Blue death feigning beetles mating!!!

Stag Beetles

Stag Beetles

Pupa
So, my blue death feigning beetles are mating, even though they have had rather unideal conditions, as I travelled everywhere, to Maryland, Pennsylvania, and now Ohio. All the while they were in the car most of the time, but now they are mating. IF they lay eggs what should I do? Their habitat is consisted of white sands monument gypsum sand...no coconut fiber. there's also a pretty large log for them to hide under (I try to stimulate what their home would look like in white sands. They also dun have a heat lamp.

 
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I would leave any eggs until they hatch, then separate them into slightly moister substrate with some sand and leaf material, keep any larvae separated, as they are cannibalistic (apparently more so than other species like eleodes) once a week, check the substrate for eggs and larvae, and if any eggs are found keep the substrate somewhat moist. Also, I don’t think their range extends into New Mexico (sadly, because they would make an awesome addition to my favorite state) but is mainly confined to California, Arizona, and parts of Nevada. Larvae seem to prefer fruits to other foods. Sadly, this species has supposedly never been successfully reared to adulthood, although many people (including myself) are trying/have tried.

 
I know someone who accidentally got a single Asbolus verrucosus larva to pupate and eclose. She's primarily a reptile keeper, but kept a planted display tank of BDFBs for their entertainment value. As far as I can tell, she didn't fuss with them in any way (even giving them the benign neglect the species tolerates), and simply noticed a larva one day through the glass. The substrate was fairly deep and she continued to spy the larva (and eventually pupa) through the glass. She sent me photos when I told her this was bananas. A seemingly healthy adult eventually eclosed but died after a short time (weeks) for unknown reasons. 

I've tried replicating her  conditions as closely as I could (even purchasing the exact substrate she used). Like everyone else in our galaxy I've not had any success. One thing she noticed is that a cactus in her display died because the larva chewed it from below – I've tried to replicate this with prickly pear (not the cactus in her tank) and the "buried carrot trick," with no results. 

I asked her about temperature since numerous discussions about this species here and over at Arachnoboards focus on high heat. She reports this happened on its own with normal household room temps. 

The quest continues...

 
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I've also read a few reports of successfully getting blue beetles to adulthood using high heat, around upper 80's. Since there  has been a few confirmations of success this way, I would stick to that route. Those of us who have bred many beetles for many years know that there is always an exceptional situation where you do something you shouldn't or should have and the larvae survives and becomes an adult. However, it's an exception because we never see that happen again. This could be the case with that one larvae at room temperature. I don't know but I'm just guessing. Also, the adult did not live long so something was wrong.

I would try the method that someone on the Arachnoboard has used to successfully get blue beetles to pupation using high heat. Seems to me that's your best shot. However, this is all just my thoughts as I have not done it nor attempted it.

Great job on taking on the quest! If there is a way to do this consistently, I know you have the ability and patience to figure it out!

Correction: The temp was 88 degrees. Sorry about that.

 
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Garin said:
I've also read a few reports of successfully getting blue beetles to adulthood using high heat, around upper 90's. Since there  has been a few confirmations of success this way, I would stick to that route. Those of us who have bred many beetles for many years know that there is always an exceptional situation where you do something you shouldn't or should have and the larvae survives and becomes an adult. However, it's an exception because we never see that happen again. This could be the case with that one larvae at room temperature. I don't know but I'm just guessing. Also, the adult did not live long so something was wrong.
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I'm sure it was a case of an exceptional fluke (as far as i know it hasn't happened since). After you and I messaged about this I decided to try mimicking her conditions, plus adding high heat. The nice thing about working with these beetles is that failure doesn't have to mean the animal dies. They keep plugging along so that you might try another idea.

I hadn't heard whether the Cincinnati Zoo was able to reliably replicate whatever magic they worked last year. http://cincinnatizoo.org/news-releases/blue-death-feigning-beetle-emerges-in-time-to-celebrate-world-of-the-insects-40th-anniversary-at-the-cincinnati-zoo/

Maybe @MasterOogway has an inside track to their tricks? :-) 

 
davehuth said:
I'm sure it was a case of an exceptional fluke (as far as i know it hasn't happened since). After you and I messaged about this I decided to try mimicking her conditions, plus adding high heat. The nice thing about working with these beetles is that failure doesn't have to mean the animal dies. They keep plugging along so that you might try another idea.

I hadn't heard whether the Cincinnati Zoo was able to reliably replicate whatever magic they worked last year. http://cincinnatizoo.org/news-releases/blue-death-feigning-beetle-emerges-in-time-to-celebrate-world-of-the-insects-40th-anniversary-at-the-cincinnati-zoo/

Maybe @MasterOogway has an inside track to their tricks? 🙂
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Hah, as far as I know, no magic. They're not doing anything differently than any of the rest of  us trying, they just got a lucky one :)   It kills me too, I WANTED TO BE FIRST DAMNIT.  :D    :D   Nah, props to Cinci honestly.  They do lots of cool bug stuff there, this time though I do think was a one-off.  They had a heat lamp close to the rearing tubs and it happened to pupate in some wood. Cinci isn't doing it on any large scale though because they still were ordering in from BoA last summer. Heat definitely does seem to be key though.   I've tried all of what Cinci is doing though, except I use an incubator and kept them at 88, and still no luck. I suspect amount of substrate and maybe even shape of container you keep them in might matter too.  I know Dean keeps/kept them in a lot bigger, and rectangular, rearing bins. I've tried small deli cups and they'll get to their full size, and then die, just like everyone else's do.  I'm going to try some new containers here soon and a slightly different sub mix, and see if I don't get better results for round 3? 4?  Who can even tell at this point.  

 
A smaller but very knowledgeable Youtuber I follow, Aquarimax, is working currently on breeding them and most recently updated his audience in a live stream. He said if has any success he will be posting an in-depth video on it.

I'm hoping someone is able to put a reaaally comprehensive guide out there cos I'd love to be breeding those charming little guys.

 
He is successful at breeding them.

Hoolia said:
A smaller but very knowledgeable Youtuber I follow, Aquarimax, is working currently on breeding them and most recently updated his audience in a live stream. He said if has any success he will be posting an in-depth video on it.

I'm hoping someone is able to put a reaaally comprehensive guide out there cos I'd love to be breeding those charming little guys.
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