Recent content by Goliathus

A small but interesting beetle that I occasionally find; a Bark-Gnawing Beetle, Temnoscheila spp. (family Trogossitidae) - Many species of this genus are metallic green or blue. I was surprised at how readily these beetles will bite when handled, and at how much pressure their mandibles can...

Two males from my latest generation of Dynastes tityus, which are now emerging -  This tityus culture has consistently produced beetles of very nice size across the generations.  Of course, it's not just a matter of genetics - nutritional and environmental factors are very important as well.

I received some eggs of Eacles oslari this past week - does anyone here have any advice on how best to rear them?  The eggs are now rapidly darkening, and I expect them to hatch any day now.  Apart from oak, other suggested food plants include Liquidambar and Prunus.  I wonder if they might also...

Most of these are forms, rather than species.  By the way, G. albosignatus albosignatus and G. orientalis undulatus have been left out.  As for G. goliatus - in the words of entomologist Gilbert Lachaume (1983), some coleopterists have "amused themselves by naming a large number of varieties". ...

Some tagged darkling beetles that were part of a study in the Namib Desert in the late 1970s; not sure how the markers are attached, but probably some kind of nontoxic glue that's safe to use on a beetle's elytra - 

A couple of nice Dynastes tityus males that I had emerge today - huge size, and with great horn development; some of the best examples of this species that I've ever produced.  They took around 14 months to go from eggs to adult emergence - 

Attached photos - larval bore holes of the large prionine cerambycid Mallodon (Stenodontes) dasystomus in a dead ash tree. I see the bore holes much more often than the beetles. The larvae are still active in these particular ones - fresh wood shavings are still being pushed through.

When writing a post, you should see an option for dragging or choosing files to attach, like this - 

Eunica eurota - amazingly colored, small nymphalid butterfly from lower elevation rainforests in parts of South Amer. - 

This might be the best snake mimic I've ever seen - it's the chrysalis of Dynastor darius (a close relative of the Owl and Morpho butterflies).  The level of detail is amazing, right down to the false eyes with elliptical pupils - 

Great photo sent to me today of Hoplia coerulea, the remarkable, iridescent blue "Monkey Beetle" from Southwest Europe, which is a close relative of the common June beetle -  The males of this species are covered in photonic, reflective scales like those of Morpho butterflies. I've not...

I've found that tityus larvae, if making pupal cells in small containers that aren't completely filled, will usually pack the substrate to one side so that it's firmly in contact with the lid.  Chrysina larvae sometimes do this too, though it seems that they feel more secure if the substrate is...

I'd be interested to hear what ratios others are using for making flake soil via fermentation.  That is, what is your percentage of flour, bran, etc. to sawdust?  I've always used approximately 11% wheat flour / 89% sawdust.