What does a beetle eat: Coleoptera enemies and friends of humanity

Beetles, also known as Coleoptera (Coleoptera), are an order of insects that number about 400 thousand species. It is considered the largest of all animal orders. In addition, new species of beetles are constantly being discovered.

Beetles are common in almost all habitats except marine and polar regions. They play an important role in their native ecosystems as they feed on plants and fungi, animal carrion, as well as other invertebrates.

Some species are considered crop pests, while other beetles eat them and prevent plant death.

Like any other insect, beetles have characteristic body parts, including a head, an abdomen with six legs, two pairs of wings and a thorax. There is nothing unusual about beetles compared to other insects, but they do have hard jaws.

If we follow the theory of evolution, it can be noted that these living beings have their own physical manifestations of adaptation. From here we can get good hypotheses about what the beetles eat.

Detailed description

Depending on the species, the beetle may have additional eyes. Insects that live in caves, as a rule, lack vision organs. A representative of Coleoptera has a powerful mouthparts designed for grinding food. This organ includes the upper and lower jaws.

Hercules beetles have the most massive mandible. The thorax of a representative of the order Coleoptera consists of 3 segments. In the area of ​​the middle back there are elytra. Beetles have much in common with other representatives of the insect class; they have the following external organs:

• basin;
• shin;
• paws.

There are small dense hairs on the surface of the legs. There are many types of beetles. The most common ones have a uniform brown or brownish-yellow color. Red insects are common.

Less common are species with brightly patterned patterns. Some representatives of the Coleoptera order glow in the dark, they look beautiful and always arouse interest. Females, as a rule, are larger than males and their bodies are more elongated.

Some beetles have very developed mandibles, similar to horns (in this case, males are larger than females). Beetles communicate with each other and protect members of their population. When the male finds a female, he makes a characteristic sound that scares away other types of insects.

The beetle produces vibrations when its front chest rubs against the middle one. Representatives of this class of insects differ in size, but their structure is the same. In nature there are small, medium, and giant beetles. The maximum size of an adult is 21 cm. This species is called the “titan lumberjack.”

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Unusual longhorned beetle

There are more than 23,000 subspecies in nature. The mustaches of arthropods are long, exceeding the size of the body by 3 times. The average body size is 15 mm. Most representatives of the subspecies are small, but there are also giants, which include the titan woodcutter.

The insect weighs 25 grams. The head of the woodcutter is elongated, slightly flattened, the body is brown, but there are also black varieties. There are 3 spikes on the front back of the woodcutter. The male lives up to 36 days. The largest woodcutter beetle was recorded in South America.

Habitat

Beetles are found all over the world, they live in forests, steppes, deserts, and tundra. Insects rarely live where there is permanent snow; they are not found in Antarctica. Beetles are found:

• in black soils;
• in the bark of trees;
• in deciduous cover.

Some species inhabit deserts. Such insects are adapted to different environmental conditions. They forage for food at night.

Most representatives of the Coleoptera order prefer to drink fresh and slightly salted water.

Interesting facts about beetles

1. For the ancient Egyptians, the scarab beetle was a sacred animal. Precious stones and metals were used to make seals or amulets with his images. Enchanted figurines of this beetle with spells inscribed on them were placed on the chests of mummies, thus imitating a heart.
2. The first attempt to systematize all species of the order Coleoptera according to the system of K. Linnaeus was made at the beginning of the 19th century by the Russian scientist Yablonsky.
3. The collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences is considered one of the largest collections of beetles in the world, numbering more than 6 million specimens. The origins of the collection were Peter I, who founded it in 1714 as part of the creation of the famous Kunstkamera.
4. Many types of beetles imitate a dead insect when danger approaches.
5. Some beetles have adapted to coexist with ants, feeding on their waste products, providing them with substances secreted by special glands in return.
6. The bread grinder is capable of eating medications, including some poisons, without harm to life.
7. Genetic changes that sometimes occur during the development of insects lead to the appearance of gynandromorphic beetles, combining the features of a male and female individual.

Nutritional Features

Beetles are divided into 2 types: predatory and herbivorous. The former eat their brothers and their larvae, the latter feed on mushrooms, seeds, fruits, and the bark of tree crops. Many representatives of arthropods are pests of garden plants. They destroy the fruits and drink the juice of the leaf blades.

It is important to know what beetles of other species eat. They feast on the leaves of vegetable and fruit plants. The most common pest is the Colorado potato beetle, which eats crops of the nightshade family. However, some Coleoptera are forest orderlies. They feed on dry and rotting leaves.

Certain species of beetles eat animal remains. Some insects love wood and pollen. Depending on the species, an arthropod may only feed in its larval stage and go its entire life without food.

The insect affects the state of the ecosystem. Adults, as well as larvae, process wood, improve plant photosynthesis, preventing the development of diseases. Without beetles there would be no humus, plants would not be able to pollinate. In nature, there are more than 350 species of these insects, among them rare ones, little studied by science.

What do beetles eat?

Some insects, such as mosquitoes, lice and bedbugs, feed on blood. Others eat smaller insects and act as predators in the food chain. Some feed on droppings or dead animal carcasses.

On the other hand, there are certain herbivorous insects such as beetles. So, if you've ever thought that bugs are more likely to chew and eat hard objects, you're right. Their favorite foods include leaves, wood and fruits.

But not all beetles eat only plants. Some of them are omnivores. Although, certain species only eat specific plants and nothing else! Good examples of this are the red-breasted owls, which only consume grain crops.

Carnivorous beetles often eat snails, earthworms and other living creatures. On the other hand, there are some beetles that eat excrement. They are called coprophages (for example, dung beetles). Necrophages are beetles that participate in the decomposition of organisms and eat dead carcasses (for example, carrion eaters).

Characteristics of ground beetles

The species includes more than 20,000 subspecies (groups of insects). Predatory and herbivorous ground beetles are common. The most famous subspecies is called “humpbacked peon” . His body is large, black, and has a metallic tint. The size of an adult does not exceed 18 mm.

The mandibles of the humpback peon are well developed. The insect leads an active lifestyle, but cannot fly, and feeds on solid plants. Its legs are elongated, thanks to them the arthropod runs quickly. The ground beetle is distinguished by large elytra, and its abdomen is protected from the negative influence of the external environment. The insect is found in Egypt, Tunisia, Africa, France, central Russia, and also in Ukraine.

Types of beetles, photos and names

The order Coleoptera is one of the most numerous groups living on the planet today. It includes about 390 thousand species of beetles, most of which have been little studied, since their descriptions were compiled from single specimens found in a separate area.

Among the variety of families included in the order Coleoptera, the most famous are the following:

Ground beetles (Carabidae), including about 30 thousand species

The body length of beetles from this family ranges from 1 mm to 10 cm. The body, painted in dark colors, often with a rainbow tint, is usually elongated oval, although there are varieties that resemble the shape of a biconvex lens or plant leaf. According to the way they feed, the species of beetles included in the family can be both predators and herbivores.

