Will lagging larvae disturb developing pupae?

H

Hoolia

L2
I was wondering if a larva in a container with pupae would disturb them I have 3 larvae in the same container with 2 being L3 and one is lagging at L2. With the L3s looking like they will pupate within the next few months, should I separate them? Any real concern with keeping them together?

 
Personally, I would separate them. Depending on the size of your container, digging larva could collapse the pupal chambers of those who pupate first. If they're in a huge tank, it's not of much concern, because they should have a lot of room. The main concern is, if their chambers collapse, they may not be able to make another one and may pupate improperly and have deformities or worse. I would put those you think would pupate soon in highly compact-able substrate by themselves, which is free of large chunks. Make sure these are large enough for a male to pupate in, so don't have it be too shallow and such.

If they have been happy in your container for months with no issues (that is, no injuries or cannibalism from crowding) you're probably okay to leave them alone, but I'd rather be safe than sorry with big larva. Keeping them together helps them pupate at the same time, but it personally makes me a little nervous. I keep all my stuff separate just so if something happens, it won't spread to everyone (such as mites or other issues).

Perhaps others can weigh in?

 
Usually they won’t mess with eachother unless they’re overcrowded, it should be ok to keep them together but keeping them separate would take away any possible risk of cannibalism

 
@GelGelada @Bugboy3092 Thanks for the suggestions both of you. I'm leaning towards separating them out after hearing from both of you. Here is their container they're in right now and their sizes, they've been in this since July.  I have a couple more of the boxes so I'm thinking I should just get them their own individual box set up.

https://imgur.com/a/tCzf35a

 
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