Lucanus elaphus!

[Eduardo]

I found these as L1s on a trip to Mississippi a year ago, and am hoping to breed them since their gene pool isn’t as reduced as other captive specimens.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Dang, great finds. Good luck with the breeding!

 

[jojolovesbugs]

Fantastic crew, good luck with project will be following !

 

[Eduardo]

Thanks! I’ve kept Elaphus in the past, but they were inbred or something. Either way, no larvae were produced. Hopefully these originally wild individuals will reproduce.

 

[HerculesKabuterimon]

What effects did you notice that you think were attributable to inbreeding? Anyways, nice specimens!

 

[Eduardo]

They simply didn’t lay eggs and the larval die-off was pretty substantial, other breeders have also reported this. I have a theory it might be lack of hibernation, so I’ll see what happens by hibernating my adults first.

 

[Chilly_Pheesesteak]

They simply didn’t lay eggs and the larval die-off was pretty substantial, other breeders have also reported this. I have a theory it might be lack of hibernation, so I’ll see what happens by hibernating my adults first.

yes L. elaphus do require an extensive hibernation/dormancy period after emergence (mid 50s should do ime)

 

[Eduardo]

Yes, I’m currently keeping them at around 55 Fahrenheit. That is the only real downside to Lucanus, even the Asian species like formosanus and maculifemoratus from mountainous regions supposedly require cool temps.