Cannibalistic dynastes tityus

[Jimmy]

Has anyone had an adult dynastes eat another larvae that could not escape?

 

[Dynastes]

Larvae do eat each other but never adults of this species.

 

[lucas3133]

if you put them together, adult can accidentally kill the larva, since adult's legs are so sharp and spiky, but not intentional.

 

[Jimmy]

I had an adult kill and eat one of my larva

 

[Dynastes]

I had an adult kill and eat one of my larva

Flower beetle adult females suck up their larvae like offspring lawn mowers, but never saw that with tityus. Was it a female adult and what instar was the larva?

 

[Jimmy]

It was an adult male dynastes tityus. I found him eating one of his L3 siblings that was in a artificial pupal chamber about to pupate.

 

[Dynastes]

It was an adult male dynastes tityus. I found him eating one of his L3 siblings that was in a artificial pupal chamber about to pupate.

I would bet your male just dug in there and tore the pre-pupa apart with his legs trying to find a place to rest, smashing it rather than eating it. If the male was newly emerged it wouldn't eat anything, especially not something it normally never eats.

 

[Reyes]

There would be no way that your adult male has consumed the larvae.

It possibly destroyed it.