One of the representatives of this family is the ground beetle, or humpbacked peon (Zabrus gibbus, Zabrustenebrioides), which has an oval-shaped body. The color of the beetle is rich black with a metallic tint. The size of an adult ground beetle can reach 12-18 mm. Well-developed mandibles enable the ground beetle to easily navigate the hard surfaces of plants in search of food. The slender legs of the insect are adapted for fast running. Large elytra almost completely protect the abdomen.

This beetle lives in areas with moderate air temperatures and high humidity, so it can be found in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and other North African countries, Italy, Spain, France, European Russia, Great Britain and Sweden. The largest populations of this species are found in Moldova and Ukraine.

Weevils or elephant beetles (Curculionidae), numbering about 60 thousand species of beetles in their ranks

A distinctive feature of representatives of this family is the special shape of the front part of the head, resembling a tube in shape. The size of adult individuals, depending on their habitat, can reach 30-50 mm. This family is characterized by a wide variety of body shapes, which can be almost cylindrical, pear-shaped, rhombic, hemispherical or flattened. The color of beetles can be yellow, brown or black, sometimes with spots of a lighter or darker tone. All beetles in the family feed on plant foods.

A typical representative of the family is the rice weevil (lat. Sitophilus oryzae), which has an elongated, slightly convex body up to 2.5-3.5 mm long with a thin elongated rostrum. The beetle's matte or slightly shiny chitinous covers are brown. The surface of the pronotum is covered with rather large pits. The elytra are marked with frequent thin grooves, between which small dots are visible, forming short rows.

The rice weevil lives almost throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America, as well as Africa.

Predatory beetles (Staphylinidae), including almost 48 thousand species

A characteristic feature of the beetles included in this family is the presence of short elytra. The sizes of beetles vary from 0.5-50 mm, but the body length of most species does not exceed 8 mm. The outer covers are colored red-brown or brownish-black, often with spots of indeterminate shape in red or yellow. These beetles live on almost all continents. Predatory insects live in the Czech Republic, Canada and Alaska, Japan, Europe, China, and North America. According to the method of feeding within the family, not only predators or scavengers are distinguished, but also species whose diet consists of decaying plant debris or pollen, algae and plant sap.

One of the brightest representatives of the family can be considered rove rove (Rove rove) (Paederus riparius). Adults of this species grow up to 10 mm in length. The elongated spindle-shaped body of an adult beetle is yellow-orange or red, except for the blue elytra, as well as the head and the awl-shaped end of the abdomen, which are colored black.

The beetle lives throughout almost the entire territory of Eurasia, North and South America, North Africa and Australia. It prefers to settle near water bodies or in damp grass litter in garden plots, where it destroys agricultural pests.

Lamellar beetles (Scarabaeidae), which include about 28 thousand species of beetles

Numerous representatives of this family are characterized by average sizes, ranging from 2 to 60 mm, although larger beetles are also found. The body of individuals of most species is oval, but there are subfamilies with an almost square or cylindrical shape. The color of the chitinous covers is dark green or dark brown, and their surface can be covered with all kinds of growths and spines. Most species of the family feed on manure or rotting plant remains.

The most famous representative of the lamellar beetle family is rightfully considered the sacred scarab beetle (lat. Scarabaeus sacer). These beetles have a smooth, strongly convex round-oval body, painted black, the length of the beetle is up to 25-37 mm. A distinctive feature of the scarab is the presence of large teeth on the surface of the tibia of the front legs.

The distribution area of ​​the beetle covers part of the countries of North Africa, Spain and western Georgia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ukraine and Sicily. Individuals of this species of beetles feed not only on plant foods, but also on animal dung.

Leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae)

This family includes more than 36 thousand species. The body shape of leaf beetles can be either oval-flattened or highly spherical, and the color of the beetles is bright green, greenish-blue, bronze-yellow, etc. The size of an adult insect rarely exceeds 15 mm.

One of the most famous representatives of this family is the green mint leaf beetle (Chrysolina herbacea). This is a rather small insect, with a smooth, convex body, which is painted in a bright blue-green color with a distinct golden tint. The adult size rarely reaches 11 mm. The beetle's food is the tender leaves of the aromatic mint plant, which gives the species its name.

Longhorned beetles, or woodcutters (Cerambycidae), numbering about 26 thousand species.

A distinctive feature of beetles from the longhorned beetle family is their long mustache, which can exceed the length of the insect’s body several times.

The Great Oak Longhorned Beetle is a beetle with very long antennae. The whiskers of this beetle are 2 times longer than the insect itself!

Depending on the species, the shape and length of the beetle’s body, as well as the sculptural design of the elytra and pronotum, vary. Despite the fact that most species in the family are medium in size, there are also giants among them, one of which is the titan woodcutter beetle (Titanus giganteus). This is the largest beetle in the world. Its maximum dimensions can reach 22 centimeters in length, and the weight of the beetle exceeds 25 grams.

The insect's body is elongated, slightly flattened, and when viewed from the side it resembles a lens. The color is brownish-brown or tarry black. Three sharp spines located on each side are clearly visible on the pronotum. The lifespan of males does not exceed 35-38 days. The largest beetle in the world, the titan lumberjack, lives in South America.

Weevil or elephant

The species is divided into 60,000 subspecies. Insects differ in body shape. For example, it can be cylindrical or in the form of a hemisphere. Weevils have different colors, they can be black, yellow-brown. The pictures show different types of elephant insects.

The most common species is the rice weevil. His body is elongated, slightly swollen, beautiful, because it has a characteristic shine. The chitinous covers of the insect are brown, the elytra consist of thin grooves. The weevil lives in Europe, Asia, Austria, America and Africa.

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Khrushchak (or flour beetle) larvae

The larvae of the mealworm (or flour beetle) are consumed in Europe. They are very nutritious, containing a lot of copper, sodium, potassium, iron, zinc and selenium. Dutch scientist Arnold van Huis, a popularizer of meals based on mealworms, wrote an entire cookbook with recipes for dishes made from these beetles; the book even contains recipes for baskets made from larvae. And in Hong Kong, Katharina Unger launched Livin Farms, a start-up for breeding mealworms at home: she developed a “hive” that can be kept even in a small kitchen, and which can produce up to 0.5 kg of larvae per week. The Livin Farms website has both breeding tips and recipes for mealworms.

Predatory beetles

They number more than 45,000 subspecies. The elytra of predatory beetles are short, the body size, as a rule, does not exceed 9 mm. The outer covers of such insects are dark or red-brown. Depending on the subspecies, predatory beetles may have a red or yellow pattern on the surface of the body. Such species arouse the child's interest.

They are distributed throughout the world, more often found in Japan, Canada, Europe, and North America. These beetles feed on the remains of animals and the larvae of other insects. They eat decaying plant pollen and algae found on land.

The most common predatory beetle is rove beetle . The maximum size of its body is 1 cm, it is elongated in shape. Representatives of this species are found in America and Eurasia. Rove rove beetle lives near water bodies, hiding in wet grass. The insect is found in garden plots. It is not a pest, but protects garden crops from the harmful effects of other arthropods.

What do cockchafer larvae eat?

A parent is not as scary as his child. This applies specifically to this type of insect.

