Mating of D. tityus

[Rich]

Is there is a normal time that it might take for the male and the female to get together once they are placed in the same enclosure? Mine have been together since Tuesday morning and now it is Friday morning and all that is taking place is that one of the females and the male were head to tail for a while before they buried themselves. The other female is remaining buried and I am not sure that she even knows that there is a male present in the enclosure. Does this seem weird, or does it take some time for them to get it done sometimes?

 

[Ometeo]

i think they will be fine Rich. Place a single beetle jelly in a high spot in the cage (with access to it of course), and they will have to "meet" there to eat. remember that they like to be out and about from dusk on, so you may not have noticed the mating even though it could have already happened.

 

[Dynastes]

Rhino beetles normally lay eggs independent of fertility. If you're not getting eggs it's likely the substrate is too dry, too shallow, or made of materials the female doesn't recognize as useful to her larvae.

 

[Rich]

Though the container is clear plexi-glass, I would have to excavate to see the eggs. Is this advisable since they are fragile? Is it not better to let them hatch and then rescue to individual grubs and place them in a smaller container for their development?