11/13/2021: Belated Hemithyrsocera vittata news

Those who’ve been tuning into the livestream may already have heard this, but I wanted to do a larger formal announce since this means a lot to me: at long last, I have Hemithyrsocera vittata nymphs!

This is a species I’ve failed with twice before, but to finally get a good batch of nymphs while the previous generation is still alive and kicking is an excellent sign that I’ve figured out the husbandry.

While trying to get a picture for the blog I realized it was nigh impossible at the moment. For at least the first instar, striped sun roach nymphs are ant mimics and they’ve got it down to an art and a science. Not only do they carry their abdomen like an ant, they’re also jittery and active like many foraging ants are too! When I have some time and even more babies pop up I’ll probably painstakingly pull some to a container that will let me get some pics or maybe even… a video?

With all the blood, sweat, and tears I’ve put into making sure this colony thrives, I’m excited about their potential as a very popular roach species. Even if they require a larger set-up investment than other species, they’re definitely worth it considering their exceptionally unique morphology changes, behavior, and sheer color. Keep an eye out for their availability here soon!

-Kyle