Green June Beetles

I was skeptical about it also but then while removing multiple plants. I found larvae attached to roots. Also they are sometimes opportunistic so they will feed on decaying material.

 
I decided that I'm going to document some things in this thread. I currently have ~43 L2 larvae in a medium sized kritter keeper filled very high with the flower beetle substrate mix recommended in Orin's Ultimate Guide (I won't share his secrets). As it becomes compacted over time, I just top it off with more substrate. I also use the original lid with no modifications, which allows the substrate surface to remain dry, preventing the birdseeds from germinating.

All of the larvae seem to have their own vertical "home" tunnels, which they consistently return to. This isn't something I would have noticed myself, but @AlexW actually told me about this and then I decided to look for myself. I've observed them feeding on cracked corn and the other seeds in the mix, but the roots of the sprouted seeds appear untouched and the plants perfectly healthy. As expected, they are MUCH more sensitive to minor disturbances than most other grubs. If their enclosure is picked up/bumped, they will all quickly retreat back down to the bottom of their tunnels.

Once they start molting to L3, I'm going to have to find a different arrangement for them, because their current enclosure is not big enough for 40+ hungry L3s... I also plan to experiment with other types of supplements, like dog food.

 
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Yeah I will have to probably go get a huge tub for when they are L3 also. And wow thats a lot of larvae good work on breeding! I think with you, @bugboy3092, and me alone managed to raise like 150 larvae. (I will release like 5 of the beetles when they become adults.)

 
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About half of mine are L3 now! I have as many of them in 6 oz. cups as I could, with the others in 8 oz., 12 oz., or 32 oz. deli cups, individually, or in a small group depending on container size. Their substrate is 50% sand and 50% original sub. I'm pretty nervous about the whole month where they die if you disturb them, but hopefully it all goes well.

 
As long as you don’t mess with them they will be fine, they are very tolerant to conditions in the wild.

 
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I think they are doing well tomorrow I am going to separate them and prepare more for winter. Also I was checking on my rotting wood and I found one of the larvae in there!😂

 
Ben may you please sell me some? It’s my all time favorite species and I say you YouTube vid about them.

 
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