Outside Beetle Habitat:

This is a work in progress, so it will be several months before this habitat is put in place. So I thought I would try to duplicate a more natural habitat in the outside extremes where most insects live.

So if I am lucky eastern hercules beetle larvae will be in this habitat, a more completed form of this outside habitat will be later this year. The size for now is aprox. 5 feet wide by 10 feet in length. Several oak logs with the center rotted out will eventually be in this habitat with much more substrate.
Other working procedures will eventually be put in place. I welcome any thoughts in this process.
Insect rod

Photo of habitat.
Insect rod

I'd be pretty worried about predators.

I think it's a good idea. Like salmon pointed out, I would make it predator proof. Also you might want to put some sort of ceiling or roof on it to avoid flooding? Are you putting a screening on it or something similar? Really like the idea though. Keep up the good work. Good luck fighting the ants off as well!

I agree with predators and that will be a part of the procedural results. So far window screen wire on top . I think the big question is, what are the natural predators for this larvae species in this part of the world.
Insect rod

Going back to the design of the habitat, as it stands now, I have it over 8 inches above ground and around 12 inches below ground. Those two extremes will allow larva movement between moist and dry substrate. Fire ants are very clever but they can be killed from the habitat out sides.
Thanks for the opinions and options.
Insect rod

This is the way the habitat looks now.
Insect rod