charx53 Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 I don't understand what I'm doing wrong. I may have to completely change substrate out with new rotted wood I recently gathered. When do L3 Allomyrina Dichotoma stop eating prior to building pupal cell? I found that one had surfaced..not sure why. It lost over 5g since last weighing and disturbing them (which was on 3/18). The substrate could have been more moist than it was..but what other reason for it to surface? Perhaps they need a deeper container? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 Sometimes when they're not use to the substrate they start to surface. This happened to my larvae in the past. I use to change the whole substrate and the next day my larvae would be surfacing. The key to this is mixing some of the old substrate in with the new instead of starting fresh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charx53 Posted April 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 I didn't change the substrate, though. I was thinking of changing it due to possibly lacking food source for them and too much frass. I assumed they stopped feeding at some point in late L3. I thought I heard that somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 Oh! Sorry I misread what you wrote. If there is too much frass I would recommend that you change the substrate. Are you able to post a picture of the container? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 If you do change the substrate, make sure the wood is well rotted and looks like soil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charx53 Posted April 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 Oh! Sorry I misread what you wrote. If there is too much frass I would recommend that you change the substrate. Are you able to post a picture of the container? It's a small critter container, filled all the way to the top with a breathable material covering it. Probably 4 inches deep, but surely wide enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charx53 Posted April 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 If you do change the substrate, make sure the wood is well rotted and looks like soil. Yes, the wood I gathered is completely crumbling rotted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 I think you should be good then honestly. Just don't over water the substrate and you'll be fine. If you can, sift the old substrate and get rid of frass. You can add some of the old substrate with the new substrate and be alright. Good luck man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DynastinaeLucanidae Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 Now is usually the time for late L3's to construct their pupal chambers and thus they may surface due to shallow substrate level. Three of mine had surfaced recently and I rehoused them individually into a deeper and narrower container with compacted substrate and two of them have constructed their pupal chambers. It may be that your substrate level is too shallow and loose for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charx53 Posted April 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 What width and depth is recommended? I'll have to get new containers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DynastinaeLucanidae Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 It's hard to say since it'll be different for everyone, but mine measures 14cm in height and 11.5cm in width. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charx53 Posted April 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 So is this deep enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 That should be good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charx53 Posted April 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 All right. I'm going to change the substrate to the stuff I gathered, but I was thinking of not sterilizing it. Just gonna smash it up and sift out anything I see. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 I always heat treat the substrate just to be safe. Especially if it's found in the woods or outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charx53 Posted April 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 I always heat treat the substrate just to be safe. Especially if it's found in the woods or outside. What could be the worst that could happen if I didn't heat treat it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 If you don't heat treat wood found in the wild, centipedes or other pests could still be in there and harm your larvae. There's also the risk that an earth worm could collapse the pupa chamber and kill the larva. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charx53 Posted April 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 If you don't heat treat wood found in the wild, centipedes or other pests could still be in there and harm your larvae. There's also the risk that an earth worm could collapse the pupa chamber and kill the larva. Don't want any of that! Looks like I'll be baking the rest of the night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DynastinaeLucanidae Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 ^True, you don't want to risk your pupal chambers collapsing or your pupa being eaten by some critters in the untreated substrate. They can also loosen the substrate that you've compacted for your L3's to pupate and cause the larvae to surface again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charx53 Posted April 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Thank you! ^True, you don't want to risk your pupal chambers collapsing or your pupa being eaten by some critters in the untreated substrate. They can also loosen the substrate that you've compacted for your L3's to pupate and cause the larvae to surface again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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