Growing fungus beetle larvae

Hi all,

I am trying to grow fungus beetle larvae (Bolitotherus cornutus, family Tenebrionidae) into large horned males. So far, with only Ganoderma tsugae, we've only been able to grow teeny tiny males. We were wondering if anyone had any suggestions on the type of protein others use to grow big beetle horns. We've tried dog food but it molded and was a mess. Any suggestions of other protein or a way to prevent molding or any other suggestions on how to grow big-horned males?

Thanks,
Hannah

I know a little about them. I suprisingly found that Dog food is definetly something they prefer. However I gave mine cat food and they seemed to really like that as well because it must have been more manageable. I would try just feeding less of it to them, and after 48 hours replace it with new. What do you currently have them in?

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How do you even find this sp?

Canadian anter wrote:How do you even find this sp?

The one I am speaking of was actually a buddies of mine. Not sure where he got it.

I haven`t raised any of those but dry cat food generally has more protein.
insect rod

I think this species doesn't readily accept food other than shelf fungi, I'd just try a different type of mushroom and see how they fare. @Pannaking22 has bred this species before, hopefully he'll chime in.

Canadian anter wrote:How do you even find this sp?

By looking around on rotten logs and shelf fungi.

Hisserdude wrote:I think this species doesn't readily accept food other than shelf fungi, I'd just try a different type of mushroom and see how they fare. @Pannaking22 has bred this species before, hopefully he'll chime in.

I witnessed my buddies eating cat food, although it wasn't a whole lot. I think he made a video of it. I will see if I can find it.

T.C. wrote:
I witnessed my buddies eating cat food, although it wasn't a whole lot. I think he made a video of it. I will see if I can find it.

The adults or the larvae? I wouldn't be too surprised if the adults ate the cat food, but I thought that the larvae of Bolitotherus (and the rest of the Bolitophagini) were specialised fungus feeders that ate nothing else.

Well I personally seen the adults eating the cat food, and he claimed the larvae were eating it too. If I remember correctly he said the cat food was fairly wet too so it was almost falling apart.

Hisserdude wrote:

T.C. wrote:
I witnessed my buddies eating cat food, although it wasn't a whole lot. I think he made a video of it. I will see if I can find it.

The adults or the larvae? I wouldn't be too surprised if the adults ate the cat food, but I thought that the larvae of Bolitotherus (and the rest of the Bolitophagini) were specialised fungus feeders that ate nothing else.

I was actually wondering if the humans or the bugs were eating the cat food

T.C. wrote:Well I personally seen the adults eating the cat food, and he claimed the larvae were eating it too. If I remember correctly he said the cat food was fairly wet too so it was almost falling apart.

Yeah, the adults eating cat food doesn't surprise me, but I'd really be surprised if the larvae were eating it.

Praxibetelix wrote:I was actually wondering if the humans or the bugs were eating the cat food

Lol!