Great way to start the New Year!!! - Collecting trip

[Greatwun]

Went on another collecting trip with LarvaHunter again and found some more nice larvae. One tree had an adult female Phileurus truncatus along with 19 LARVAE!!! This is a new record for us. Never found this many P. truncatus larvae in a single cavity. Also came across another very tall rotting tree over 20 feet tall. At the bottom was an open cavity. As we started to dig we started to see more and more large fecal pellets. Finally half way into the tree were 7 larvae and an adult female Phileurus truncatus. We found another old stump with large pellets inside but no larvae. Overall all a very good collecting trip and a great way to start the New Year!

 

[Oak]

oh my! Very nice!

 

[Satanas]

damn can you just send me some for free haha?

 

[Greatwun]

damn can you just send me some for free haha?

Lol I don't know about free. We drive 2 hours away from our city and start searching from dusk till dawn for these guys.

 

[Satanas]

Lol I don't know about free. We drive 2 hours away from our city and start searching from dusk till dawn for these guys.

so you don't enjoy searching? Also have you found any antaeus?

 

[LarvaHunter]

He's saying we pay gas and time, why would we give these things away for free? Obviously we enjoy searching, but it is hard work. Free, ha!

Funny man. I'm keeping all mine for anyone else that is wondering. Finding them is more fun than searching also. If It was easy to find them, it wouldn't be very fun would it?

I enjoyed driving 4 hours and hiking through miles of woods just to give them away to a stranger. What!!!

Preparing all the sub was so much fun as well. Lol

Your a funny guy

 

[Greatwun]

so you don't enjoy searching? Also have you found any antaeus?

I haven't found antaeus but Strategus is found in sandy soil. I have had better luck finding Strategus at lights during the summer. And yes I love searching for larvae.

 

[Oak]

lol, here in my area, i can only search for sand

 

[pannaking22]

Very nice finds! Sweet way to start off the year!

 

[wizentrop]

Tasty looking larvae

You are so lucky to have this species abundant in a relatively short driving distance (2 hours is not too bad). Very jealous here.

 

[Greatwun]

Thanks guys. Although I've yet to find Dynastes tityus (my target species) in these areas. I think that maybe the abundance of P. truncatus maybe the reason for this? Could it be possible truncatus beetles have taken over the area and eaten tityus larvae that they encounter and then deposit eggs in the trees?

 

[Lucanus]

Congratulations on your findings!

It is possible that the P. truncatus in your area have taken over some of the tityus dens so you might want to try looking at different places.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Oh my lord you hit the jackpot.