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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...

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.

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'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.

Does anyone here ever see any Ox Beetles (Strategus antaeus)?  This species has a wide distribution, but does it only tend to occur within certain areas of its range?  I've seen the more common S. aloeus many times over the years, but probably haven't come across any S. antaeus since the early...

Found this big female Cottonwood Longhorn (Plectrodera scalator) on a cottonwood in my front yard over the weekend.  I've not seen one of these for at least several years.  Very unique looking, large species - probably my favorite native US cerambycid.  The pattern on the elytra is unique to...

Here's an interesting optical effect caused by structural coloration (rather than being due to pigment) - depending upon the viewing angle and lighting, this species of Morpho butterfly (Morpho eugenia) can appear either sky blue, or bright silver -   

This may have been discussed here before, but has anyone ever had any success in getting Lucanus elaphus to lay eggs without the use of logs?

Probably the rarest species in my collection of beetle specimens - Rosenbergia xenium, a large and impressive Longhorn (cerambycid) from Papua New Guinea -  Would like to have a specimen of Rosenbergia gilmouri as well, but there's probably little chance of that, considering the rarity (and...

Blue-legged Jewel Scarab (Chrysina woodi), the first adult to emerge from my captive-bred F3 generation.  More will be emerging over the next several months.  In the wild, adults probably wouldn't start to become active until at least July.  This species is found in the mountains of far...

Euphoria fulgida, the Emerald Euphoria - captive bred generation F2 is now emerging.  The original stock was collected in Kansas, from thistle flowers.  They measure around 17 mm, on average.  This species has a long larval diapause after making a cocoon.  The cocoons are made using clay soil -...

Has anyone here heard anything lately regarding the existence of wild populations of the Ailanthus Silkmoth (Samia cynthia) in the United States?  This species became naturalized in some parts of the eastern US following its introduction in the late 1800s as part of a domestic silk production...

For sale: Gymnetis thula (Harlequin Flower Beetle) - large, freshly emerged adults, ready to breed - more than 80 available.  $6 each (minimum order of 10) + shipping by your choice of USPS Priority or Express.Payment by PayPal, personal check or money order.  US sales only.  If interested...

For sale:Chrysina beyeri (Purple-legged Jewel Scarab) larvae (late L3).  70 available.  The work of rearing is already essentially done - these larvae are full grown and nearly ready to build pupal cells.  $5 each (minimum order of 10) + shipping by your choice of...

Not about beetles, but earlier this year, I got this extremely comprehensive book from Japan about the natural history of Birdwing butterflies, by Hirotaka Matsuka -  http://kawamo.co.jp/roppon-ashi/sub177e.htm I've never before seen such a complete treatment of the subject - the amount of...