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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Mar 15, 2012 18:19:14 GMT -8
I have been digging a garden and in a separate area a root cellar. I unearthed a grub in both areas and was wandering if it is possible to find out what exactly I have found. The large grub was found a few inches beneath the surface in some dark rich soil, the smaller was found in the red clay that GA is known for. Attachments:
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Mar 15, 2012 18:20:42 GMT -8
a better view of the smaller grub. Attachments:
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Post by jackblack on Mar 16, 2012 0:30:38 GMT -8
Hey Rev ,
Good to hear from you again .
Well not living in the states I can`t tell you exactly what you have as I don`t know the species over there .
But the big larva looks like a Dynastid Rhino beetle sp.
The small larva most likely a Melolonthinae .
Cheers from Aus
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Post by jackblack on Mar 16, 2012 0:32:55 GMT -8
if the big larva crawls along on its back reasonably fast it might even be a cetonid.
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Mar 16, 2012 10:50:28 GMT -8
Yeah, the big guy was a bit difficult to set up for a photo because it was scooting around all over the place on it's back. I researched using the info you provided and it looks like you could be right. You are probably correct on the smaller one as well. I found a Melolonthinae type beetle deep in the soil within a few feet of the smaller larva. I have both of them in jars of the soil I found them in hoping they will pupate. I have never raised beetle larva other than mealworms and dermestids though so I have no idea what to do with them.
Oh, and thanks for the welcome back. Even though it was a very mild winter, there were very few insects around here to collect so didn't hang around here as much. Things are finally picking up around here though.
Thanks again!
Rev. R. Farrier
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Post by jackblack on Mar 17, 2012 2:28:10 GMT -8
Keep them in a well ventilated container , I rear a lot of things I find , good idea before you set them up , put some of the substrate in the freezer afew days to kill any parasites that could be lurking in there , or maybe in the microwave and moisten again if it dries out, if the larva are quite big already allow the substrate to be a bit on the drier side to encourage the critters to pupate .Keep very slightly damp but not wet .
Look forward to see the beetles you eventually raise out .
Can be a bit of a lucky dip sometimes and you might get a surprise.
How is that cat of yours going ?Behaving ?
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Post by thanos on Mar 17, 2012 2:55:13 GMT -8
And it's important,when they will pupate, to leave the cocoons as they are inside the moisture of the soil, and not to take them out in a box to watch them for example, cause then will dry/die soon. I have bred here (and actually am breeding a few at the moment,too) some interesting Cetoniinae (Osmoderma) and Euchirinae (Propomacrus) from their larvae successfully, keeping them both as larvae and cocoons inside jars with damp soil and pieces of wood from their hostplant.
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Post by anthony on Mar 17, 2012 4:12:05 GMT -8
Be sure to keep them away from the cat.
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Mar 17, 2012 13:36:14 GMT -8
Thanks for the tips! Hopefully with these guidelines, I can see the adult beetles that emerge from these larva.
As for Luna (the cat) she growing quickly and has calmed down quite a bit though she can still be quite a pest at times. The look in her eyes when I showed her the larger grub was priceless. After seeing how much she wanted it, I am making sure to keep them secured so she cannot reach them.
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Jun 16, 2012 1:34:37 GMT -8
Well, the large grub pupated and emerged. It turned out to be a Cotinis nitida. I snapped a photo before releasing it, which I had to do twice.  It flew off my finger the first time and I lost sight of it. About 10 minutes later, I was sitting in front of my computer and looked down to see it crawling on my shirt and had to go release it again. This is a very common species around here, never the less, they are very beautiful beetles. At least they usually are. This one is extra small and poorly colored. Attachments:
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Post by nsoarrey on Jun 16, 2012 7:11:13 GMT -8
pls sir,
i have some specimen to identify pls let have your mail so that i send the picture of the specimens thank you.
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Jun 16, 2012 12:09:24 GMT -8
Welcome to the forum nsoarry. I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination. The best way to get an id is to post a your photo here in the Bug Identification section. There are many people here with a lot of knowledge who would be very willing to help you.
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Post by jackblack on Jun 19, 2012 23:43:25 GMT -8
Hi Rev, Thanks for sharing your pic.  Its always nice to see a mystery emerge. Good luck with future rearing. I usually keep aberrants in my coll , one of each , extra small , extra large odd colour form , poor colour form , makes a nice series after many years of collecting , breeding , rearing , you get to see all the available forms eventually. Cheers |
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Post by Rev. Redmond Farrier on Jun 20, 2012 0:01:58 GMT -8
I thought about keeping this one, but I have to limit my collecting until I can come up with a solution to my storage limitations. I cannot afford the insect cabinets so I plan to convert a chest of drawers into storage. This will not be an easy task for me though with my limited tools and money for materials. I have about 3 extras that I can convert. They each have 4 deep drawers that would need to be converted into 8 shallow drawers with plexi tops on them.
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It flew off my finger the first time and I lost sight of it. About 10 minutes later, I was sitting in front of my computer and looked down to see it crawling on my shirt and had to go release it again. This is a very common species around here, never the less, they are very beautiful beetles. At least they usually are. This one is extra small and poorly colored.
