Hymenopus coronatus

[Debbie]

Our orchid female molted into an L7 today and she looks amazing.
It keeps surprising us how much bigger they are after a molt.

 

[Hannibal]

:yikes:.....let me pick my jaw up off the computer. WOW, she's absolutely stunning! What a beauty you have there Deb.

 

[jpmarcel]

Love it!

 

[chazaliae]

I have never seen this species before, so glad I looked at this thread now The shade of pink is so pretty. Does the shade change/fade/intensify with growth?

 

[Debbie]

When adult they aren't very pink anymore.
The male just molted into adult today.

 

[chazaliae]

Thanks so much for the updated pic. It's great to see the transformation. He really is a stunner

 

[Sybet]

Those are amazing :O

 

[PassPort]

do the females of this species cannibalize the males after mating?

 

[Debbie]

Thanks!
They even eat them during breeding

 

[PassPort]

Poor guy! Do you plan on breeding them? I'm pretty sure the females die as well after egg deposition, right?

What's the maximum life span if not bred/eaten?

 

[Debbie]

If not eaten they can get between 1 and 1,5 years old.
The female will be ready to breed about 3 weeks after her last molt.
She should be able to lay a few ooths before she died.
We would like to breed them.

 

[PassPort]

So do you need a new male for each egg laying?

 

[Debbie]

They can produce more than one ooth after only 1 succesfull mating. But to get a succesfull mating is hard with this species. The females are very agressive. If you try to pair them up for mating and the female ends up killing the male before they connected, you might have a hard time finding another male. It's always better to have a few male. Unfortunatly we only have 1 male.

 

[PassPort]

well good luck - for you and the male!

 

[Debbie]

The female molted into an adult yesterday. we made a quick picture with our mobile. more pictures will follow soon.

 

[Hannibal]

Love her... so pretty, yet so deadly to her prey and possible mates.

 

[Sybet]

Heey, I know that picture. The gex files=Debbie?? Nice picture bu the way

 

[Debbie]

Thanks both!

@Sybet:

Yes i'm Debbie from The Gex Files

 

[Debbie]