The beetles lay eggs in the ground, and larvae hatch from them. They are real gluttons that can destroy an entire tree! These babies feed on the roots of grass, trees, and cultivated plants. They especially like roots from potatoes, strawberries, pine and birch roots.

The larva develops for five whole years! Therefore, living in the roots of a tree, it is able to devour it so much that the plant simply dies.

How to be treated

The therapeutic effect of eating darkling beetle is the overall health of the body, improved well-being and strengthened immune defense. The medicine beetle secretes substances that promote general detoxification, as a result of which the functioning of all systems and organs is normalized and functional balance is restored.

• diabetes mellitus;
• asthma;
• Parkinson's disease;
• psoriasis.

According to some data, darkling beetle eliminates pain from cancer, lowers blood sugar levels, and increases the body's resistance in patients with AIDS. After a course of insect therapy, there is a reduction in the incidence of not so dangerous, but unpleasant diseases, such as colds and flu.

Experts in the field of alternative medicine have developed several beetle therapy regimens, which depend on the stages of the disease. All treatment methods involve consuming a certain number of adult witch doctor bugs; the difference lies in the duration of the course.

Due to the fact that the minimum duration of the course of therapy is 60 days, it is recommended to maintain strict control over the number of insects eaten. For these purposes, you can keep a special diary in which you need to record how many pieces were accepted and when.

Due to the lack of statistical data that reflects the results of beetle therapy by healers, it is impossible to immediately start consuming insects in large quantities. The first stage of treatment, the purpose of which is to strengthen the immune defense and improve overall well-being, is preventive in nature and helps to check how the medicine beetle affects the body of a particular patient.

• start taking with 1 piece;
• daily increase the dose by 1 individual compared to the previous day;
• the maximum number of insects eaten is 30 pieces;
• After consuming the maximum dose, the number of medicinal insects should be reduced by 1 piece daily.

The pattern of eating beetles for the treatment of diseases at an early stage is similar to the preventive stage, only the maximum number of individuals eaten is from 40 to 70 pieces. To enhance the therapeutic effect, specialists in the field of alternative medicine offer a slightly modified course of treatment, which involves consuming the maximum dose of beetles for all subsequent days after reaching the middle of therapy.

Cancer beetles are used according to the most complex and lengthy dosage regimen. The therapeutic effect will be noticeable if the dosage of 70 pcs is observed. individuals daily for 140 days. According to alternative medicine, for other serious diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, psoriasis, asthma, the medicine bug can also be effective if you follow this treatment regimen.

During the therapeutic course, provocative signs of the body's reaction may appear (fever, fatigue), for which you should be prepared and not stop taking it. This condition indicates the activation of protective mechanisms and the beginning of resistance to the disease.

Chitosan, contained in the hard shell of insects, can provoke an allergic reaction, which is a reason to avoid using medicine beetles. The mild treatment regimen is designed for early detection of the first signs of a negative effect on the body in case of intolerance to biological organisms and the substances they secrete.

Currently, the Argentine medicine beetle is used to treat and improve the quality of life of people suffering from a wide variety of diseases (about 70). These are diseases such as asthma, diabetes, vitiligo, psoriasis, kidney disease, osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease, oncology, arthritis, chronic skin diseases, depression and many others.

According to insect therapy proponent Reuben Deiminger, beetle therapy (Coleoterapia) refers to the consumption of beetles of the genus Palembus beetles, known abroad as the “Palembus beetle” and the “Chinese weevil”, and in our country as the “medicine beetle” or “ medicine beetle" - Palembus Ulomoides dermestoides.

The main features of beetle therapy are as follows:

• This is a cheap way to maintain health, since you can breed these bugs yourself
• This is a complementary therapy and does not replace traditional treatment. It supports and complements traditional treatment.
• This is not medical therapy, so remember that if you are under the supervision of a doctor, you must comply with all his requirements.

The data was collected from reviews of people suffering from various diseases and published on the Internet.

• The condition is relieved
• Bronchospasms decrease or stop
• Nocturnal attacks stop
• The need for asthma inhalers is reduced or completely eliminated.

• Pain is reduced to a state of simple discomfort
• Improves overall organ function and quality of life

Parkinson's disease

Muscle rigidity and tremors are significantly reduced. Slowness disappears. It cannot be said that a person has been cured of the disease, this can only be stated by doctors, but the condition is improving.

Cancer is one of the most serious diseases that affects millions of people. And of course, in an effort to be cured, people use the medicine beetle to treat cancer. And although it is impossible to claim a cure for particularly severe forms of cancer in stages 3 and 4, many people who used beetles for the treatment of oncology wrote that they received relief from their condition.

When treating joints with medicine beetles, their mobility increases and swelling decreases. Painful sensations recede. The pain reduces to a feeling of discomfort and may disappear altogether. A decrease in pain occurs by the 10th day of taking medicine beetles, and sometimes even earlier.

As pain subsides and joint mobility returns, the body’s energy increases, good health returns, and mood improves.

In many cases, depression is associated with a violation of the mineral and vitamin balance in the body. When treated with the Argentine beetle by a healer, your mood improves and a sense of well-being returns. Of course, along with beetle therapy, to combat depression you need good nutrition, consumption of vitamins and minerals, exercise and walks in the fresh air.

When you adhere to a healthy lifestyle, following all of the above recommendations, depression recedes.

Currently, many people take medicine beetles, trying to alleviate their condition and recover from a wide variety of diseases.

The medicine beetle is drunk to treat skin diseases such as psoriasis, dermatitis, etc. This bug is widely used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, etc.

Such a wide range of applications for these beetles comes from the fact that the substances released by these beetles when they enter the stomach presumably have an effect on the entire body as a whole, activating the immune system and helping the body cope with various difficulties.

But do not forget that although beetles in many eastern countries are simply consumed as food, beetle therapy is still a means of traditional medicine. Doctors are treating us and we must adhere to their recommendations. In addition, there are some contraindications to treatment with beetles, which you can find in this article.

Video from TV channel TV 2

Even in ancient times, insects were used as medicine against various diseases. As for medicine beetles, they were previously grown only for reptiles, wild birds, and various animals. But over time, the fact was noticed that by eating these insects, sick (even cancer-stricken) animals and birds were cured. This prompted scientists to conduct clinical research.

According to traditional medicine specialists, medicine beetles are useful because:

• Dissolving in gastric juice, insects die and release biological substances that have a beneficial effect on the immune system.
• Chitosan, contained in the shell of beetles, kills various pathogenic bacteria, starts metabolism, has hemostatic properties and can improve blood condition.
• Females contain rejuvenating pheromones in their bodies.

Treatable diseases

Now let’s figure out what diseases the medicine beetle treats. It is believed to help cope with diseases such as:

• Osteoporosis, by eliminating pain and normalizing the functioning of all organs.
• Cancer. True, not at the final stages. But lovers of alternative medicine believe that taking insects helps increase the period of remission and alleviates the patient’s condition.
• Depression. They often occur due to a lack of vitamins, microelements and nutrients in the body. Beetles give a person strength and lift his spirits.
• Bronchial asthma. Treatment helps reduce nighttime attacks, helps to avoid medications or use them extremely rarely, and also improves the condition of the entire body.
• Parkinson's disease, helping reduce sluggishness and tremors.
• Joint disease. As a result of taking the medicine beetle, their mobility is restored, tissue swelling is eliminated and pain is relieved.

