How to breed Harpalus and care for the larva

[jreidsma]

Hi everyone

I have collected about seven or so Harpalus sp. from my yard. Two were mating before I even got them in the container.

Any one know info on breeding these and caring for the larva?

 

[jreidsma]

I am just going to let the beetles go. I found that the larva eat crickets or other insects and that would not be cost effective. Especially when I go through a lot of crickets already.

 

[Lucanus]

I am keeping some Harpalus sp. (H. caliginosus I believe) right now.

I fed some dog foods and they loved it

 

[jreidsma]

Really? The adults, larva, or both liked the dog food?

I still have them, I may let them go. They aren't really that active or anything, they just bury themselves and never come out. lol

 

[Lucanus]

I haven't got any larvae yet so I don't know if it works on larvae too, but adults certainly love the dog foods

 

[jreidsma]

Hmm... Sounds like something we aught to try

I think if we got some captive breeding going these might be kind of popular.

Are the adults you have active? The ones I have just burrow and hide all the time, never coming out. Maybe its because I gave them four inches of soil...