Cookies can be used to collect and store user data while connected to provide you the requested services and sometimes tend not to keep. If you have more than 5 beetles, give them 3-4 pieces at a time. Play sand is a good option.purchase it locally if you can, as it is much cheaper that way. First, make sure that it is actually dead. Blue Death-Feigning Beetles can go a long time without food or water, but normally, they have hearty appetites and should be fed several times per week. Even if you choose to fulfill your beetles’ nutritional requirements with commercial beetle food, you should still give fruits, vegetables, bark, and other treats to the beetles once or twice per week to give them some variety in their diet. It can be a good idea to mist one corner of the enclosure every week or so. Beetle Jelly is also a good food item. Remember that the more beetles you have, the more hiding spots you will have to provide. Beetle Type: Substrate Recommendation: Death-feigning, Darkling, Tenebrionid: Desert- 6 lbs. These beetles secrete a wax-like substance that protects them from the sun and gives them their blue color. They really like places to hide, so foliage, log hides, and branches work great for them. Perhaps most notably, the remarkable Blue Death Feigning Beetle is actually black in color. However, different species require different nutritional intakes. I was thinking of getting reptile … If you would like, you can wear gloves or use tongs to move the beetles. You can use any loose substrate that doesn’t retain humidity, as humidity is not good for them. You can usually tell by looking at their sizes. This is a species native to the deserts of the Southwestern United States, mainly the Sonora desert. The blue death feigning beetle is about 2/3 of an inch long and is black until it develops a blue waxy coating. The breeding process of these beetles is still unknown, as they are infamous for being tough to breed. You can keep about 3-5 beetles in a habitat that size. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Give your beetle a home that’s 5 times taller and wider than its length. If the beetles get wet, they will temporarily become much darker in color. They prefer a dry, sandy substrate as dirt may begin to accumulate on their legs and feet if it's too moist. Asbolus verrucosus, also known as the desert ironclad beetle or blue death feigning beetle, is a species of darkling beetle native to the deserts of the Southwestern United States, mainly the Sonoran desert. Scarabaeoidea: Geotrupidae: Odonteus obesus, Male. They are increasingly becoming popular in the pet trade, due to their ease of care, hardiness, and longevity. They are not able to climb glass or plastic tank walls. wikiHow's. If your beetles seem to dark, yet u should probably improve ventilation and/or reduce the amount of water that enters their habitat. The unique coloration of the blue death-feigning beetle is due to a waxy secretion that may help protect the beetle from the hot sun. ", How to Care for Blue Death Feigning Beetles, http://cincinnatizoo.org/news-releases/blue-death-feigning-beetle-emerges-in-time-to-celebrate-world-of-the-insects-40th-anniversary-at-the-cincinnati-zoo/, https://www.keepinginsects.com/beetle/care/, http://arachnoboards.com/threads/death-feigning-beeltes.205905/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. They are omnivorous beetles, with a preference for protein-rich food. Very excited to have these lovely little creatures in my home. For my small my bugarium, I use heat and light with this fixture: I use a 23-watt daylight bulb like this: For my 20-gallon long enclosure, I use a fixture and bulb like these: Note that the bulbs are only used to provide heat and visible light. Blue death feigning beetles have been reported to live for up to 17 years in captivity. These are a sturdy tank-like species of darkling beetle endemic to dry deserts in the southwestern US. When disturbed, the blue death-feigning beetle may become completely immobile for some time, Hence the term ‘death-feigning’. $ 22.99. Each male can only mate once, he dies after. