Prionus Californicus

[AlexW]

Any photos?

 

[Hisserdude]

No, they are to small to get a good picture on my camera, even on super macro mode. When they get bigger i will try and get some pics!

 

[Bill Myers]

Some of the eggs have hatched! They are very cute!

Awesome! Can't wait for the photos when you get your camera setup going.

Try putting a magnifying glass over the lens and use manual focus.

Cheers

 

[Hisserdude]

Update: I only have one larva left. It is eating rotten wood, and is growing slowly. I do not know why all the other larva died, they were in a big cage, could they have eaten each other?

 

[Bill Myers]

Sorry to hear that, Hisserdude. Yes, they could have eaten each other. I've experienced that with some of my D. granti and D. tityus larvae. It's my fault because I didn't notice some of the eggs had hatched and the larvae had run out of food in the small containers I had them in. So, naturally, they ate the eggs that hadn't hatched and any smaller larvae.

So, I'm guessing your rotting wood isn't providing the proper nutrition for your larvae. I seem to recall suggesting live trees for them so they could munch on the roots.

That's all I can think of that would have triggered the cannibalism response.

Cheers

 

[Hisserdude]

I did give them a four inch piece of oak root (my friend cut down his tree to build a shed), but they didn't really touch it. It's still in there, and I have another peice in a cup of water.

 

[Bill Myers]

All I can figure from what you've described is that the roots need to be attached to a live tree so as to provide fresh xylem sap.

Can you get a small peach or cherry tree from a nursery? From what I've read, they seem to prefer those.

That's all I can think of to do, my friend.

Cheers and good luck!

 

[Hisserdude]

Ah, maybe that was the problem. No I can't get one of those, and it wouldn't be worth it for just one larva. Thanks for the advice!