Leaf insects nymphs dying

[mantris]

Hi there! I’ve been keeping various stick and leaf insects for 2 years now and my second lot of eggs from spiny leaf insects are now hatching. Unfortunately ALL OF THEM ARE DYING within first 24hrs of hatching. All start strong with being active, but as hours go by, they slow down, lose their limbs and eventually die. I tried various leafs for feeding, spraying enclosure gently (fish tank with netted cover for air).
I also moved some to netted enclosure, but still the same outcome. There’s no sign of them eating at all, despite me offering various kind of leafs (gumtree, rose, blackberry)
Is this a bad batch, or do I do sth wrong? Bacteria? Disease? I had around 20+ hatching and dying. It’s quite disheartening. Any advise will be appreciated. I have another 50+ eggs, and I would love for them to hatch and survive. Thank you,

[wingedwishes]

I have only some basic experience in this and can offer these thing:

1. Make sure you are not misting with chlorinated tap water.
2. Bacteria/virus can be an issue. I lost a whole batch of Luna Moths because I was slow to clean the bins...
3. If there is a small genetic pool (ie they are inbred) then there can be a terribly die off into third generations.
4. Food source - try some other non listed things is they are available (winter makes it hard for variety in North America). I have used Maple as a last ditch attempt as many things will feed from it. Sometimes I pick leaves from every house plant I have and observe to see if the hatchlings gravitate to one. Try everything - carrot or squash shavings once worked for a walking stick hatchling. I wondered if it could not pierce the other leaves.

Good luck

[kevinkk]

I tried leaf insect ova once a few years ago, some hatched and wouldn't eat, I tried the usual, but nothing worked. My guess is improper
conditions, whatever those might be.
For those of us in the USA, it's an unnatural environment, I want to try again sometime, and probably will invest in an enclosure meant
for tropical frogs and chameleons, like a glass reptarium.

[wingedwishes]

Jan 5, 2021 11:33:53 GMT -8 kevinkk said:

I tried leaf insect ova once a few years ago, some hatched and wouldn't eat, I tried the usual, but nothing worked. My guess is improper
conditions, whatever those might be.
For those of us in the USA, it's an unnatural environment, I want to try again sometime, and probably will invest in an enclosure meant
for tropical frogs and chameleons, like a glass reptarium.

Humid and warm. I use a fish tank heater in a water filled mason jar with window screen rubber banded over it to prevent drowning.

[wingedwishes]

Hatchlings often have trouble eating mature leaves. Try tearing them so they can get to the vtender layers.