So, I saw this thread http://beetleforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=2274 which really got me thinking about larval weight vs adult size ratios/comparisons. I think it would be really interesting if there was some sort of species chart that related L3 weight at pupation to adult length. Does such a chart already exist, possibly in countries like Japan or Germany, where the hobby is much more common on a national level? If not, it may be a worthwhile project for breeders to post recorded measurements so that others can get an idea of the adult sizes they can expect. It might be a good idea to start off with one species that lots of people have and then add other species to the chart in the same manner.
A chart would be nice to have for reference, but the mathematical relationship between larval weight and adult size is even more interesting to me. I would expect a logarithmic trend if the relationship was graphed, as each species likely has a maximum adult size that it can reach (or, maybe not. this is just a speculation. it would be fascinating if the relationship was linear although my experience in biological studies suggests that most "higher" animals have some kind of biological limitation to size). If enough data points were taken and the relationship was graphed, there would be a mathematical expression that could predict adult size as a function of larval weight. Constants, such as slope and y-intercepts, would be defined for each species. So you could either look at the chart or plug your weight into an equation. Obviously, the equation/chart will not be 100% accurate, but the more data points that go into it the more accurate it will become. It seems pretty simple and easy to do, actually.
I think some US native species that are commonly bred in culture, such as Dynastes granti or Dynastes tityus, would be good candidates for this project. If I get my hands on some L3's before my own pairs produce them, I will post larval weights and adult sizes. Cheers
A chart would be nice to have for reference, but the mathematical relationship between larval weight and adult size is even more interesting to me. I would expect a logarithmic trend if the relationship was graphed, as each species likely has a maximum adult size that it can reach (or, maybe not. this is just a speculation. it would be fascinating if the relationship was linear although my experience in biological studies suggests that most "higher" animals have some kind of biological limitation to size). If enough data points were taken and the relationship was graphed, there would be a mathematical expression that could predict adult size as a function of larval weight. Constants, such as slope and y-intercepts, would be defined for each species. So you could either look at the chart or plug your weight into an equation. Obviously, the equation/chart will not be 100% accurate, but the more data points that go into it the more accurate it will become. It seems pretty simple and easy to do, actually.
I think some US native species that are commonly bred in culture, such as Dynastes granti or Dynastes tityus, would be good candidates for this project. If I get my hands on some L3's before my own pairs produce them, I will post larval weights and adult sizes. Cheers
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