Any one work with Xyloryctes jamaicensis?

Sara

Sara

Pupa
Any one work with Xyloryctes jamaicensis? I got a pair last year and could not get my female to oviposit. Any tips?

They are still both sucking down jellie's like jimmy buffet fans suck down margarita's lol

ty in advance
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Sara

 
I tried them numerous times in the past and did finally have success, they need an almost perfect leaf mold. I might have detailed it a little more in the granti or tityus book in the paragraph on Xyloryctes but while I could most likely do it again it may not be that easy to explain.

 
That's neat, I had X. thestalus and X. jamaicensis listed that way in my 1999 granti book despite a bit of conflicting published information. I didn't notice any information on getting them to lay eggs which is the challenge in captivity. However, I thought the ones with smooth elytra that were restricted to certain eastern populations were a different species and am a little surprised. I'm shocked to see they claim the grubs eat ash roots. They're rotten leaf feeders.

 
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Just got more in last week I have about 15 females and 6 males ,plus the older pair

they seem to love the leaf mold like in Orins book . Hopeing all goes well with them and THank you for the links

 
Orin,

This is how I usually get aggravated by the disconnect between scientists and hobbyists. They have cool things like genera revisions, range maps and dna analysis but seem to know little about lifecycles and breeding.

I wonder if X.j. prefers rotten ash leaves or if the overlapping is just a coincidence. Maybe the adults happen to like ash sap runs.

Sara,

Keep us posted on your progress.

 
I've had the pleasure of seeing thousands of Xyloryctes swarming on certain nights in Arizona. At one location they were in an area of mostly conifers, with a few hardwoods (Arizona Ash) mixed in here and there. There was a crack in the ground under a tree and the beetles seemed to be coming out in droves. I wasn't familiar with this beetle at the time and I brought back hundreds of them. They failed to feed on anything I offered them, though I stuck to the typical liquid and fruit diets. I was eventually able to offload the dead specimens to an artist for a project.

In the area where I saw so many, there were also D. granti, though in other areas of the state were D. granti occur the Xyloryctes are seldom seen.

This is an interesting topic and I look forward to Sara's updates on this!

 
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Peter you have to post pictures of the Xyloryctes swarms I would love to see that one day!! As much stuff as we have out here in texas only beetle swarm i have seen is the c texana. "I have a grape vine they adore LOL"

I will say this my Xyloryctes jamaicensis are crazy for jellies they will down 5 in 2 nigths, they seem to enjoy the coconut flavor the best.

So far "since i put them all on a better leaf crush."Which is some nice fermented hackberry leaves, Along with some oak leaves left to decay in a swimming pool once dried and mixed they are perfect "classy i know" . The entire mix was run threw a wood chipper until it became a nice sawdust. I have noticed a few eggs but i have yet to dig them out for the fear of them being thin skinned or breakable.

I will keep you all updated

 
Good job!

Did you check the range map on the link beetle-experience provided? Are you sure yours aren't X. thestalus?

 
ohh you are right i just checked the range map mine were collected in Arizona

so I bet they are X. thestalus, however they were sold to me as x jamaicensis .. but i am pretty sure by looking at all the pictures and the range they are X thestalus.

I hope they are less picky??

Grub advice anyone?

 
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