Greatwun Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 While hiking in Sanford, FL I came across these two beetle about 30 feet from each other. They are about the size of a quarter and have a very nice metallic blue color. Peltotrupes profundus,or Florida Deepdigger Scarab, are active in January in Florida and can dig burrows up to 10 feet underground! I have never found this species before. They are very active and fast compared to other scarabs I have found. It also seems I caught a pair because when I put them together they started mating right away. The place I found them in had these little sand mounds everywhere. I though they were ant mounds but when I researched this species it seems they make these sand mounds just like the ones I saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizentrop Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Nice species!Are you planning to keep them? I presume they need some sort of dung for the development of the larvae, but I am not sure which type of dung Geotrupidae prefer (I think I read somewhere that they bury dung of small mammal predators like foxes). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greatwun Posted January 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Thanks Wizentrop, I only kept two specimens for pinning and probably won't collect anymore since I don't know much about their care nor do I want to collect dung for them lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pannaking22 Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Very cool species and a nice addition to any collection! Wouldn't mind coming across a couple of those... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greatwun Posted January 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 They seem to be endemic to FL. They are not found often but when they are they can be found in great numbers. Lots of sand mounds are a sign they are present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pannaking22 Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Cool, if I'm ever down in Florida, I'll have to keep my eye out for those Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greatwun Posted January 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 If you're ever down in Sanford go to the Wekiva River hiking areas. When the habitat starts to get dry and sandy you'll start to see their sand mounds everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satanas Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 those are cute. i like the nice blue tone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pannaking22 Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Good to know. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greatwun Posted January 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 No problem at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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