Hyperdistortia Posted October 8, 2017 Report Share Posted October 8, 2017 Hey, guys. Overly-cautious Hyperdistortia back at it again with the substrate questions. Ok, so I know good A. dichotoma substrate needs to be mostly leaf litter and rotten oak or beech wood. It also needs to be VERY fine as to allow the larvae to consume it faster so they can spend less time chewing and more time just growing (I think). So, once I go Into The Woods and find some rotten or decaying pieces of oak and lots of dead leaves, how do I mix and grind them to a fine substrate? Do you guys usually go to a sawmill place and ask to use their wood chippers or something? Again, thanks for all the info, guys. I really want to make sure I can actually go through with raising larvae into imago and that I'm not inept, haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted October 8, 2017 Report Share Posted October 8, 2017 Nutri bullet or similar type of blender works fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyperdistortia Posted October 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2017 Gotcha. I'm gonna be doing the wood/leaf collecting tomorrow. The wood needs to be rotting and should come apart by hand pretty easily, right? And the leaves have to be broad-leaf, but I'm not sure what color ones to get. Are the freshly fallen orange ones ok, or do I need something that's been dead for a couple of months? And what was that ratio again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted October 8, 2017 Report Share Posted October 8, 2017 I use dead ones that can be crunched with ease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redmont Posted October 8, 2017 Report Share Posted October 8, 2017 Use oak leaves they are very easy to identify, I use a electric leaf sucker that has a bag and run it through it twice, for mixing just mix it by hand to get the consistency right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugboy3092 Posted October 8, 2017 Report Share Posted October 8, 2017 On the forest floor dig down to the bottom layer of leaves (a yellowish pale color) that can be easily shredded by hand, I usually just shred them by hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyperdistortia Posted October 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2017 Thanks, guys. I'm gonna have to postpone the search until tomorrow because of the hurricane. Any good tips for finding rotting fallen oak trees? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyperdistortia Posted October 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2017 Also, I have some Bob Red's Premium Soy Protein Powder. I've heard mixing this in with the substrate is good for growing big beetles/major males (I'm not quite sure about this, though). But that if you have too much in the substrate it will attract mites. Should I even bother with the stuff? Will it yield good results? https://imgur.com/a/rogeq Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted October 9, 2017 Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 I wouldn't bother haha. Never used additives. Some people do, some don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stag Beetles Posted October 9, 2017 Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 I use dead ones that can be crunched with ease. Its easier if you roll dead leaves under your feet in a tub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyperdistortia Posted October 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 Alright, no soy for the grubs, haha. Wouldn't want giant kabutomushis taking over Mississippi. Or would we? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stag Beetles Posted October 9, 2017 Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 Alright, no soy for the grubs, haha. Wouldn't want giant kabutomushis taking over Mississippi. Or would we? I WOULD, LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyperdistortia Posted October 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 Quick, someone Photoshop a picture of a kabutomushi in Jackson, MS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stag Beetles Posted October 10, 2017 Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 Quick, someone Photoshop a picture of a kabutomushi in Jackson, MS. lolololololololol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.