AlexW Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Remember this? The Angeles National Forest is indeed few on insects...... Unless you have a hammer and chisel. Last weekend I found a diabolical ironclad and three pillbugs: (More photos of another find to come later!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hisserdude Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Cool! Glad to hear that you are finding beetles near you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Awesome find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexW Posted January 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Update: On Saturday I also caught two of these isopods at a completely different location, presumably some kind of Porcellio. They seem quite pancake-like and coexist well with the pillbugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hisserdude Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Looks like a Trachelipus rathkii, in my opinion. Hope you find more bugs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexW Posted January 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 I have caught a single small carabid for the experiment with wet-substrate breeding over the weekend (along with three more T.rathkii) but I can't get it to eat. No interest is shown in dry fish food pellets and some is with apple slices, but I suppose it's probably just drinking the water from the apple's surface. Any suggestions as to what to feed it and how frequently I should do so? Pinhead crickets and most other insects are too large. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hisserdude Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I usually feed carabids pre-killed mealworms, because I get way to many problems with dog food (mold, mites,etc.). Even tiny carabids will eat a pre-killed mealworm, no matter how big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexW Posted January 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 I have gotten it to eat wet fish/dog food now, but thanks anyways! Here are some better photos of the T.rathkii and carabid, insects are usually impossible to photograph well without a macro lens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hisserdude Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Your ground beetle looks like a Calathus ruficollis, I have kept this species before, but never made a serious attempt to breed them. Nice pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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