The instructions for treatment with a medicine beetle are simple, but at the same time, the effect is obtained only with long-term therapy.

Breeding small bronze beetles

Bronze beetles (Cetoniinae) are a very large subfamily of lamellar beetles. They are found all over the world, except for the subpolar and high-mountain regions, and in the taiga zone they almost never occur: these beetles are attached to deciduous trees. Most species are distributed within tropical zones, but some go quite far to the north. For example, in our country there are various species of the genera Cetonia, Oxythyrea, Tropinota, reaching the latitude of Moscow and even to the north. But in indoor culture they often contain larger and brighter tropical bronzes. Today, the number of species that can be found in culture is close to fifty (of course, this is tiny compared to the 4,000 species of bronzes on the globe).

Pachnodas (Pachnoda aemula and P. sinuata) consume an orange. Colorful!

Most often, small beetles of the genus Pachnoda are kept and bred. In our insectariums we bred five species of pachnoda: Pachnoda marginata, P. trimaculata, P. aemula, P. sinuata and P. abyssinica. They all contain approximately the same content. We will talk about this today.

First, a little about the pakhnodas themselves. These are rather bright beetles of medium size (body length 20-30 mm, P. abyssinica is slightly larger than the others), with smooth matte elytra covered with symmetrically located large spots. The adult lives up to six months (the record - 15 months - was again set by P. abyssinica, but this was an exceptional case), which makes these bright beetles attractive pets for insectarians. The male differs from the female in the presence of a longitudinal groove on the last few segments of the abdomen (in the female they are uniformly smooth).

Abyssinian Pachnoda (Pachnoda abyssinica) - the same long-liver

During her life, the female lays more than fifty round matte white or slightly cream eggs with a diameter of about 2 mm. From them larvae hatch, going through three stages of development: L1 - a very small larva up to 6 mm long, L2 - up to 10-12 mm and L3 - up to 30-40 mm. The size of the larvae depends on the quantity and quality of the food, as well as the presence of a protein component in it.

The last stage ends with pupation: a large and sedentary larva surrounds itself with a cocoon of intestinal secretions that have been collected throughout its life in the back of its abdomen. The result is an oval cocoon about 30-35 mm long, inside of which there is an amber-brown pupa. Pupation lasts from 40 days to two months or more (depending on temperature). At the end of this period, the young beetle molts and remains in the cocoon for about a week until its integument finally hardens. When this happens, a new, shiny-bright bronzefish breaks open the cocoon and climbs out to freedom.

Eggs and young larvae of pachnoda L1 (on the top left is not an egg, but a particle of baking powder, on the right too)

Bronzovkas as food object

Bronze beetles are not the most prolific of beetles, nor are they the fastest growing. But their unpretentiousness allows them to be safely grown not only by insect lovers, but also by terrarium keepers who use the larvae as food for large amphibians and reptiles. Bronze whelps are rarely kept in pairs, so even two females will produce a hundred larvae, and two to three dozen can provide food for quite a lot of animals.

Some terrarium keepers raise these beetles in a “minimal care” mode: both larvae and adults are kept in a common container, from which larvae of a suitable size are selected from time to time. This method has both its advantages (relative compactness, minimum body movements) and its disadvantages (the cage has to be illuminated, the beetles have to be fed, the larvae eat part of the eggs laid by the beetles, etc.). For those who have the space and desire to admire adult beetles (we count ourselves among them), another method is better: keeping adults and larvae separately.

Pachnoda larva of L3 age, shortly before pupation

How to arrange a room for bronzers

You should start by preparing the containers. Any sufficiently capacious plastic container (at least 5 liters, preferably more than 10) with a convenient lid in which ventilation holes need to be made is suitable for the larvae. Previously, we simply poked holes with a hot awl, but now we recommend cutting an even hole with a diameter of about 2 cm and sealing it with a fine plastic mesh (the finer the better, mill gas is ideal). We'll tell you why below. You can make several such holes (for example, four in the corners of the lid), and if you need to adjust the ventilation, the extra ones can be sealed with tape.

For beetles, it is better to choose a plastic cage made of hard, transparent material or order a real terrarium specifically for them (preferably at least 20 liters, cubic or vertical). It is important that its lower part, the “pallet” (i.e., the one that is determined by the height to the ventilation holes), is not lower than 5-6 cm. The fact is that female bronze beetles bury themselves in the substrate to lay eggs and are reluctant to lay eggs, if its height is less than 5 cm.

The terrarium cage should have a convenient door through which you can safely work inside without fear of beetles flying away. Ventilation should also be good, especially at the top: imagoes of bronze birds do not like dampness and live much longer in dry (but not excessively!) conditions. The cage should have lighting installed (now, with the advent of many options for LED lamps, this has long ceased to be a problem) and several snags on which the beetles will climb. Living plants are not very desirable: the insects are quite large, they will damage the leaves with their claws, and the females will happily lay eggs in pots, digging them up and damaging the root system. You also need to put some kind of small saucer for wet food (for example, a yogurt lid).

After the containers are prepared, you can begin... preparing the substrate. What, you thought we were going to release beetles right away?

Preparing the substrate for pakhnoda

If we talk about adults, then everything is quite simple with them: a small coconut is quite suitable. Exactly coconut crumbs, and the smaller the fraction, the better. But large pieces are not suitable for beetles: you can’t really dig into them. The substrate should be slightly damp, so first the shavings need to be soaked and then dried. In the cage, the top layer will dry out quickly, and this is exactly what the beetles need: a slightly damp bottom and a dry top.

Females are much more willing to lay eggs if there is a little cow or horse manure in the cage (you can mix a little dry manure with the bottom layer of the substrate, then there will definitely be no smell in the apartment). Tested: egg yield increases by about a third, or even more. Apparently, in nature, pakhnodas are not averse to eating this specific type of food.

Some lovers place fallen leaves, twigs and other decorations on top of the coconut at the bottom of the cage. They do not bring any benefit to the beetles, but it seems more like the natural environment. We abandoned this practice a long time ago and do not recommend it: the beetles are quite active, they constantly crawl and fly, even at night someone is sure to crawl around the cage. In the stillness of the night, the rustle produced by dry leaves on which beetles run seems like the rumble of a freight train, or at least a highway. If the bugs are in the same room as you, you'll fall out of favor with this idea as quickly as we do - after one or two sleepless nights.

With the food preferences of larvae, everything is both simpler and more complicated. In nature, females of most species of bronze moths lay eggs in hollows and dead tree trunks, in rotted brown dust left after wood has been processed by fungi. That is, theoretically, wood dust is suitable for feeding the larvae. But there are not always many rotten trees around us, and the larvae have absolutely no use for fresh wood. Neither sawdust nor shavings are suitable. And in general, if you think about it a little, why do the larvae need dust?

