Oviposition wood
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JKim
Mecynorrhina
Dorcus hopei group prefers hard rot wood, but Dorcus titanus group prefers soft ones. Lucanus do not require rotting wood in captivity, but in wild, they can lay in soft rotting wood, or nearby the "live" wood roots, which goes same for Prosopocoilus as well. There are many genera. What genus are you specifically need to know?
Beetle-Experience
Eudicella
I always add pieces of whole, rotten hardwood to the bottom of substrate-filled breeding containers for native (US) Lucanus.
JKim, have you found when breeding Lucanus elaphus that you don't need put a piece of rotten wood near the bottom of the bin for them to lay eggs? I was always told that you had to do that in order for Lucanus elaphus to lay eggs so I have always done it that way and it has worked. However, if I did not have to do that, it would be much easier. I don't use a log with L mazama and they laid eggs no problem. Thank you for your comments.
JKim
Mecynorrhina
@Garin I've been telling people that Lucanus species does not require a rotten wood in this forum multiple times.
Species in Dorcus hopei group, require a hard rotten wood. They can lay in soft rotten wood as well, but they prefer and lay more eggs on hard ones.
Species in Dorcus titanus group, Phalacrognathus, Lamprima, Prosopocoilus, Prismognathus, Cyclommatus, etc. which can lay eggs in substrate without a wood, can lay eggs "near" the wood (if there is one). Meaning having woods can aid females to lay eggs, but not necessarily need one. When females lay eggs, they actually push and pull substrate to make a space for eggs to safely hatch and grow up. You know how dung beetles make brood balls for eggs, right? It is similar to that. Females harden a part where they lay eggs to safely store those. While you dig up substrate to search eggs, have you seen an egg inside slightly larger space? (Refer to image below) That's what female intentionally made for eggs. I wish there is a way to observe how female actually make it (Probably with her ovipositor?).
If female finds a hardened spot (which is thanks to wood), they will take less time and less effort to make brood ball. That is why I have been telling people it is not required. Also, it is rather difficult to find a clean, pest-free rotten wood due to having no insect stores (Like many Asian and European countries) here.
Beetle-Experience
Eudicella
Yes, not required in the same sense as with Dorcus, but I use soft-rotten wood pieces (that you can break apart in your hands) and have often found oviposition sites (your "brood balls") distributed around the edges of the wood but still in the substrate. I had learned this technique many years ago from someone else who suggested it so it must have worked for other people before that.
When the wood is not in place, I have found eggs along the edges and in the corners of the containers. This technique might just give them more solid places to start.
I have a chest freezer in my bug room to kill pests but have also used an oven and slow cooker before (even a microwave once).
When I worked with D. parallelus they did only oviposit in harder rotten log pieces.
Steven
When the wood is not in place, I have found eggs along the edges and in the corners of the containers. This technique might just give them more solid places to start.
I have a chest freezer in my bug room to kill pests but have also used an oven and slow cooker before (even a microwave once).
When I worked with D. parallelus they did only oviposit in harder rotten log pieces.
Steven
Hello Jkim,
Thank you for your reply and sharing your experience. Also, thank you to beetle-experience for your comments as well. Its always great to hear everyone's experience with beetles and the different methods. It appears that a rotten log is not necessary but it possibly can help L elaphus produce more eggs with a log? I'm going to experiment a little with both and compare. Of course, each beetle is different so it won't be a definitive test but it may gave me an idea of how beneficial, if any, a rotten hardwood log is inducing a L elaphus to lay eggs.
Mr Kim, I had one other questions in regards to egg laying. I have had very inconsistent results with getting Strategus aloeus to lay eggs. Sometimes they do, but more times than not, nothing. I have tried different suggestions mentioned on the forum but for me, none seem to make a difference. Is there anything that you have done that has helped induce S aloeus to lay eggs consistently? I am mainly speaking of wild caught females but I also had some captive bred females that I also had difficulty with.
Thank you again for your informative and detailed explanations. It's much appreciated.
JKim
Mecynorrhina
If you are using a substrate, made out of BBQ wood pellets, that could be one major reason why you are having low numbers of eggs. the substrate particles are too small and too soft. Dynastine scarabs tend to lay more eggs in substrate with varying sizes of particles. Try mix up wood chips with your substrate, or try add some small pieces of rotten woods. You can just buy organic potting mix from local garden store, and use that. Be careful as garden mix can easily decompose (rot) when it has too much water without a regular ventilation.
Yes, I have tried to add wood chips and using compost mix and potting soil and the outcome seems to be the same. I have no problems with species like Dynastes granti, D tityus, Megasoma punctulatus, M sleeperi, Chrysina species, etc. Only S aloeus. Very perplexing.Thank you for your comments.