Polyphaga aegyptiaca & saussurei

This caresheet should also be applicable to Polyphaga obscura, and probably the other Polyphaga species as well, (though development times may vary between species).

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Housing:

A 1-2 gallon container will work for a starter colony, but as they start breeding you'll want to move them to a larger bin or tank, something 5-10 gallons large. P.saussurei will obviously need more room than aegyptiaca because of their much larger size. The development time for this genus is quite long, so it'll take colonies a while to outgrow whatever enclosure you put them in.

The substrate should be at least 2-3 inches deep, and should consist of coconut fiber or a similar material, NO sand should be used, as it is much too abrasive for them. While they may live in sandy habitats in the wild, the micro-habitats they live in aren't necessarily sandy, and a lot of available sands are simply too abrasive for these. On top of the substrate, there should be a layer of decaying hardwood leaves, as it seems to be an important part of their diet.
The substrate also shouldn't be too chunky, as the smaller nymphs may have a difficult time getting around, (sifting the coconut fiber to remove large particles and long fibers may be necessary). This is particularly important for P.saussurei, I've had young nymphs of that species die off very quickly in enclosures where the substrate was too chunky and wasn't fine enough. P.aegyptiaca are less sensitive in that regard.

Most of the enclosure should be kept bone dry, with one or two corners kept moist at all times. Ventilation levels should be very high, to help keep the overall humidity down. Hides are not needed, the substrate gives them all the refuge they need.


Diet:

Decaying hardwood leaves should be available to both species at all times, as should some sort of protein source, like dog/cat/chick feed. Most fruits and veggies go untouched.


Temperature:

Both these Polyphaga species will breed anywhere from 68-85F°, I personally prefer keeping mine in the middle of that range, 74-76F°.


Breeding/Life cycle:

Adult female P.aegyptiaca live 1-2 years, and even adult males can live up to a year, (unusual for a Corydiid). The P.saussurei strain currently in the hobby is a parthenogenetic one, (which means all individuals are females), and the adults live just as long or perhaps even longer than mature aegyptiaca females.

The females lay oothecae that can vary greatly in size, and deposit them into the substrate. So long as one or two corners of the enclosure are kept moist, (preferably about a quarter of the substrate), then the ambient humidity should be high enough for ooths to hatch, even in the driest areas of the enclosure.

The oothecae take 6-8 months to hatch, with P.saussurei ooths taking the longest. P.aegyptiaca nymphs normally take just over a year to mature, while saussurei nymphs usually take nearly two years, however both species can take even longer to mature if kept cool and given little protein, (alternatively, growth can be sped up if kept they are very warm, but this may stunt adult size).

Overall, these species are very easy to keep and breed, and are worthy of a place in any Blatticulturist's collection!