Cubaris sp. 'Bumblebee' Isopods

Nothing else in the genus wears wasp colours. The Bumblebee is a premium Thai Cubaris banded in bold honey-yellow and black, the classic warning pattern of a bee, which makes it one of the most instantly recognisable and photogenic isopods you can keep. Whether that palette does anything protective in the wild is anyone's guess, but on a shelf it is unmistakable. Every colony we send is captive-bred here in the UK.

Introduction

This is Cubaris sp. 'Bumblebee', a striking banded species from the warm forests of Thailand. It sits in the premium tier of the genus alongside the iconic Rubber Ducky, the bold Panda King and the coffee-toned Cappuccino, and earns its place on the strength of that bee-striped look. Usefully for a premium Cubaris, it is also a touch more active and visible than the famously reclusive Rubber Ducky.

Appearance

A medium Cubaris at around 10 to 18 mm, banded honey-yellow and black across the rounded, segmented body, sharp and warm-toned against dark substrate. The banding firms up as juveniles mature, and intensity varies a little animal to animal. Like the rest of the genus it conglobates into a tight ball when disturbed, the striped body still on show even curled.

Care

The Bumblebee is a medium-difficulty tropical Cubaris and the rule that protects it is moist but not wet. Keep warmth at 18 to 26°C, mid-range and stable, and humidity around 70 to 80% on a gradient, one damp side with sphagnum and light misting, the rest drier with leaf litter and airflow, aiming for substrate like a wrung-out sponge. Like the other premium Cubaris it is sensitive to overwetting, which brings moulting failures and sudden losses, so err drier and lift the ventilation when unsure. Build a deep substrate on organic topsoil, flake soil and white-rotted wood rather than coco coir, with crushed limestone through it for constant calcium, and give plenty of cork and leaf cover so the colony settles. Our complete Cubaris care guide has the detail.

Diet and breeding

An unfussy detritivore: leaf litter and decaying white wood as the base, small amounts of vegetable and the occasional soft fruit, regular protein such as fish flake or dried shrimp, and a permanent calcium source for clean moults. Breeding is steady rather than explosive, building reliably once a colony has settled into stable, warm, humid-not-wet conditions, with young released fully formed and colouring up as they moult. A larger starter group settles faster; a springtail culture keeps mould down around the food.

Who is this for?

The Bumblebee suits the keeper with a little Cubaris experience who wants a bold, distinctive display species, and the collector rounding out a premium Thai shelf. It is more visible than most of its tier, which makes it a rewarding one to actually watch. It is not a first isopod and it punishes over-watering, so learn on the hardy Cubaris murina first and step up once you can hold conditions steady.

All stock is captive-bred here in the UK and travels under our live arrival guarantee, in a ventilated deli tub with damp sphagnum inside a double-walled box. We post Monday to Thursday by Royal Mail next day before 1pm, with a 20% overcount in every order. Setup kit is in our accessories range.