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Be careful to not make the habitat too crowded with decorations. In this case, 94% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. If you use live plants, there is a good chance that your beetles will slowly eat them. $10.00. Do these beetles need any lighting or heating? Learn how to manage anxiety like a therapist. You can also increase the ventilation in the habitat by removing the lid of the habitat, if you have one. Asbolus verrucosus, also known as the desert ironclad beetle or blue death feigning beetle, is a species of darkling beetle native to the deserts of the Southwestern United States, mainly the Sonoran desert. Photo licensed Creative Commons, please use for any purpose, just provide credit. Blue death feigning beetles do very well in captivity, and are popular as pets. The difficult part about captive breeding BDFBs is that the larvae don’t tend to pupate. The molecular basis of death feigning, an antipredator behavior that has received much attention recently, was analyzed. Unlike many reptiles, Blue Death Feigning Beetles do not require UVB lighting. You can buy a food dish from a pet store or use a small overturned lid as a food dish. Buy as many as you would like for the same shipping price. $34.00. If you are going to raise these, be ready to do it for a long time. These popular and amazing insects are known to live many years as adults (no guarantees though they don't us how old they are). At least 100 gallons; any smaller and they will die. $20.00. for under $5 USD, at least in my area. Blue Death Feigning Beetle (Asbolus verrucosus) Blue Death Feigning Beetle (Asbolus verrucosus) Regular price $15.00 Sale price $15.00 Sale. This beetle has been known to play dead when threatened. I have seen my BDFBs drink droplets from the glass of their enclosure when I mist it. The larvae look a lot like mealworms, although they get larger. It is a desert species native to the American southwest and a member of the darkling beetle family. Try adding these extra treats a couple times per week. To keep the lichen fresh and tasty, mist it with some water 3 times per week. You can get 50 lbs. Dean Ryder cracked the code on this one. Beetles can’t climb glass or plastic walls, so you don’t need a lid for the habitat. asbolus varrucosus - blue death feigning beetle. Beetles living in a habitat with higher humidity will turn a blackish color, while beetles that are kept in low humidity, are bright blue. Mine will eat dead crickets as seen here: They also eat dried river shrimp, which are sold as food for aquarium fish and turtles: Another high-protein food source they will eat is pet food, such as fish flakes, or cat or dog food. $14: Flower Beetles: Leaflitter- Edible compost with volume about 10 inches X 7 inches X 4.75 inches, plus two sandwich baggies of dried leaves to mix in. Blue Death-Feigning Beetles are quite hardy, and can live long lives at room temperature with ambient light. When disturbed, the blue death-feigning beetle may become completely immobile for some time, Hence the term ‘death-feigning’. Cookies are short reports that are sent and stored on the hard drive of the user's computer through your browser when it connects to a web. Try lifting up rocks and pieces of wood. Although the substrate and depth I keep the substrate at are not good for breeding and egg-laying, it is fine for the adult beetles. When they feel threatened, they stop moving, roll on their backs, and feign death. Learn more... Blue death feigning beetles, sometimes also called ironclad beetles, are native to the American southwest. You can get 50 lbs. Class Insecta, Order Coleoptera, Family Tenebrionidae. They like to be safely hidden away at night. But, such a rather interesting adaptation does serve a fully functional purpose, however. For larger numbers of beetles, use a larger enclosure, I currently have 7 Blue Death-Feigning Beetles in a 20-gallon reptile enclosure with a screen lid, something like this one. Some keepers will also mix in coconut fiber or peat moss into the sand. Here are some photos of my 4 blue death feigning beetles, I have 2 males and 2 females. Remember, these beetles pretend that they are dead, so you will have to make sure. Posted by 2 years ago. Vegetables and fruits provide both food and water to your Blue Death-Feigning Beetles. Males are smaller than females. Keep reading to learn how to choose the best foods for your beetles! Pet Blue Death Feigning Beetles - YouTube. You can look for them in sandy desert areas. [1] This beetle has been known to play … A quick video about how I care for my blue death feigning beetles as well as some basic information on their behavior. This beetle has been known to feign death when threatened. The successful breeding comes during a milestone year as the Cincinnati Zoo celebrates the 40th anniversary of the World of Insects. Notice if there are any fruits they eat faster than others. Will blue death feigning beetles get used to their owners? How to house your beetle larvae depends on the species you have. How do the beetles mate, and how many times a year can they mate? Blue Death Feigning Beetle Educational & Fun, Desert Habitat Asbolus verrucosus. Females can mate repeatedly. