The beginings of my collection

Here we have Cotinis nitida (I think.)

I just found another image.

Here is the box I started with these beetles. The other images are actually cuts from this image. That is why they are such low quality.

I have since filled this box up.

I want to collect more of these guys, but I am lucky if I see even one each year. I am hoping that as I get more educated in this field that I will be able to find techniques that will enable me to find many more of these guys. If all goes well, I may even try my hand at raising some if I can find a male and female paring.
I actually thought about buying a pair, but the only ones I found were $55 for the couple. That is a steep price to pay for something that I should be able to find for free since they naturally grow in my area.

In order to help in this matter I will address both of you here. First of all I would like to compliment you Reverend on your beginning collection, and newfound hobby. Let me warn you though....once the collecting bug has bitten you, the effects are long lasting. You will find yourself longing for more and new specimens, thereby feeding your desire to discover and learn more about this activity, and all of this will result in an ever growing collection. Also to you starlight criminal (interesting name!), you are quite correct in assuming you should find more Dynastes tityus in the same locations. I can tell you from experience that I always seem to find them within the same general area, year after year. There must be some large old trees with hardwood substrate in and around them, in order for the beetles to grow through their larval stages, and develop into adults. I go out hunting for them at dusk, because as you stated, you have to beat the possibility of them being squashed by cars. Go on moonless nights, during hot humid weather, and don't pass up other possible locations. You might want to try blacklighting for them in suitable habitat, I use a combination of flourescent black and white light.
If you want to try to rear them, then go to the old forum section of this website, under the topic list {Coleoptera} on page three about 3/4 of the page down, there is an article I wrote a few years ago called "Rearing Dynastes tityus, my method". I think it will give anyone interested in this activity a good idea of what is involved. I have reared these beetles on several occasions, and they are relatively easy to maintain. Whats more, you can get some really nice large specimens in A1 condition if you use the right substrate and keep them in a warm environment. You will be amazed at how fast the larvae grow, and the rewards are definately worth the effort. Below is a nice large specimen I reared three years ago, it has an unusual rich golden coloration that is somewhat different from the army green background color common to most of these beetles. Tom

Thanks beetle, confirms some of what I am learning about these excellent beetles too. I searched in an effort to find a pair to breed from, I am interested in life cycles and just generally like animal husbandry. These are supposed to be quite easy to raise. Unfortunately I found no males that were alive this year so I will have to wait for next year probably. I did find them repeatedly at the same location. I got this locale from another insectnet member, there's a post about it. That member found them decades ago in that location so the habitat must still be very suitable. I checked places near moist hardwood hammocks, places with the highest likelihood of having lots of rotting oak.

To my surprise, they live forever as adults. I still have the females I collected wandering around, they are on a mixture of applesauce, banana and pure maple syrup and even seem to have "learned" what the feeding dish is as they will come to it even if it is completely cleaned in between feeding. I'm used to the short life an average Lepidopteran, having them around for so long has been a lot of fun. I can see why the kids go crazy for beetles in Japan- they're easy and "cute" as far as insects go.

Hi Rev,
Your early collection boxes remind me of a coffin with the material base .
I once had a conservationist famous one at that and film maker visit me and asked would you like to see my beetle coll and she said would love to , when I opened the store box she almost fainted and said , ( Oh I can`t look at that insects in coffins )!!!!!
Then I was basically a stamp collector also , but we all have to start somewhere .
Now I rear breed document and publish , so if it wasn`t for our early amateur beginnings there would still be so much unknown about many species , I`m not bragging at all but I can`t remember how many new sp I have discovered and brought to light .I`m still an amateur in some peoples eyes although I fund myself through my work.
Since I started on insectnet I have greatly enjoyed the conversation which goes on here , everyone is pretty down to earth , not like some stuck up people who think they own the field of their study.
Good on everone keep up the good work .