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I found that four of my giant stag beetle larvae pupated unexpectedly. Since I was not expecting pupation, they were not in a substrate that was conducive for pupal cell formation. I made them floral foam chambers, and I wanted to make sure I got the proper proportions. I have great success with...

I mixed Traeger pellets and flour a couple months ago to make some substrate. My genius idea to keep it hot enough was to put it outside in a black bucket to absorb extra heat from the sun. Rather than stir it, I drilled holes in the bucket, so I could simply shake it to aerate it. It was...

How long do P. truncatus adults stay in their pupal cells after eclosing? I got one of mine out, and it seems active. This is the first time I have raised a rhino beetle, so I do not have experience with other species as a comparison. Should I just put it in an enclosure with deep substrate...

I have been raising this larva in rotten wood for a few months, and I found it has pupated. Its pupal cell that it constructed did not look like a cell at all. I had not been expecting pupation, so it was just in regular substrate. I have read that artificial cells can be made with floral foam...

I have two A. oculatus adults that I want to breed. Can anyone tell if I have a male and a female? 

I was talking to a USDA entomologist, and I was told that the reason native Dynastes are regulated is because the larvae will eat live tree roots. I have never read anything saying this was true, but I was hoping there was someone who was more knowledgeable on this topic. I tried finding some...

I have been raising this A. oculatus grub, and I have been keeping careful track of its molts. I have had it since it was an L2 grub, and it molted once back in the fall. I went to check on it today, though, and I found it had molted again but was still a larva. The strange thing is that it did...

Is it possible to breed M. phyllodes in captivity? I know they are carabids and therefore are carnivorous, but I also read that the larvae develop between the fruiting bodies of shelf fungi. I was talking to an entomologist, and while he said he was not familiar with M. phyllodes specifically...

I have read that there are two types of fungi that are typically used to make kinshi for beetles. The king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii), and turkey-tail (Trametes versicolor) is the other. Which species of fungi are best for which species of stag beetles? Also, should these fungi be grown...

I can't find much information on these beetles, but they look interesting. I caught three yesterday in a rotten log, and I wanted to know if it was possible to breed them. I saw that Lucanus started a thread on these a long time ago, but it looks like he hasn't been on the forum in a while...

I found a couple different types of beetles that I am not familiar with. I was on a trip, and I found these in Scotland Neck, NC if that helps to narrow it down. Here is the first one. I was thinking it might be some sort of darkling beetle.   Here is the second one. I was thinking it looked...

Deilelater physoderus seems to be the prevalent species of bioluminescent click beetle in Texas. Has anyone ever reared this species? I would assume that it would have the same care as a Pyrophorus sp. beetle? I am looking to start a colony as they seem to be the most common member of the tribe...

Does Lucanus elaphus require a hibernation period? I have a male that just eclosed a few days ago after less than a month in his pupa. He seems active, and his exoskeleton has hardened and looks normal (although one of his wings didn't expand properly). Should I put him in the fridge (is that...

Can any type of hardwood be fermented into wood flake substrate for rhino and stag beetles? I found sawdust bricks for sale at Tractor Supply, and I was told they should be primarily composed of oak wood but might also have maple, poplar, or beech in the mixture. Will these be safe for beetle...