Gerris2

This is exciting to have a place to learn about this curious group of plants. Thanks for your hard work, the index page looks great!

I think the species is portentosa, sorry about that, read your post on the cell phone and missed the species.

It is a correct ID on that cockroach!

It's a hissing cockroach. They love sitting there, nice and warm, just as long as I don't make any sudden movements. hahahahahaha

That information is very useful, Philibugman, thanks!

Yes I imagine they come in handy to pinch any predator looking for a pupa snack.

I kept forgetting to take photos of the pupae as they developed. This pupa is the last one in the container. The color is gradually turning more brown, and the eyes are getting more pigmented as well. It is a lively stage and did not like being moved around for photo time. The pupa thrashes its abdomen around to drive off Mr. Hand (me), I guess it perceives it was being touched by a predator looking for a meal. Zophobas morio pupa by Gerris2, on Flickr Zophobas morio pupa by Gerris2, on Flickr Zophobas morio pupa by Gerris2, on Flickr Zophobas morio pupa by Gerris2, on Flickr

Thanks so much for the very useful tips! I will keep my eyes open for Eleodes availability and I'll get some fish flakes from the supermarket.

Thank you for your comment. Have you noticed at all if they prefer carrot to potato?

I guess I let them isolate themselves by providing the paper towel tubes and styrofoam into which they burrow.

I am still learning names of beetles, what is the genus name, Eleodes? I would love to grow a colony of that one. Is Eleodes easier than stag beetle culture? I know this is OT question but since I started the thread I think it is ok hahaha.

I was delighted to see a prepupa and several pupae in my Zophobas morio colony. In order to keep them from cannibalizing the pupae I gave them materials into which they could burrow to pupate. One material I enjoyed using was dense pieces of styrofoam. They burrow in and make all kinds of chambers in which they successfully pupate. I also put paper towel tubes filled with newspaper or paper toweling. The larvae will also burrow into this material but you don't hear crunching sounds they make in the styrofoam. Zophobas morio ”Superworm” by Gerris2, on Flickr

Thanks for the warm welcome, Inle and Ryan.

Have you had success rearing them? What have you found for food that they like?