Hi Rob, I have the same phenomenon on some of my pygmies. All that exhibit
this behaviour seem to be part of the Nitidula complex,
D Nitidula ssp Nitidula
D Nitidula ssp Omissa
D Nitidula ssp Allantostigma
D Nitidula ssp Allantostigma x D Ericksoniae
In addition, I have some non-Lowrie material labelled D Omissa which exhibits
this behaviour - my unconfirmed opinion is that it is actually (surprisingly)
D Nitidula ssp Leucostigma. I haven't experienced this behaviour with
D Nitidula x Pulchella but this may be a matter of statistics as my colony is
small and struggling, or with xBadgerup or xCarbarup
2) coir v peat
The coir producers have responded to feedback from the UK and the
standards are now much better than they were a couple of years ago.
However both RBG Kew and Reading University have found that coir is not
as good as peat for some CPs, although they don't tend to shout about
it. I understand that RBG Kew are using coir for everything these days
apart from CPs, for which they are experimenting with replacing peat
with a 50% coir/50% peat mix. The argument whether coir is eco-friendly
or not seems to have interesting parallels with unleaded petrol, where
most experts are now having serious second thoughts about whether they
backed the right horse.
Good Growing, NigelH