The intestines of pachnod larvae contain microorganisms (mainly flagellates) that help them, like termites, digest the hard shells of plant cells consisting of cellulose. The specialization of bronzes has reached the point that in nature they feed almost exclusively on cellulose: dust and the smallest living creatures and microflora that live in it. Therefore, beetle lovers have long come up with a replacement for wood dust: dry fallen leaves. But they must be fallen ones: they will not eat the dried green leaves of the bronze plant; they retain too many active substances, making such leaves unsuitable for food. Any leaf litter is suitable, except for those species that contain a large amount of resins (for example, birch is of little use for bronze trees). The best are oak leaves, followed by beech and linden, horse chestnut, hazel, apple and other fruit trees, alder, etc. As a last resort - poplar.

The collected leaves must be crushed and thermally treated. Lately we have been boiling the leaves for bronzes. Of course, this kills the smallest living creatures that can become additional food for the larvae, but in this way we prevent the introduction of pathogenic fungi and bacteria into the cage.

The leaves are placed in the cage slightly damp, in a layer of at least 10 cm (then you can add them as desired). Young larvae are laid on top, which will immediately burrow. It’s good to put with them a little of the substrate in which they were previously kept, and if the cage is not very large, put the “native” substrate on the bottom, and add leaves little by little on top.

The larvae are quite voracious, and the leaves will be quickly processed, especially if the cage is heated using a thermal mat, maintaining a temperature of about 25-28 degrees. So it's always best to have a decent supply of leaves, which you can store shredded in a trash bag or similar container. If you suddenly run out of them and have nowhere else to get them, stale tea leaves (no matter leaf or tea bags) will do. It is important to dry it first so that the cage does not become waterlogged.

Feeding broncos

With pakhnoda larvae, everything is, in general, simple: as long as they have litter, they will chew it, excreting hard oval excrement in return. They should not be completely removed from the cage: apparently, they play an important role in the formation of the intestinal microflora of the larvae. In any case, first-instar larvae placed in clean litter develop much more slowly than those that received at least a little substrate from the previous generation.

Also, old cow or horse manure will not be superfluous: this is a product processed by the intestinal symbionts of mammals, it breaks down much more easily in the digestive tract of the larvae and literally spurs their development. Valuable feeding, but do not overdo it, otherwise your household will be very unhappy. Attention: the manure does not have to be fresh and must be dry!

The larvae are still growing rapidly. This means that in order to develop, they need to form a lot of protein. Intestinal symbionts break down cellulose into many substances, which include amino acids, from which living organisms synthesize proteins. But L2 age larvae grow very intensively, and they do not have enough of what the symbionts produce. Therefore, at this age, larvae can eat eggs and even smaller and sedentary larvae of previous generations - if they are not promptly fed with protein feed. In our experience, dried gammarus is well suited for this, but daphnia is somewhat worse. You can use flake food for aquarium fish or dog food, but in small quantities: firstly, it is a little expensive, and secondly, protein food given in large quantities quickly rots, mold develops, from which the larvae can die.

With adults, everything is simpler: adult bronzes eat any fruit (especially soft and slightly rotten ones), they love sugar and honey syrup, which can be given to them by soaking a piece of cotton wool in it. We prefer to give slightly overripe bananas and old grapes: this way there is much less chance of feeding your pets any chemicals. You should place food only on the designated saucer to avoid contamination and molding of the substrate, which are dangerous for beetles.

We feed our pakhnodas only from a special saucer

To prevent older larvae from feasting on their younger relatives, about once a week we sort through the substrate in the cage with adult beetles, removing eggs and young from there. They can be raised in a separate small jar and, after the larvae have grown a little, moved to the main “kindergarten”. This allows you to save approximately twice as many larvae as keeping larvae and adults together.

Safety precautions

Unfortunately, beetles and their larvae have enemies. If you follow the precautions mentioned above, you may never know about their existence. But still, it’s better for us to talk about the difficulties that we had to face.

The most dangerous enemy of bronzes is parasitic fungi. They affect, however, not only beetles, but also a wide variety of insects. The most dangerous are the widespread fungi of the genus Beauveria and Cordyceps (mainly Cordyceps militaris), which infect insects living in the soil. Fungal infection is promoted by high humidity in cages and feeding larvae with untreated leaves, as well as feeding adults with apples and other fruits collected from the soil (carrion). The latter is especially important: although in nature bronzes actively eat fallen fruits, in a cage this food must be excluded from their diet.

Affected beetles become inactive, darken, and after death a characteristic odor and white fluffy mold on the joints (Boveria) or a pink coating (Cordyceps) appears. More often, fungi infect larvae, which grow worse, become overly mobile, or, conversely, freeze and die (then they usually turn brown with a very unpleasant odor). Cordyceps usually manifests itself only in the pupal phase, when the beetle inside literally rots or becomes covered with a pink coating, but the cocoon remains intact.

Fungal diseases cannot be treated in any way and can quickly destroy the entire population of the cage. We ourselves have already lost our entire collection of beetles in this way twice. You can try to promptly remove insects with the first signs of infection, but as soon as plaque appears (fruiting bodies of the fungus with spores), the entire cage is instantly infected. In this case, it is necessary to completely restart the culture, destroying the entire substrate and thoroughly disinfecting all the contents and walls of the cage.

Pachnoda affected by a fungus (presumably Beauveria sp.)

The second nuisance, which in comparison with fungi looks much less dangerous, is the humpback fly (family Phoridae). This insect lays eggs in rotting organic matter, including stale beetle food, overly wet foliage, manure, and dead beetles and larvae. Unfortunately, some species of humpbacks can also lay eggs on live insects, so that the fly larvae eat them from the inside. They are especially dangerous for sedentary L3 larvae.

In addition, humpback larvae developing on any suitable medium contribute to its colonization with putrefactive bacteria. The main sign of such a colonization is the liquefaction of the waterlogged substrate or food and the characteristic strong stench from them. Beetle larvae that accidentally eat such a substrate (adult beetles usually do not eat this and do not touch food spoiled by humpbacks) quickly die from bacterial infection - they also turn brown, become rotten and, in turn, become food for humpbacks. Thanks to a large number of eggs and a short life cycle, flies can quickly turn a healthy cage into a stinking swamp covered with puparia (fly “cocoons”). They fly very actively and run with a peculiar “jumping” gait, so it is difficult to confuse them with someone else.

As in the case of fungi, it is easier to keep humpbacks out of the cage than to catch them later. To do this, you need to seal the ventilation with the finest mesh (ideally, with a mesh no wider than 0.2 mm) and make sure that all lids and doors fit snugly.

Let us add that ordinary fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), which fly to juicy fruits, are not dangerous for beetles: their larvae feed only on fruit puree, and the secretions contribute to the development of yeast fungi, which give the substrate a sour, vinegary smell. True, adult flies quite heavily soil the glass of the terrarium, so we don’t welcome them either. In any case, the mesh protects against any insects that may enter the insectarium from the outside.

