Graeffea crouanii "Suva-Pacific Harbour"

(by Bruno Kneubuehler)

General Informations

• provenience: this is a mixed culture from two different locations on Viti-Levu (Fiji): 1) Suva 2) Pacific Harbour
• F1 CB culture in 2015 by Thierry Heitzmann (PH)
• further taxonomical informations ➤ Phasmida Species Files
• this is a pure culture, and serious breeders are requested to avoid mixing this culture with similar populations from a different provenience. When spreading this culture to other breeders, then always use the full name with provenience
• this culture has the number CLP 513 (Online Phasma Culture List)
• Graeffea crouanii is a well-known pest species, and could have been spread over a number of pacific islands via palm seedlings
• most eggs float on water, thus this species might have been distributed by sea currents to pacific islands which are far apart
• although a DNA comparison is needed to find out, whether the C. crouanii populations from all these different pacific islands are (still) the same species

Females

• quite sturdy, medium sized phasmids
• body length 10.5 - 11 cm
• females coloration can vary, some are green while others are brown
• CB females mostly brown
• females in the wild are in almost equal numbers green or brown
• small wings
• membranous part of hindwings bright red

Males

• slender phasmids
• body length 7 cm
• all CB males were brown
• in the wild few males are green

Nymphs

• freshly hatched nymphs are green
• 23 mm
• most nyphs turn brown after a short time, only few remain brown
• on how to distinguish between male and female nymphs

Eggs

• 7.5 x 3 mm
• brown, matt
• rutted suface
• most eggs float on water

Food Plants

• coconut palm (Cocos nucifera)
  natural food plant
• windmill palm (Trachycarpus forunei)
  well accepted by nymphs and adults
• Pandanus
  natural food plant
   
• fishtail palm (Caryota)
  just reluctantly accepted, and they do not thrive on this plant
• golden cane palm (Dypsis lutensis)
  is not accepted

Breeding, Behaviour

• easy to breed
• active mainly during the night
• they feign death when touched
• a defensive spray has not been observed
• eggs just drop to the ground
• about 8 - 12 eggs per female and week
• incubation (Cup-Incubation-method, on medium damp vermiculite) about 2.5 - 3 months at 20 - 24 °C
• eggs can be covered by vermiculite (about 5 mm high), which makes it easier for the nymphs to hatch without getting stuck in the eggs shell
• eggs of this species are not prone to get mouldy
• nymphs hatch during the night
• it is quite common in phasmids that nymphs hatch weeks after the first nymphs - from the same batch of eggs
• a humidity of about 65 - 75 % rH seems to be good enough for nymphs and adults
• spray them regularly (3 - 4 times a week) with chlorine-free water, but allow the water to dry up before spraying again
• small nymphs can be kept in a Faunabox (or a similar cage), which shall not be too small
• provide a cage of about 30 x 30 x 30 (cm, L x B x H) for 3 - 4 adult couples
• males will be adult after 3 months (at 20 - 24°C), females after 3.5 months

Basics of phasmids breeding

• keep only one species per cage, overpopulation is one of the main reasons for breeding failures
• keep nymphs seperate from the adults, mainly to protect them during the crucial moulting phases
• choose the cage big enough. When in doubt, too big is (usually) better than too small
• a ventilator often supports good breeding results, as it seems to increase activity and feeding
• provide enough light, but avoid direct sunlight (overheating)
• try to keep day time temperatures below 25°C
• a nocturnal fall of temperature is natural, and thus advantageous
• do not spray too much, phasmids are no fish ! Allow the water to dry up before you spray again
• minimize disturbances (loud music, commotions, light at or during the night, opening up cages in the morning [often a moulting phase] ect.)