Breeding Zopherus?

[Hydrophilus]

Hi all,
  I have a chance to get some Texas Ironclad beetles, Zopherus nodulosus haldemani, and I am strongly considering getting them. Unfortunately I've been unable to find much information about breeding these. I gather the adults need lichen, which I should be able to supply without too much difficulty. Has anyone bred ironclad beetles in captivity? Are they as difficult as Asbolus?

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Goliathus]

Hi all,
  I have a chance to get some Texas Ironclad beetles, Zopherus nodulosus haldemani, and I am strongly considering getting them. Unfortunately I've been unable to find much information about breeding these. I gather the adults need lichen, which I should be able to supply without too much difficulty. Has anyone bred ironclad beetles in captivity? Are they as difficult as Asbolus?

Thanks,
Eric

The info shown on the following page is a compilation of essentially all that I've ever heard about this species - 

https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/coleoptera/ironclad-beetle/

Also, see the following, which includes the only illustration I've ever seen of a zopherid larva - http://idtools.org/id/wbb/families/Wood_Boring_Beetle_Keys/Woodboring_Families/Media/Html/Fact_sheets/Zopheridae.html

And one more link - 

http://www.arrantsoutdoors.com/blog/2015/7/20/one-tough-coleoptera

Very unusual and interesting beetle, and can be quite long-lived as an adult.  I've only ever found maybe 3 of them over the years, mostly clinging to the sides of buildings in heavily wooded areas.  Would certainly be a VERY WORTHWHILE beetle to breed in captivity, if a method of doing so could be worked out.  I'd not be surprised if they were associated with some specific kind of fungus.

 

[Hydrophilus]

Thanks for the reply, those are some interesting links. I'm surprised that there isn't more information out there, particularly on larvae. It just occurred to me a little while ago that I have a copy of the Ultimate Guide to Beetles at home, I'll have to see if there is mention of this family somewhere in the book. It seems that, aside from the need for lichens in the adult diet, that they should be relatively straightforward to rear... but I am notoriously optimistic.  Maybe I'll have some interesting news to report in a few months!

 

[Hisserdude]

It's been tried before, and so far I only know of ONE person to get eggs from any ironclad beetle in captivity, and it wasn't even Zopherus... And unfortunately I don't think their larva made it to adulthood. Larvae are wood eaters, but it's unclear whether they need fully intact logs to develop in, or whether crushed or pulverized wood will work as well... It's also unknown just how decayed the wood should be... 

Overall they are way more difficult to breed than (most) actual Tenebrionids, certainly more difficult than Asbolus, and I don't know of anyone who's successfully bred and reared ironclads yet... Not to say that it's impossible, but definitely a big challenge...