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The Blue Feigning Death Beetle grows around 18–21 mm (0.71–0.83 in) from head to abdomen. Fact: Adults play dead to avoid danger. Chopped organic carrots are a staple I use. 0 bids. Once you figure out their favorites, rotate between them. If you have a lot of beetles, and they are eating all the fruit you give them within 2 days, give them a couple of extra pieces. This beetle has been known to feign death when threatened. BREEDING THE BLUE DEATH FEIGNING BEETLE CRYPTOGLOSSA VERRUCOSA Suzanne Rowe Aquarist The Deep 2. Cover the bottom of the habitat with about 2 inches of a sand-based substrate, and include branches, twigs, and bark to provide your beetles with hiding spaces. Blue Death-Feigning Beetle, Cryptoglossa verrucosus Taken at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Washington. You can bury it if you like. Lower humidity means more colorful beetles. It can accumulate on the beetles' feet and become hazardous to their health. Ending Dec 1 at 11:27PM PST 6d 6h. For this reason, the blue death-feigning beetle is becoming more and more popular as a pet, and just may be the best pet beetle. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window). What the species you are keeping needs, can be found at the Species Description page. You will receive (1) LIVE Desert Ironclad Beetle. $15.00. Can my blue death feigning beetle be black and smooth? Blue death feigning beetles come from a desert environment, so they are quite used to not having access to large amounts of drinking water. Also called the Blue Death-Feigning Beetle. Cholla cactus skeletons look decorative, and naturally occur in the habitat of Blue Death-Feigning Beetles: You can also collect your own decor, but make sure it does not introduce any unwanted creatures to your beetles’ enclosure. The beetles do not need any lighting. The blue feigning death beetle grows approximately 3/4 to 1 inch from head to abdomen. Mist the habitat with water once every 1-2 weeks, and give them a steady supply of fresh fruit and vegetables in a shallow food bowl. pychnoscelus femapterus - malaysian shadow roach 15-20 mixed size. Blue death feigning beetle attacking others? They do have an unusually long lifespan, living up to 17 years in captivity, so be prepared for the long commitment if you plan to adopt a few. This species, Asbolus verrucosus, is a tenebrionid beetle uniquely adapted to living in the hot, dry southwestern deserts of the USA. If you’d rather keep plants as decoration and not beetle food, try adding fake plants instead. The color of the beetles is based on the relative humidity. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 43,824 times. Taking care of beetle larvae (grubs) Housing grubs. The bluish color of the beetles helps them to blend in with their landscape. They are not that smart. Blue-Death Feigning Beetles, since they are desert animals, do well with a dry desert substrate. The beetles are active, so they need some space to move around in. Approved. You can buy it ready-made, or watch my video to learn how to make your own: Juicy vegetables, fruits, and beetle jelly will provide enough water for your beetles. If you have a lot of beetles, and they are eating all the fruit you give them within 2 days, give them a couple of extra pieces. Mostly fresh and rotting plant material. -PHOTO COMING SOON- Visit Bowling Green's local Pet Central store for all your fish, reptile, and exotic pet supplies along with knowledgeable staff and expert Read about and even contribute to the Blue Beetle Genome Project! $22: Ground Beetles: Composite- 3 lbs. The blue comes from a chemical coating that it secretes from its body at will. Archived. You can buy a glass terrarium or plastic critter keeper from a pet store, but a plastic storage bin also works. This is a species native to the deserts of the Southwestern United States, mainly the Sonora desert. Photo by Ryan Somma of ideonexus.com. After a short time, once the beetle senses no danger, it will begin moving and right itself. However, they may be more active if the temperature conditions are similar to those they encounter in the wild. