Dynastes tityus breeding?

[reverendsterlin]

I have found several Dynastes tityus over the last couple of months. I have placed males with females and have seen breeding behavior. The beetles do not live very long but are the females laying eggs? Do they bury eggs in the substrate? Any way to tell? Thanks.

 

[What]

"Eggs are laid in decaying wood matter, which is what the larva will feed on while developing. Before laying her eggs the female will pack the wood material with her hind legs in the spot where she is going to lay an egg. She then inserts her ovipositor into this packed area making a small chamber where the egg is laid. The egg incubates for 3 or 4 months. After the eggs hatch, the larva feeds on rotting wood in which they are buried. The larva grows in size and continues eating for approximately 8 months. During this time it will molt several times. Once the larva is fully developed it will go through complete metamorphoses and change into an adult. Adults emerge from the wood and fly off to search of food and mates." - per here: http://entweb.clemson.edu/museum/beetles/local/btle34.htm

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

That's a rather poor info sheet in a number of ways (hatching is off by 400%, wrong NA species).

Here's a book with real-life info.

 

[What]

Orin, if the page is soo wrong, why dont you supply correct info rather than pushing your book?

 

[reverendsterlin]

thanks I guess I get some rotting wood and add it to the enclosure

 

[skips]

If anybody has a few of these please PM me. I friend has been looking for while with no results, and i'd like some myself.