Scarab can't use jaw normal, displays strange movements, and behavior.

[Bugoodle]

Oh boy, another problem with Mikey the Rice Beetle(scarab). He recently has been doing this quick bobbing motion and has been up all day at times. It's really weird, Mikey usually burrows away when he's out and I look at him, but today, he actually crawled up to me, like he needed my attention or something. He recently got stuck in his paper towel I keep in the water dish and "died' or at least that's what I thought before he suddenly recovered. But he was left with damage, he cannot climb anymore and wasn't able to bath in his water(just floated). And to make things even worse, recently lost 2 tarsi segments(I don't know how), but he can still move around just fine and can enjoy bathing in the water again.

Yesterday I did find grain mites in my millipede tank and a few in my nieces roaches and little millipede tank last night and now some in the scarab tank today, none on the insects, but some on Mikey. I was able to clean out my millipede's tank fully last night, but I need more substrate for the others. Ugh. Why does this have to happen?! I am so sick and tired of these damn grain mites! I've been taking better care of the tanks too. I gotta go invest in some spring tails.

However, the grain mites are not in that "crusty" form like the last time I had them. They're just tiny white/yellow mites crawing around, mainly on food and glass. Mikey has difficulty eating food. Rice beetles have strong jaws(they can actually bite you) and Mikey always leaves holes in fruit and gnaw marks in fruit. Now he eats like a flower beetle, rubbing his face against food instead of chewing it with his strong jaws. I actually rarely see his mandibles now. I'm really worried about him. I have him in a separate tank with the only substrate I have left over - crushed leaves. And some baby grass to eat. He doesn't seem to care for it, but he drank a lot of water though. He was doing that bobbing movement while drinking too. I wonder if he had been having  difficultly getting into his water dish in the big tank. Poor guy.

What do you think is wrong with him? I know he's getting old, but he's rather active for almost 6 months. A lot more active than other older rice beetles I've owned. I really want to know how long he can live. Can I give him apple sauce or baby food or is that just going to drag in more grain mites?

 

[Bugoodle]

To add, he rubs his face a lot too. 

 

[Acro]

Do you know the scientific name for your "rice beetle"? 

Sounds like your beetle was injured and is old.  Recovery may be possible but it make take some time, or your beetle may be on it's way out.  At this time it's hard to tell, but you seem to be doing what you can to help.  I would suggest trying beetle jelly, apple sauce or baby food.  Beetle jelly does not normally attract mites, but if you use the other foods, just clean them up often. 

As for the mites, I suggest getting some predatory mites to help with all your invert containers.  I've used them many times and they will do the job 100% and you'll be mite free.

Good Luck!

 

[Bugoodle]

I don't know how to spell the scientific name correctly and just copy paste. Guess I got a little lazy. lol Dyscinetus morator. 

I find these little guys throughout the year. And yes, I do agree with you. All the clawing and tearing he did trying to release himself from the paper towel probably weakened his tarsi and possibly his mandibles(I found a piece of paper towel in his jaw when I freed him that day, he must of been really struggling!). He's been acting fine today. He slept all day and is out now chilling in his little water dish. I haven't seen him do that bobbing thing either. He does appear to have a new chipped tarsi. I also went to the store and found some jelly cups made for all types of bugs. Rice beetles can be a little picky, and Mikey hates jelly cups, but it's better than a mite mess. They're a little hard compared to the cups I ordered from bugs in cyberspace, but if he can use his jaws again, it would be no problem for him to chew.

I also noticed that rice beetles, especially the males, have rather short tarsi already, so it's possible that if he loses them all, he might be able live without much complications.  Ever since the paper towel incident, he's already lost the ability to climb(despite having not lost tarsi) and seems to know(or have learned from trying) by avoiding climbable things like the sticks and wooden house.

 

[Bugoodle]

Eek! I just noticed today that my Harlequin Flower beetle, Inky, has missing tarsal segments on one of her hind legs and a missing tarsi on a front leg! I My Inky has always been a healthy bug! Is there a disease known to cause this? 

 

[Acro]

Happy to hear the rice beetle is doing better.

I just noticed today that my Harlequin Flower beetle, Inky, has missing tarsal segments . . . Is there a disease known to cause this? 

Not that I am aware of.  Normally it's due to age (older beetles start losing them) or there are things that they get snagged on (sometimes screen lids, rough rocks, etc.).  How are your enclosures setup?  Any photos?

 

[Bugoodle]

Thank you for all your help! Substrate is a mix of creature soil and leaf litter with added sticks to help my harlequin walk around(recommend by breeder), she is has always been a clumbsy climber and walker. They have a wooden "house" made for small animals. Adds shelter, climbing, and cuteness to the tank. A wooden stick for climbing. Small plastic water dish with small piece of paper towel in it( flower beetles seem to prefer sucking water and not drinking it strait out of the bowel, it also helps to prevent drowning. Paper towels are tougher and less "thready" and will not snag tarsi like cotton or tissues, and I'm not paying $8 for a tiny hermit crab sponge) and I recycle plastic caps to place food in. They didn't even touch the jellies, have no choice but to give them banana again. 

