Feijoa sellowiana (Pineapple Guava) for Phasmids?

[Luna]

Do you think Feijoa sellowiana, or 'Pinapple Guava' would be a good food source for Phasmids such as Heteropteryx dilatata or the Phylliums?

I ask this because I would like to increase my culture in the far future to include some of the said species and I understand that Guava is a preffered source of food so I would like to begin cultivating some. I have a vast supply of wild Bramble living all year round near where I live and even some in my garden, but like with Extatosoma Tiaratum I prefer to feed them Eucalyptus in order to help ensure their strengh and longevity.

My only problem is that I live in the North of England which is prone to cold winters, which is not ideal for a tropical plant like Guava, so I need a species which is hardy and able to survive winters which can get a bit chilli - and I understand that Pinapple Guava is regarded as one of the more stern plants in that respect which can survive at temperatures as low as -5 degrees c.

I've never actually read of this species being used for Phasmids, usually only other Guava species which aren't really suitable for the climate where I live. Do you think it would be okay?

[Daniel Ballmer]

I never heard of this plant used as a foodplant, just the Psidium spp. But that could be because the Psidium spp. are much more cultured in the tropical zones.

Just try it, I think it will work ;)

[Luna]

I never heard of this plant used as a foodplant, just the Psidium spp. But that could be because the Psidium spp. are much more cultured in the tropical zones.

Just try it, I think it will work ;)

Thanks for the advice, I will give it a go :). I will also try Psidium guajava as an indoor plant considering it seems to be used with a lot of success.

[Daniel Ballmer]

Yes, I have a big Psidium guajava. It grows fine when I keep it outside from May to August and inside in front of a south window the rest of the year.

[Luna]

Yes, I have a big Psidium guajava. It grows fine when I keep it outside from May to August and inside in front of a south window the rest of the year.

Sounds like a good plan of action :)

Do you use it as a sole foodplant for the species who naturally eat Guava or do you give a varied diet using other leaves?

I think I might need to keep the Psidium indoors most of the year, maybe only June - August would be okay outdoors, even then I'd need to keep an eye open at the forecast. North-East England tends to have very chilli summers because we are so close to the coast and on the opposite side of the country to the prevailing wind which brings a lot of the warm weather into the country. :/

[Daniel Ballmer]

I just use it besides Rosaceans. None of my species feed on guava only.

[TheGreenMan]

It seems nearly everything i have will eat guava. Even the Pachymorpha which were originally found eating ferns seem to eat it no problems. Candovia, Acrophylla, ETs, Onchestus, Goliath, Tessellated etc all eat guava as a staple. Obviously some species will not such as Didymuria violescens which is specialist of Eucalyptus but most species will love guava as an only food plant if you have sufficient amount of it. I am lucky enough to have several large trees growing wild near my house. I don't have access to many rosaceae. There are some wild Rubus species growing wild down the road which i harvest occasionally. They are a subtropical introduced Rubus (wild raspberry). I also have a few garden raspberry plants but they do not thrive here in the subtropics. They do ok though.

[Luna]

I've planted a whole load of Psidium Guajava and Pinappale Guajava today, germination varies for both species, but I should see some shoots of the Psidium within a month, the Pinnaple Guava can take a long time to germinate but grows rapidly once it has.

Today has been a productive day! I've also tried to get cuttings from 3 seperate species of Eucalyptus to take roots. Euca is a problematic plant to raise in this way, but I figured it would be worth a go to get some of these plants growing so that in future I won't be so dependant on nicking cuttings from local gardens :p. My Euca Gunni seeds need 8 weeks or so stratification before I can sow them and the specimins they sell at garden centers are massively overpriced feeble little things, so I just went for it.

[TheGreenMan]

If you can get a good amount of Psidium guajava you will be in a good position to keep many species. I have never tried feijoa though. It might be good to.

Eucalyptus are not easy from cuttings. Seed is your best option. They grow very fast from seed. If you are after Eucalytus seed i've got more here than i can poke a stick at but the ones around here are subtropical and may not do well outdoors over in europe. They still tolerate some cold.

If i go out near Stanthorpe area i should be able to find some very cold tolerate Eucalyptus species seeds. Its a few hours drive from here but the temperatures in that area get down below freezing ragular during winter. often down to -10 C. Its a very unusually cold climate.