Goliath beetle

AlexW said:
Be cautious, perhaps maybe those red mites are not as harmless as you think.

Also, as I have stated, the only moisture in my own two-teneb cage currently comes from their food, and I serve that on a toilet-paper "plate" to avoid wetting the cage
default_wink.png
I kind of doubt that even a dermestid larva could survive in there!
Click to expand...
Eh, they are in practically all of my well established cockroach or isopod colonies, and besides the fluke with my Cariblatta minima colony, they don't seem to be causing problems. And it seems like lots of people have them anyway, they are just secretive and kept in check by healthy springtail populations.

Needless to say, I'll still be keeping an eye on them, and without springtails they can cause problems for some small invertebrates, but for the Pyrophorus I think they will be a very helpful addition to the micro-fauna in their enclosures.
default_smile.png


 
I know this thread is old, but I thought I would add a few details and ask a question that I did not see addressed above. First, I think I have found a thorough guide for rearing these beetles at http://www.naturalworlds.org/goliathus/manual/Goliathus_breeding_1.htm. Second, I have talked with one of several pioneers in Goliathus rearing, Jonathan Lai, and he recommended a high protein fish food since it has less fat than dog food (he uses Hai Feng Alife koi pellets). Third, Goliathus pupal cells are constructed in clay not sand. Finally, I read in this thread about some people trying to prevent mites in the larval chambers by not using coconut coir, and I have always used coconut coir with minimal issues. Obviously, Goliathus larvae require a lot of effort to rear, and one doesn't want to take chances with something harming them. I have never had issues, however, with mites in the coconut coir harming my beetle larvae. Is it possible that the mites could be beneficial in a way similar to how mites benefit some species of millipedes like the Archispirostreptus? If it would still be a bad idea to allow the mites to live in the enclosure, would autoclaving affect coconut fiber in any way or is freezing better? 

 
With the amount of protein they are fed I change the larval substrate pretty regularly, which helps keep the mite numbers down. (the substrate can also collect too much moisture or go bad pretty easily).

Yes, don't use the substrate/sand mixture for pupation, it works but is not ideal. I'm pretty sure I'm the only person selling the correct (and tested) pupation substrate so far

These mites are not the good type, they can overrun the larvae containers and congregate on the food pellets. They can also block sphericals..

Steven

 
I did, but I was one of the first under the new rule. In general, you would need a FWS wildlife import license to directly import from overseas.

That question, actually.. any question about rules or importing would be fine to ask here.

 
Beetle-Experience said:
I did, but I was one of the first under the new rule. In general, you would need a FWS wildlife import license to directly import from overseas.

That question, actually.. any question about rules or importing would be fine to ask here.
Click to expand...
Since you offered and I keep forgetting to ask Dr. Wehling directly, have the permit requirements been lifted on either G. orientalis or G. albosignatus, or are there still only three species that are exempt from permits? 

 
Which other species are you working on? I have talked with Dr. Wehling, and I am trying to get the PPQ 526 permits to own Dorcus titanus, Chalcosoma atlas, Dynastes hercules, Phalacrognathus muelleri, Megasoma elephas, Mormolyce phyllodes and a wide variety of other exotic arthropods including about forty species of mantids, several large millipedes, and comet moths. I will have to see how it works out, but it is looking like I might be able to get the permits. 

 
I am looking at converting a closet into small containment area for the exotics (it just needs a more secure door and a couple minor adjustments). When I described the closet to Dr. Wehling he said that it sounded promising. It even has a separate, smaller space at the back of the closet that I think would be perfect for storing fermenting substrates and feeder insects.

I would love to see deregulation of many of the large rhino and stag beetles, and I don't think they would become pests other than in places like south Florida (which I think already has rules on exotics in addition to the USDA regulations). Hopefully, the USDA will agree, and they will remove the permit requirements eventually. 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
How does the PPQ 526 permits work in this situation when it says this

" All pests kept under this permit shall be destroyed at the
 completion of the intended use, and not later than the expiration
 date, unless an extension is granted by this issuing office"

Like what connotes, "completion of the intended use." In this case, and in the many case of people who apply for this permit to keep exotic stag/rhino beetles? It seems a bit vague and open ended.

 
darktheumbreon said:
How does the PPQ 526 permits work in this situation when it says this

" All pests kept under this permit shall be destroyed at the
 completion of the intended use, and not later than the expiration
 date, unless an extension is granted by this issuing office"

Like what connotes, "completion of the intended use." In this case, and in the many case of people who apply for this permit to keep exotic stag/rhino beetles? It seems a bit vague and open ended.
Click to expand...
Vague and open-ended describe most of the USDA laws I have come across. Unless you violate the permit conditions, you should just be able to renew your permit every three years. 

 
Yes, most people would renew their permit before it expires - and actually, "most people" in this case usually means zoos and institutions with containment facilities.

"completion of the intended use."  - They basically don't want you keeping things past their permit or releasing them. I have heard of people being able to turn over insects to other permitted facilities instead of killing them.

PPQ (at least) generally need to keep things vauge, because they deal with everyone from a one-room facility to giant labs and from hobbyists to pest-control corporations. 

I doubt we will see deregulation of many of the large rhino and stag beetles any time really soon. The reasons that some of the Goliaths have been delisted were due to their life cycles, which are very different from almost all of the others in the family. 

Mantis Menagerie: What are you planning to do with exotic beetles if issued a permit?

 
@Beetle-Experience sorry to butt in when you are in the middle of asking someone something, but I was wondering what the California regulation that states that Luncanidae can be imported into the state without a permit - how does that fit into all of this?

 
Beetle-Experience said:
Yes, most people would renew their permit before it expires - and actually, "most people" in this case usually means zoos and institutions with containment facilities.

"completion of the intended use."  - They basically don't want you keeping things past their permit or releasing them. I have heard of people being able to turn over insects to other permitted facilities instead of killing them.

PPQ (at least) generally need to keep things vauge, because they deal with everyone from a one-room facility to giant labs and from hobbyists to pest-control corporations. 

I doubt we will see deregulation of many of the large rhino and stag beetles any time really soon. The reasons that some of the Goliaths have been delisted were due to their life cycles, which are very different from almost all of the others in the family. 

Mantis Menagerie: What are you planning to do with exotic beetles if issued a permit?
Click to expand...
My ultimate goal if I am able to breed sufficient numbers of beetles and other arthropods would be to sell them (either alive or as dead specimens). I have been told by Dr. Wehling that I might be able to get the commercial entomological supply permits for a few species which would allow me to sell to non-permit holders similar to the way Josh's Frogs' permits work for feeder insects (don't get your hopes up though, he did not mention exotic beetles) Otherwise, as long as both the seller and the buyer have permits to move the arthropod between the relevant states, then it is legal to sell them. Currently, I do not know of any other private individual who has permits, so I would probably try to sell captive-reared invertebrates to insectariums. Because they are captive bred, I should be able to sell them cheaper since I will not be paying the high importation prices. The only problem I foresee in this plan is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). I know the institutions that are members of AZA have to buy from AZA-approved sources (I heard that they want to make sure everything is done in compliance with CITES, ESA, and just sustainably in general, which although it is a good thing, it might mean even more permits). I am hoping to join the Terrestrial Invertebrate Taxon Advisory Group (TITAG) next year, and that is a subgroup of AZA which might simplify things.  

 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top