Darkling beetle breeders
- Thread starter Dynastes
- Start date
Can't say that I'm a breeder, but I collected 5 or so species in Arizona this summer. Anybody have a good substrate recommendation for getting eggs/larvae?
Thanks!
Thanks!
RosenKrieger
L1
Aren't mealworm beetles darklings? If so, would the substrate listed on all the breeding and care sheets for them work as well for any other darkling.
(Note: I hardly have a clue about beetles, just throwing some random 1am ideas out there, lol)
Mealworms are a type of darkling beetle and it's true that darkling beetles are the most popularly raised beetles in the world (as pet food however). While there are some similarities, very few darklings can be reared like mealworms. I was referring to people who rear pet darklings.
Any suggestions on how to keep these little beetles? They are from the Algodones Dunes in SE California, USA. They measure 8-13mm.
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I do have about ten of them, but I hadn't actually unpacked them when I hastily sent your box of scorpions, etc.
What substrate would you recommend for optimizing egg production? I collected them in the sand dunes where the sand is quite fine (the kind of sand I included with one of the dune scorpions I sent you). I put 2 inches of compost, mixed with 10% coconut fiber in a plastic shoebox container. I then covered this with a centimeter of play sand, and mixed it in a bit. I followed this with a good sprinkling of that fine sand from the dunes along with some of the creosote leaflitter that they were found near.
What substrate would you recommend for optimizing egg production? I collected them in the sand dunes where the sand is quite fine (the kind of sand I included with one of the dune scorpions I sent you). I put 2 inches of compost, mixed with 10% coconut fiber in a plastic shoebox container. I then covered this with a centimeter of play sand, and mixed it in a bit. I followed this with a good sprinkling of that fine sand from the dunes along with some of the creosote leaflitter that they were found near.
shoegazer
L3
You know, to add to an older thread, I've just acquired a local Eleodes hispilabris which is happily munching away on rabbit food and veggies. I see these and E. suteralis all the time. I'd be quite interested to hear if you (Orin) or anyone else here have experience breeding them. I'd like to give it a shot and would appreciate any advice.
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I'm keeping my darklings on about 2 inches of soil (compost) mixed with bits of decomposing hardwood leaves and hoping that it encourages egg-laying. I also have Asbolus laevis.
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shoegazer
L3
What I'm mainly concerned about is the amount of soil moisture. I find these guys are in some pretty dry, semi-arid habitat on very sand soils so I'm hesitant to really wet down the container much. I suppose I could sink in a container of moister soil. Would I see the young larvae at all on the surface or have any sure indication that eggs have been laid and/or hatched?
Guess I forgot to mention I have a thin layer of sand over the surface of the soil as well as some bits of oak wood mixed in. I don't moisten the substrate but it has some moisture content because there is very little ventilation in the plastic shoebox type containers I'm using.
I'll wait for Orin's input on larvae as this is my first attempt at the six or so species I have currently.
I'll wait for Orin's input on larvae as this is my first attempt at the six or so species I have currently.
You can pour water on the substrate but the cage should be well ventilated or the beetles will die prematurely. Females go underground to lay eggs but they may be able to lay in shallower substrate. If you see a female is missing for a few hours she's likely laying eggs. The eggs are tiny.
cre0broter
Pupa
I've raised mealworms to adulthood on breadcrumbs before.