Finally

In the same way, you can keep any species of small bronzes that do not have a winter rest period (diapause). Among the domestic species, these include the golden bronze (Cetonia aurata), the copper bronze (Potosia cuprea), the beautiful bronze (Cetonischema speciosa) and many others - after all, at least 33 species of bronze are common in our country. Many tropical species are kept and bred in much the same way, for example, the incredibly beautiful little Smaragdesthes africana. In larger species of bronzefish (Mecynorrhina, Chelorrhina, Goliathus, etc.), the content is somewhat different from the above method, so we may talk about them another time.

Beautiful smaragdesthes (Smaragdesthes africana) are kept in the same way as pakhnod

To be continued!..

Mistes. Sudogda, February 7, 2021

Leaf beetles

The species has 32,000 varieties. Insects have an elongated or spherical body of a rich blue or golden color. The size of the female’s body does not exceed 16 mm.

The most common representative of the subspecies is the mint leaf beetle . It has a small, smooth, convex body of blue-green color. The maximum size of an insect is 11 mm. The green leaf beetle loves to feast on mint leaves, which is why it got its characteristic name.

Lamellar arthropods

They are divided into 25,000 subspecies. The body of such insects is small, elongated up to 60 mm. Some representatives of the subfamily have an oval body. The chitinous covers of lamellar beetles are dark green with small growths in the form of spines. Such insects eat manure and plant debris.

The most common representative of the subspecies is the sacred scarab. It is distinguished by a smooth convex round body, painted black. The body size of a male individual does not exceed 35−37 mm. A special feature of the scarab is its large teeth located in the area of ​​the front legs. Representatives of this species live in Bulgaria, Spain, Georgia, Cyprus, and Africa. They feed on plant debris.

The harm and benefits of cockchafers

Many forest beetles, in addition to having a harmful effect on plants, can also have a positive effect. They process rotten tree trunks, turning them into humus. The May Khrushchev does not belong to this type of forest orderly. What chafers eat refers to living and often young plants. The destruction of buds, young foliage, needles, inflorescences of trees and shrubs, as well as their root system, leads to their disease and death.

Chafer

It is difficult to understand why the cockchafer is needed in an ecosystem. Its larvae loosen the soil and enrich it with oxygen. But this is a debatable benefit given the damage they cause to plant roots. If we approach the issue from the point of view of predators, then chafers are needed to replenish the diet of birds. The enemies of beetle caterpillars are Typhus wasps and several species of flies, the larvae of which parasitize the body of the pest.

Those who benefit from the voracious caterpillars are fishermen. The following types of fish bite well on this bait:

• chub;
• bream;
• perch;
• ide;
• pike perch and other fish species.

Fishing enthusiasts easily find bait in the upper layers of the soil, collecting them by hand. The caught fish brings joy to the fisherman, but this does not make the existence of this pest useful.

For a child keen on searching for unusual insects, this particular Khrushchev is of interest. Some young naturalists try to keep the insect at home. At home, May beetles feed on young buds, twigs, inflorescences, and pieces of vegetables. Guys who don’t know that cockchafers eat at home try to feed them sausage, fruit and other delicacies. The beetles quickly die from such a menu.

The most mischievous children, instead of feeding and caring for the cockchafer, tie a thread to its legs and fly it like a kite. The insect tries to fly away, but the thread prevents it from doing so. Other hooligans put the Khrushchev in closed boxes and listen to them buzzing there. But such an attitude towards living beings, even pests of gardens and vegetable gardens, is not exemplary.

Harmful and beneficial bugs

The concept of harm and benefit was introduced by people. In relation to them, beetles can be roughly divided. For nature, all living beings are equally valuable and have their role.

When the vital activity of beetles comes into contact with humans, then concepts of benefit and harm arise.

Harmful bugs

This conditional group includes beetles whose activities harm plants. Some beetles are polyphagous animals that destroy plants of different families. These include:

• polyphagous Colorado potato beetle;
• the click beetle, and especially its larva – the wireworm;

  Chafer.

• a mole cricket whose activity destroys everything in its path;
• bread ground beetle;
• species of bark beetles;
• some barbels.

Beneficial Bugs

Ground beetle.

These are coleopterans that help fight insect pests. A sufficient number of them on the site helps balance the number of insects. These are:

• ladybugs;
• some ground beetles;
• soft fireman;
• ant motley.

Mating season

Male representatives of the insect class fight with each other, occupying the most comfortable places. Males actively forage for food and often fight for females. Beetles are higher insects; their reproduction requires complete transformation. The egg passes into the larval stage, which becomes a pupa and subsequently develops into a full-fledged individual.

The female hides the eggs in fallen leaves or places them in stones. The larva can hatch in the bark of a tree, in curled leaves.

The eggs are usually white, green or yellow. On their surface there is a thin leathery shell. The size of the egg depends on the type of beetle in question. On average, it lives 15-20 days, after which it turns into a larva.

Larvae can be seen in the soil and tree bark. They are:

• yellow;
• white;
• pinkish.

The outer integument is brown or green and may have brown spots on the surface. The larvae differ not only in shape, but also in body structure; they are often elongated and dense. Some of them look like worms.

Some larvae have a chitinous layer, others do not. The head has hard coverings and a developed oral apparatus. When the larva develops, it molts. Life expectancy depends on the type of female and male, and the climatic features of the area play an important role. The larva can live from 2 months to 5 years. It should be noted that some arthropods reproduce in the larval stage.

Coleoptera representatives of the “Insect” class contribute to the pollination of garden crops. Beetles eat animal remains, resulting in faster decomposition processes. Predatory species are beneficial for the crop because they destroy their harmful counterparts. The importance of beetles in nature and human economic activity is difficult to overestimate. “Forest nurses” improve the ecosystem.

What are the main characteristics

Beetles are distinguished by the presence of a hard chitinous shell. This is a kind of wing protection. The type of body directly depends on the subspecies of the insect. The habitat also has a huge impact.

The body is convex or streamlined. The front part is usually widened. Representatives are distinguished by long legs. This is necessary for trouble-free movement.

The head of a Coleoptera can be:

• prognathic, when the antennae are directed forward;
• orthognathic, when the mouth is directed downwards;
• opisthognathic, when the mouthparts are directed backwards.

Antennae are located on the head, with many segments. The length varies. Whiskers are unique organs of touch. Compounded eyes with a complex structure are located on the sides. Capable of including 20 or more lenses. Some Coleopterans lack vision organs. It depends on the habitat of the representative.

Whiskers are an important organ for every beetle.

The oral apparatus is designed for grinding food. Consists of paired mandibles and maxillae. The second section is the chest. On the dorsal side there is a pronotum. The elytra are hard.

The pronotum, depending on the subspecies, may have lateral spines or various growths. In most cases the surface is smooth. Coleoptera are characterized by spurs on their tarsi. The legs are covered with hairs. You can also see 2 claws of different shapes.

Beetles are the largest group of insects. The front wings are modified into solid ones. The development of representatives includes the following stages:

• egg;
• larva;
• chrysalis;
• imago.

Some of the representatives are protected and listed in the Red Book. In 2014, scientists reported 393 thousand described beetles. They have both common and distinctive characteristics. Some of the subspecies are still poorly studied because they are not as common as the others.

Beetles live everywhere except Antarctica. There are more representatives in the tropics. The largest Coleoptera reaches 17 cm.

