge of which plant(s) would provide this species with the best nutritional value it was believed that the Lord Howe Island melaleuca (Melaleuca howeana) was the perfired species. other food plants that were tried included; 

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  • Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla)

  • Tree Lucerne (Chamaecytisus prolifer)

  • Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)

  • Sandalwood (Hibiscus tiliaceus)

  • Queensland Poplar or Dogwood (Omalanthus populifolius)

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In my breeding of this species when M. howeana was unavailable or limited, I feed specimens on tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), kunzea (Kunzea ambigua) and scribbly gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma) with various results.

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