Larva help

[draconisj4]

I moved my mixed species desert beetles into a larger enclosure yesterday and discovered several small larva in the old substrate.I'm not sure what species they are. I've observed mating by Eleodes Osculans, an unidentified small teneb species,and a Nyctoporis species which I believe is Carinata. The only one I actually saw laying eggs is the Nyctoporis about a month ago.

I'd like to give these larva a chance and would appreciate suggestions as to what kind of substrate, food and conditions to give them. I have desert and leaf litter substrate from Bugs in Cyberspace, coir and mealworm bedding. I don't have a camera good enough to take pictures of them as they are very small. I realize since I don't know what they are you can't give me specifics, but since I'm a beginner even generic suggestions will help.

 

[Hisserdude]

The desert substrate should work for them, they'd appreciate a layer of dead leaves on top of the substrate as well, for food, but it's probably not essential. The main diet should be dog food, they may like carrots as well. Keep half of the enclosure dry, and half of it moist.

These care methods should work for most desert Tenebrionids, I suspect they are E.osculans larvae, once they get bigger though and you can get pictures of them I may be able to ID them for sure, (or at the very least, be able to tell apart Eleodes larvae from Nyctoporis larvae).

Good luck, keep us posted!

 

[draconisj4]

Thanks Hisserdude, that helps a lot. I doubt if I got all of them out of the old substrate which went into the new tank also, and it's set up with a moist corner and a carrot buried nearby so even if the ones I got out don't make it hopefully any left in the substrate will. I'm hoping for the Nyctoporis though, they are my favorites.

 

[Hisserdude]

Thanks Hisserdude, that helps a lot. I doubt if I got all of them out of the old substrate which went into the new tank also, and it's set up with a moist corner and a carrot buried nearby so even if the ones I got out don't make it hopefully any left in the substrate will. I'm hoping for the Nyctoporis though, they are my favorites.

No problem! They tend to coexist pretty well with their parents, so the ones in the main tank should do just as well as the ones you took out.

Me too, haven't actually seen a 100% proven Nyctoporis larva yet, but from what I've heard, they do look different than Eleodes larvae. We'll see though! If they do end up being Nyctoporis, and they keep on breeding for you, I may be interested in some larvae or CB adults later on.

BTW, got pics of the small, un-ID'd darkling beetles you have? Interested to see which species it is...

 

[draconisj4]

It looked like 2 different types of larvae so hopefully we'll see.. I'll try to get some pics of the other darklings tonight when they decide to come out of hiding.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Good luck with them!

 

[draconisj4]

This is the best I could do with the unidentified teneb, I think this is the female but the male is close to the same size about 2cm without legs and antenna

 

[Hisserdude]

It looked like 2 different types of larvae so hopefully we'll see.. I'll try to get some pics of the other darklings tonight when they decide to come out of hiding.

That's very possible, especially if you have multiple members of each species!

This is the best I could do with the unidentified teneb, I think this is the female but the male is close to the same size about 2cm without legs and antenna

teneb 2.jpg

teneb.jpg

Eleodes, subgenus Blapylis. Beyond that, nearly impossible to tell, think a taxonomist would be needed to get it down to species. I've kept multiple species similar to yours, they usually breed well in captivity.