Body color depends on the species. Every 4th insect is a beetle. Only some of the representatives are on the verge of extinction and need protection.

The largest beetles live in the tropics

Habitat

Depending on their habitat, there are two main groups of beetles: aquatic and terrestrial. Aquatic beetles usually inhabit only fresh water bodies; only a few swimmers and spinners can live in brackish water. They live mainly in the algae zone. Beetles lay eggs on aquatic plants, where they escape from enemies and set up ambushes. Beetles and their larvae inhabit both standing and flowing bodies of water, consuming a huge amount of aquatic invertebrates as food. Terrestrial beetles live in the soil, litter, openly on the surface of the earth, on or inside plants. They form an important link in the food webs of terrestrial natural communities.

Features of reproduction and development

All beetles develop with complete metamorphosis, that is, there are 4 stages in their life cycle:

• egg;
• larva;
• chrysalis;
• imago.

Most Coleoptera reproduce sexually, but parthenogenesis also occurs. Beetles search for a sexual partner using sound and light signals, as well as released pheromones. After mating, most females lay eggs, although some leaf beetles are viviparous.

The larval stage can last a very long time, in some species more than 10 years. The appearance of the larvae depends on their lifestyle. Larvae living on the ground or on plants are usually black or green and brown in color. The larvae that develop in the soil have a fleshy white body. Pupation of beetles most often occurs in cradles located in rotting wood or soil. The adult stage of beetles usually lasts longer than that of other insects.

What kind of lifestyle and diet

Coleoptera lead an active lifestyle. Most insects feed on plants and can be pests. There are also predators. Meet:

• saprophages that consume putrefactive remains;
• coprophages, preferring animal feces;
• necrophages that eat carrion.

Beetles stock up in burrows to feed their young or survive in times of famine. Some representatives at the adult stage live without food.

Several subspecies lead a parasitic lifestyle. They lay eggs on the victim. Young individuals eat the representative from the inside and eat away all the organs.

Most representatives eat greens

Human use

The rhinoceros beetle is capable of lifting 850 times its own weight. There were even experiments conducted in Japan and China that were published. Experiments were carried out on remote photography of objects using these insects. The organizers of the experiment attached miniature video and photo cameras to the abdomens of insects.

In addition, specialists managed to achieve radio control of rhinoceros beetles during their flight. Scientists were able to place six electrodes in the muscles and brains of insects. They also supplied a microcontroller, radio signal receivers and batteries. This receiver transmitted the signal to the electrodes. Scientists say such rhinoceros beetles could be used to explore places that are difficult for humans to reach.

Description and features of the insect

We came across an average specimen about 3 cm in length. Fan-shaped antennae and large bulging eyes gave the beetle a touching expression. Without a magnifying glass, numerous white hairs were visible on the head, chest and hard red-brown elytra. The mandible and lower jaw with olfactory palps were examined in the picture in the encyclopedia, because it was not possible to fix the beetle for detailed study. The insect was friendly, did not hide or bite, and moved quickly and purposefully. With the help of three pairs of legs with strong curved claws, our guest climbed his bare arm as easily as he climbed clothing.

The cockchafer flies, violating all the laws of aerodynamics. But he doesn’t know this and continues to fly. Photo: naturephotoportal.com

In the process of searching for information, we learned a very interesting fact: the May Khrushchev turned out to be a “malicious violator” of the laws of aerodynamics. From the point of view of scientists, thin narrow wings cannot lift the weight of his body: their design is unsuccessful, and the muscles are not sufficiently developed. Khrushchevs who disagree with the criticism fly carefree, reaching speeds of up to 3 km/h. The taking off beetle takes in air into hidden cavities and becomes three times lighter, turning into something between an airship and a helicopter.

Contraindications

Now let's talk about what contraindications there are when using the instructions for treating the healer beetle. Unfortunately, it is not possible to find out whether beetles bring harm or benefit to the human body in the treatment of various diseases.

• Allergic manifestations. Taking bugs can cause various types of rashes on the body, numbness of the tongue if they are bitten, and itching.
• The sensitivity of the body itself to bugs and the ability to process them. For example, treatment may be accompanied by pain in the abdomen, head, diarrhea, and various ailments.
• Psychological barrier. The bugs are eaten alive. Not every person can do this without problems. As a rule, you have to cope with nausea, vomiting, and subconscious violence.

There is no scientifically based data on the effect of bugs on the body of patients, therefore contraindications for use are based only on the expected effect produced by insect enzymes and chitin.

Chitosan has the ability to adhere to the mucous membranes of the stomach and bind fats, which can cause a lack of fat-soluble vitamins, calcium and magnesium. The listed properties of chitosan, which is formed from the chitinous shell of beetles, make it possible to generalize the circle of people for whom the use of healer beetles is contraindicated:

• pregnant and breastfeeding women;
• children under 12 years of age;
• patients who have vitamin deficiency or mineral deficiency.

As with any other drug or food product, contraindications here concern, first of all, people with individual intolerance to the components of this drug, as well as allergy sufferers.

But there is also a significant difference from other therapeutic agents, which lies in the psychological side of the matter. There are many people who simply cannot bring themselves to swallow live beetles, no matter how they are hidden or disguised. Here everything depends only on the person: whether he can manage to swallow a live beetle or not.

Important! Taking live darkling beetles is strictly contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, as well as children.

Note! Another name for the insect is Palembus or Argentine beetle. According to Wikipedia, it is widely used in Tibetan medicine as an alternative way to get rid of diseases.

This method of healing is suitable for people who are desperate to look for other healing options.

What do beetles drink in nature and in captivity?

In its natural habitat, the beetle is surrounded by a large amount of moisture. It drinks dew from grass or trees, and also finds moisture after rain in curled leaves. Since cockchafers feed exclusively on young and succulent leaves, they obtain the bulk of water from food, and in case of lack of moisture, they replenish the deficit with dew drops. In the larval state, the insect receives liquid from juicy root crops, and during periods of drought it burrows deeper into the ground.

At home, before feeding the insect with young shoots, they need to be lightly irrigated. This way, the beetle will be able to independently replenish its moisture supply in case of dehydration. It is considered inappropriate to provide it with water separately, since the beetle requires a minimum amount of it, and in a deep container it can drown.

Breeding at home

Oddly enough, the malicious pest darkling beetle, which thrives in flour, bran or cereals, still requires, albeit small, effort when specially grown.

Conditions of detention

These insects feel best at room temperature in a semi-shaded area. For their high-quality reproduction, a minimum of 400 individuals are required, which are usually placed in a half-liter glass jar, at the bottom of which a 5-centimeter layer of wheat bran is placed. This is the beetles’ home, which partly serves as their food supply.

Description of the insect

The second name for the May beetle is Khrushchev . He belongs to the representatives of the Melolonta family. The insect is native to Asian and Northern European countries and is most often found in forests, steppes and areas where garden trees and shrubs grow. Such places for living were not chosen in vain: young green foliage is the Khrushchev’s favorite delicacy. It eats it en masse and causes damage to all plantings.

