Genus
Species
Stock
CLP
513
Culture status
Probably lost
Foodplants
Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera)
Trachycarpus fortunei
Pandanus spp.
Fishtail palm (Caryota)
Breeding notes
(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.)