- Joined
- Aug 16, 2002
- Messages
- 556
So these little tiny rove beetles just showed up for me in a couple of my enclosures. I have no idea where they came from since all of the enclosures where they showed up used sterilized substrate, wood and leaves when they were put together. The only thought I had of where they may have come from is the sheet moss that I used - it was dried sheet moss sold for plant pots, not dyed or treated, so I figured it would be good stuff for the 'pods (and they do seem to like it - both eating it and hiding under it to molt) but I did not heat treat it.
Their numbers are small at this point - maybe about 20 or so in each culture. Of course, those I am actually seeing are not likely all that are there. These guys are pretty tiny and quick to run and hide if they get hit with too much light.
So far, they seem to be doing more good than harm - my soil gnat problem in those containers where they showed up is practically non-existent. The adults are not behaving like the stone cold killers that they are supposed to be however - since they come running at feeding time to eat fish flakes, dried shrimp (which I can understand for a predatory beetle), carrot, avocado and Morning Wood (which I would not expect them to eat). Got out the magnifier to check them out and they are indeed eating all of these items. Honestly, they are actually quite entertaining when they start shoving matches with each other - butts held high in arches over their backs.
Has anyone else had any experiences with Dalotia coriaria in isopod enclosures? Do they eat the mancae? I honestly have not seen this happen - even when tiny newly birthed mancae no larger than - and often smaller than - the rove beetles were mobbing the same food. But of course, I do not know if any of the beetle larva are feeding on the mancae and I have not seen it. I am trying to decide if I should just leave them be since they are apparently controlling the soil gnats (which I absolutely detest). For what it is worth, the cultures where these beetles showed up are booming, so if the beetles are eating any of the mancae it is not having any significant impact... yet.
Their numbers are small at this point - maybe about 20 or so in each culture. Of course, those I am actually seeing are not likely all that are there. These guys are pretty tiny and quick to run and hide if they get hit with too much light.
So far, they seem to be doing more good than harm - my soil gnat problem in those containers where they showed up is practically non-existent. The adults are not behaving like the stone cold killers that they are supposed to be however - since they come running at feeding time to eat fish flakes, dried shrimp (which I can understand for a predatory beetle), carrot, avocado and Morning Wood (which I would not expect them to eat). Got out the magnifier to check them out and they are indeed eating all of these items. Honestly, they are actually quite entertaining when they start shoving matches with each other - butts held high in arches over their backs.
Has anyone else had any experiences with Dalotia coriaria in isopod enclosures? Do they eat the mancae? I honestly have not seen this happen - even when tiny newly birthed mancae no larger than - and often smaller than - the rove beetles were mobbing the same food. But of course, I do not know if any of the beetle larva are feeding on the mancae and I have not seen it. I am trying to decide if I should just leave them be since they are apparently controlling the soil gnats (which I absolutely detest). For what it is worth, the cultures where these beetles showed up are booming, so if the beetles are eating any of the mancae it is not having any significant impact... yet.
