Frass as Food

[The Vlasic Stork]

Has anyone used droppings from other inverts to boost the nutrient content of their grub substrate? Insect frass as far as I'm aware contains fair amounts of protein, nitrogen, and chitin. I am a little hesitant that it might attract mold or mites but if provided in small amounts it might be safe. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[JKim]

I don't know about using other species' feces, but stag beetles and rhinoceros beetles are known to grow well (and actually work better for some species) with feces existing in their substrate. In case of Phileurus species, larvae grow better with feces in substrate, and can affect adults by leading them to start laying eggs in that substrate. It seems like adults consider the substrate as a good environment since their own feces are right there... fooling them it is feedable.

 

[The Vlasic Stork]

Thanks for sharing, I guess I'll have to test it out and see. Whether they eat it directly or not its likely they'll be consuming some inadvertently as it decomposes.