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Keep reading to learn how to choose the best foods for your beetles! Try to give one type of fruit at a time until you find out what they like. I am preparing a tank before I order a few blue death feigning beetles. What Do They Eat? Do not use a dirt-based substrate. Research source. It only takes a few days for their color to return to normal. You will receive: (1) LIVE Beetle (Asbolus verrucosus,) also known as the Desert Ironclad Beetle or Blue Death Feigning Beetle. If you live in the South-Western United States, then finding blue death feigning beetles could be an option for you. Death feigning beetle substrate? Females are usually bigger than males. After some time, you’ll have a good idea of how much fruit they can eat within 48 hours. Blue Death-Feigning Beetles will mate and lay eggs often in captive conditions, as long as you keep males and females together. It is highly adaptable to hot environments and feeds on fruit, dead insects, and sometimes even plant matter. Substrate - Since Blue Death Feigning beetles are native to the desert, a sand substrate is ideal. Make sure your beetles still have space to walk around freely. References "Very easy-to-follow setup information - specifically, the sub straight and how to determine the proper size, "These are beautiful and adorable. However, don’t put a water dish in the bowl, or the beetles could drown. Blue death feigning beetles are diurnal, meaning that they are active during the day and sleep at night. Humidity - Too much humidity will cause them to lose their blue color and turn black. If your beetles seem to dark, yet u should probably improve ventilation and/or reduce the amount of water that enters their habitat. But, a simple explanation clarifies the confusion over its coloring. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. I have four layers of substrate, mostly because I made a mix I didn't like and buried it, haha. Apterocaulus germainei 37.8mm Argentina #18V Beetle Psalidognathus Insect. This beetle is extremely hardy and very long-lived, not to mention fascinating to watch as it goes about its business. Remember that a bigger space is always better. or Buy It Now. By using our site, you agree to our. No it can’t, but you can choose other species of feigning beetle that are black and smooth. I recommend buying a glass enclosure this large at a local pet store, or even used from local online classifieds, rather than online, to save money: On the simple side, a plastic pet keeper such as this can work: You could even use a plastic bin like this, as far as the beetles are concerned, although the best observation of your beetles would be from above, and you would likely want to leave the lid off for good ventilation. 5. Beetles can bask in the heat of the bulb if they want, or hide under the branches and leaves you provide to stay cool. This article has been viewed 43,824 times. Give the beetles plenty of room to wander around. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. They have a tendency to play dead when they are stressed or bothered. X Last Updated: March 29, 2019 The best I can tell you is that they are most active in spring and early fall, so try your luck during that period. Close. blend of sand and compost soil. potato bug juvenile. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Their beautiful appearance, interesting behavior, long lifespan, and easy care makes them a popular insect to keep. % of people told us that this article helped them. blend of soil, coconut fiber, and sand $15 Blu, the Cincinnati Zoo's blue feigning-death beetle. It has a hard, armor-like exoskeleton and will play dead when disturbed by flipping upside down and sticking its legs out. Their unusual… Does anyone have any recommendations for a substrate? My granddaughter's tank looks like its covered in a thin layer of white dust. I use enclosures with metal screens, which allows me to provide heat and light from a lamp. If you have several beetles, be sure to break the bark into a few pieces and scatter them around their habitat so everyone can have a chance at finding some. Males are a tad bit smaller than females. $7.00 shipping. These beetles will not bite, and are perfectly safe to hold in your hands. In this thread, he indicated how they will pupate when isolated in their own containers at temperatures between 80 and 88 F: http://arachnoboards.com/threads/inducing-bdfb-to-pupate.280289/. RARE, A1. The little guy in my site's icon is one of my blue death-feigning beetles (Asbolus verrucosus). I also offer zucchini, cucumber, sweet potato, apples, melon, and orange. Blue-Death Feigning Beetles, since they are desert animals, do well with a dry desert substrate. You will receive: (1) LIVE Beetle (Asbolus verrucosus,) also known as the Desert Ironclad Beetle or Blue Death Feigning Beetle. Where Do You Find Them? Blue death feigning beetles are easily moved because they play dead when disturbed. With 400.000 species of beetles on the earth there are almost as many different ways to keep them. If you are sure, then you can put it outside, as it will decompose and create fertilizer for the ground. The unique coloration of the blue death-feigning beetle is due to a waxy secretion that may help protect the beetle from the hot sun. 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