There are two varieties of May beetles. It is very easy to distinguish them from each other, since they have different bright colors:

1. the red beetle has reddish paws and back, is most often found in the northern regions, loves open spaces without shade;
2. The black beetle has dark legs and back, is common in the southern regions, prefers to feed in shady places.

Advantages

The main advantage is ease of maintenance. Once every 3-4 months you need to change the substrate. Throw in some food once every couple of days. Compared to a cat, this is not a problem insect.

Room temperature will do. They come from deserts and steppes, so they don’t need to be moisturized much. On the contrary, excess moisture promotes the development of mold . And mold almost always overcomes a monoculture of insects.

They say there is no smell. Personally, I smell a faint smell of the compote mixture. I don't know why there is such an association.

The medicine beetle, if the conditions are suitable for life, will not escape. People write that they saw healers spreading their wings. I was afraid that they would run around the house, so I closed the container with a lid with holes. I haven't seen wings spread in a month. A very rare occurrence. Now I calmly opened the lid and don’t close it, the main thing is that it doesn’t spill. I think maybe I can use gauze and an elastic band.

I started by ruining the lid of the container. And then he just removed it, and they don’t run away like that.

The development cycle to adulthood is 6-7 weeks. This means that in about a month you will have a lot of larvae with which you can feed the ants. An adult beetle lives 1-2 years. However, it is almost not given to ants as food.

The larvae can be frozen or stored in the refrigerator. So the larva turns into a beetle in 2-4 weeks, then in the refrigerator, it will be a larva for a month longer.

Feeding medicine beetles

Since all beetles of the darkling beetle family consume grain and cereals as their main food, our darkling beetle also prefers to eat cereals. In Western countries, this bug is often fed with peanuts and peanut husks. Some even call it the "peanut bug." But still, the basis of nutrition is cereals. In our country, it was found that the optimal food for the doctor beetle is black bread, without any additives or spices. Regular black bread, which is sold in our stores in the form of a brick.

Feeding the bugs is easy. Place small pieces of bread, 2-5 cm in size and 1-1.5 cm thick, on the surface of the substrate. And soon you will see how the bugs run as fast as they can to their food, stick to it and bury it in the bran. There, inside the substrate, the humidity and temperature are more stable and this has a good effect on the reproduction of bugs.

Black bread is the main food product for feeding medicine beetles. But it's not enough. It is also necessary to feed the bugs with pieces of fruits and vegetables. From them they take not only nutrients, but also much-needed water.

Since these bugs get water only from juicy fruits and vegetables, do not forget to throw them apple slices, thinly sliced ​​carrots and banana peels, which they love, from time to time.

Be careful! Excess fruit can cause mold and rot! And this will have a detrimental effect on the health of your bugs. Don't throw in too much fruit. It's better to give them a little, see how they handle it, and then give them more if necessary.

The amount of food you need to give your beetles depends on the number of beetles you have and the temperature at which they are kept. As a guide, try giving bread 2 times a week and wet food 2 times a week. Watch carefully how they handle food. Prevent mold from growing in your terrarium.

Container for keeping beetles

Any low vessel made of glass or plastic is suitable for keeping the Argentine medicine beetle.
Typically, plastic containers of completely different sizes and glass jars are used for this purpose. In such a mini-terrarium, the small darkling beetle lives and reproduces quite well. If your task is not to contain tens of thousands of beetles, but you only need to create good living conditions for 1-2 thousand bugs, then a vessel with a volume of approximately 0.5 - 1 liter will be sufficient. To contain more bugs, the volume of the vessel must be increased. So, to keep 5000 beetles, a vessel with a volume of 1.5 - 2 liters will be enough.

To maintain optimal humidity, the terrarium must be closed with a lid that has holes for ventilation and oxygen flow. Do not close lids tightly unless they have holes. Leave gaps. There were cases when all the beetles died because they had no access to oxygen and could not breathe.

If the vessel is tall enough and has a narrow neck, for example a 2-3 liter jar, then in this case the lid may not be closed at all, since due to the height of the vessel and the small air movement in the jar, it will be more difficult for fresh air to sink to the bottom of the jar . When they breathe, bugs, like all living organisms, emit carbon dioxide. And it is heavier than air. So if you have a tall container, make sure the fresh air reaches the bottom of your container. It is easier to achieve this when there are several centimeters from the surface of the substrate in which the bugs live to the edge of the terrarium. Then oxygen freely reaches the bottom of the vessel and the bugs will feel good.

Temperature and humidity

To keep the medicine beetle, it is necessary to maintain room temperature. These bugs are unpretentious and can live well at temperatures from 18 to 27 degrees. The optimal temperature is 21-24 degrees Celsius. At low temperatures, metabolism slows down and beetles have trouble eating and reproducing.

The optimal humidity for keeping beetles is 65-70%. It should be borne in mind that the pieces of fruits and vegetables that you feed the bugs provide additional moisture in the terrarium. And if it is large, then mold may appear. But mold should not be allowed in the terrarium. Because of it, the death of the bugs begins.

But the terrarium should also not be too dry, since beetle larvae do not hatch at low humidity. Read more about this in the article about breeding beetles for healers.

Substrate for keeping beetles

At the bottom of your terrarium you need to sprinkle a layer of wheat bran about 2 cm. Some articles mention the use of rye and oat bran. It’s better to find proven wheat bran. Bugs live in them, burrow, eat and reproduce magnificently in this substrate. Bran also helps create a microclimate in such a terrarium. The bran layer has higher moisture content than the surface and can also adsorb excess moisture. This is favorable for the breeding of medicine beetles.

Over time, waste products of bugs accumulate in this layer of bran, the bran darkens and can even turn black in particularly advanced cases. The bugs crawl to the surface. Following them, the larvae crawl out, which are usually found in the bran layer and crawl out only when the food smells delicious. In this case, it is necessary to add more or completely change the substrate.

What to feed the larvae

Zophobas larvae: on the left - just molted, still white

Typically, the larvae are fed potatoes, apples or carrots - this is cheap and always available, and this food also provides the larvae with the necessary water. It is also common to keep them on bran or oatmeal - these products serve not only as food, but also as a substrate, in which the larvae can burrow and feel safe. Just in case, we note that for other animals (cockroaches, crickets, etc.) this method should absolutely not be used; darkling beetle larvae are the only ones that can be kept on the food substrate. Both larvae and adult beetles can consume protein sources such as dog or cat food and even dead fish, leaving behind only tough skin and bones. Does not cope well with pure fats or very fatty foods such as avocados.

Where do beetles live?

Beetles live in almost all corners of the globe, from sultry deserts and humid equatorial forests to the vast expanses of the tundra, with the exception of the eternal snow zone of high mountain peaks, as well as the ice fields of Antarctica and the Arctic.

The numerous order of Coleoptera includes species of beetles that settle in the near-surface fertile soil layer, inhabiting the bark, wood or roots of trees, as well as flowers or foliage.

Inhabitants of deserts and semi-deserts have adapted to conditions of elevated temperatures, therefore they lead an active nocturnal lifestyle. Many beetles live in fresh or slightly salted water bodies with abundant coastal and bottom vegetation.