I forgot to mention that Inky had crooks in her hind legs' tarsi, possibly caused by fighting with an aggressive june bug I had to replace(he would pull at her legs with his jaws, ouch!). I noticed she walked around better for a while, thinking the crooks had recovered, but in actually they broke off as I first expected, so those tarsi could have been missing for a while. The missing front tarsi I noticed yesterday. I'm going to miss her when she passes away. She was a really cool beetle and probably my favorite beetle I've ever owned.

Also, I found a small mealworm in their tank yesterday as I was cleaning. I think it might be a "lesser mealworm." I wonder if he was up to no good and has been nipping at my bugs. I'll take pictures of the setup and mealworm later today, I'm getting ready for bed soon.

Also Mikey the rice beetle can eat again! Again, he didn't like the new jellies, so I had to give him his banana and I caught him nomming on it normally! The mites are gone. I think I'll keep him in the retirement tank. He's been through a lot of stress and a little quite home to himself might be good. 

 

[Bugoodle]

Bad news, Mikey lost some tarsal segments on his other hind leg! Now he only has 2 tarsi intact. He still moves around fine though. I think it could of happened because I used cut bathroom cup and the edges were too sharp or had a crack. He now has his pool back(with mulch to climb out, he did very well) and floamy cutout to place food on. Here are the setup images:

The main/scarab tank Mikey used to live in:

The little retirement tank(can you find Mikey?):

And here's the meal worm I found(bottom right):

My niece wants to keep him. 

 

[kevink]

Are you sure that's a mealworm? I found a similar creature in the  wild collected oak substrate I use for my Lucanus elephus.

No mealworms have ever been in the house since I quit raising mantids several years ago,

I thought is was a wireworm, or click beetle larva. Not being worried about it, I just left in the enclosure and didn't try identifying it positively.

There are lots of small dishes for beetle foods, I've got a tiny glass one, I have no idea where it originated, and some very small

deli containers, like you get from take out food. They originally held sesame seeds.

 

[Bugoodle]

He has a really hard time climbing things, especially plastic. That's why I just lay food down, but not in the substrate. The worm most likely came from the soil or leaf litter which I ordered online(I cleaned the tank out yesterday and had no choice but to use creature soil as I was in too much of a hurry to wait for better dirt to get in the mail). 

I just caught him doing that bobbing thing again. Boy, this sucks.

 

[Bugoodle]

Well, my Green June Bug suddenly can't move his tarsi anymore but still has all of them intact. Now he can't move around right anymore. The banana I've been giving them dries out real quick I noticed. Is the banana messing with them? This is all so sudden.

 

[Reyes]

Can you send clear a clear image of your injured beetles? Also, grain mite eggs are usually found in all grain related products. I recommend microwaving your grain products for about thirty-sixty seconds before giving it to your beetle.

 

[Bugoodle]

I cannot send a clear image unfortunely, the green june bug has regained his movement though. I didn't see him eat today though.

Dispite Mikey having problems, he's doing really well adapting to his missing tarsi, eating and swimming, so I put him back in the main tank with my harlequin flower beetle.  I put the june bug in the retirement tank to observe him and see if he recovers. I think it could have been dehydration with the june bug. I think I might start giving them baby foods which is rich in multiple vitamins.

 

[Bugoodle]

Well, bad news. Mikey died today. I found him on his back.  I really wish I could stop sleeping so late.  I could of flipped him over,, and he could still be alive today! Yes, I have found him a few times on his back, and that happens to beetles with missing tarsi/legs. Despite the missing tarsi, he was doing so good, eating, active, fine at digging, so good with getting in and out of the water dish, no signs of getting ready to die. I suspected Mikey might live longer than expected. He was more active than my harlequin flower beetle(she's become less active and sleeps a lot). Poor Mikey. I really should of just left him in the retirement tank. Had him for a good 6 months, average life span for adult wild rice beetles, but he is wild caught so Iyou'll never know if he would of lived longer. I think I'll raise some larvae next year so I can see how long adults can really live I just hope they don't take forever to evolve.

And just two days ago, my green june bug died. He died in the same fashion my niece's june bug died. Suddenly stopped eating, not active, slowly died in place. Could be old age or illness. If anyone here knows what of caused his death, please tell me. I'm scared that an illness could of been spread. Any known beetle diseases?

So, Inky the harlequin flower beetle has a big tank all to herself. 

 

[Reyes]

So sorry to hear! Rest In Peace Mikey and Mr.June Bug. I believe the deaths occurred because the substrate was too dry. However, I am not completely sure about it.