How long do adult bess beetles live?

[Fergus]

Would like to get my partner a beetle pet, since she loves beetles, but most are too short lived to be worth while. I saw somewhere that bess beetles can live a long time relative to other beetles. I'd figured it'd be a simple matter of googling to figure out how long exactly, but for whatever reason I'm having a hard time getting a clear answer (some sources say 1 year, some several years, some don't say at all). Does anyone here have experience with them and know how long they can live? Or, alternatively, anyone have any suggestions for other long-lived beetles that make good pets (at least a year, ideally 2 or more years in adult stages).

 

[Beetles]

I would recommend a desert darkling beetle setup. They can be pretty long lived and active. For bess beetles there is no clear answer since no one in recent memory has fully raised them to adulthood but the average is like a year to a year and a half just depends.

 

[goliathusdavid]

Because these are quite difficult to breed in captivity, and most sold are wild caught (which unlike many other species, has not seriously affected their distribution), its hard to get an exact lifespan on them. The general consensus seems to be "several years" as adults (at least two). Not very helpful, I know, but in personal experience I collected 7 adults last spring and have only had one die.
So I would totally get some for your partner! I know a lot of the major biological supply companies (Ward's, Carolina, etc.) have good deals for colonies of 8 or so, or, depending on where you are, you can collect for yourself. I collected mine next to a major Philadelphia roadway so they're pretty much everywhere . They are relatively long lived, delightful to watch, and to listen too (they have the most complex vocalization system of the beetle world), AND unlike Asbolus Verrucosus and other desert beetles, they don't require interstate permits to legally transport. Cannot recommend highly enough.

 

[goliathusdavid]

I would recommend a desert darkling beetle setup. They can be pretty long lived and active. For bess beetles there is no clear answer since no one in recent memory has fully raised them to adulthood but the average is like a year to a year and a half just depends.

@Beetles desert beetles are great, but as they are almost all wild caught you can run into the same problem as bess beetles re lifespan. Permitting can also be a pain, as most species require it and OP is on the east coast, meaning in state collection\acquisition will be harder. So I would recommend Odontotaenius disjunctus (the most common bess beetle species) first, deserts second.

 

[DytiscussorDaur]

I'm not sure about Bess beetles, but if you want a long lifespan, desert species are generally very hardy and long lived.
In particular, Blue Death Feigning beetles are very easy and cheap to acquire, with captive breeding becoming more popular, and can live quite a long time. (apparently around 8 years in the wild, and one specimen surviving 17 years in captivity)
They also do very well communally together and with other desert species, like Velvet Ants or other Darkling beetles.

The Aquarimax and Bugs in Cyberspace channels on YouTube have a lot more information about these beetles.

 

[Matts inverts]

I recommend desert darkling beetles like eleodes sp. or ironclads because blue ironclads live extremely long and diabolical ironclads live two years. Or depending on the state, you can buy a stag beetle, Hercules beetle, or a Goliath beetle grub and raise them. Or you can get one that is short lived and breeds in captivity.

 

[Fergus]

Because these are quite difficult to breed in captivity, and most sold are wild caught (which unlike many other species, has not seriously affected their distribution), its hard to get an exact lifespan on them. The general consensus seems to be "several years" as adults (at least two). Not very helpful, I know, but in personal experience I collected 7 adults last spring and have only had one die.
So I would totally get some for your partner! I know a lot of the major biological supply companies (Ward's, Carolina, etc.) have good deals for colonies of 8 or so, or, depending on where you are, you can collect for yourself. I collected mine next to a major Philadelphia roadway so they're pretty much everywhere . They are relatively long lived, delightful to watch, and to listen too (they have the most complex vocalization system of the beetle world), AND unlike Asbolus Verrucosus and other desert beetles, they don't require interstate permits to legally transport. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Thanks for the advice! Talked to my partner and she's excited about the idea of getting bess beetles, so sounds like this summer we'll be getting some bug friends. Actually kinda glad to hear they're tough to breed in captivity -- it'd be more fun I think to have a little group but I don't think our roommates would appreciate a full on bug colony living in our apartment (some of them are a little squeamish about insects unfortunately).

 

[Fergus]

I'm not sure about Bess beetles, but if you want a long lifespan, desert species are generally very hardy and long lived.
In particular, Blue Death Feigning beetles are very easy and cheap to acquire, with captive breeding becoming more popular, and can live quite a long time. (apparently around 8 years in the wild, and one specimen surviving 17 years in captivity)
They also do very well communally together and with other desert species, like Velvet Ants or other Darkling beetles.

The Aquarimax and Bugs in Cyberspace channels on YouTube have a lot more information about these beetles.

Ooooo I think I'll be going with bess beetle's for now but having a little desert community setup one day sounds awesome! Any chance you know if they house well with sonoran desert millipedes?

 

[Beetles]

Technically yes.
If you wanted it to work you would need a deep substrate with different moisture gradients. But they would do better and you would worry less if they were separated.

 

[goliathusdavid]

Yeah, I'd house separately. Cannot recommend native USA millipede species highly enough though... totally unregulated, super fun to keep, easy care requirements. They're how I got into the hobby in the first place! And I've even managed to sell my SO on them for our future apartment, I'm allowed to keep as many as I want as long as she gets to hold them

 

[Fergus]

Yeah, I'd house separately. Cannot recommend native USA millipede species highly enough though... totally unregulated, super fun to keep, easy care requirements. They're how I got into the hobby in the first place! And I've even managed to sell my SO on them for our future apartment, I'm allowed to keep as many as I want as long as she gets to hold them

Sounds like your SO is getting a good deal tbh. And I would absolutely love to keep millipedes! Actually have been looking into trying to get a giant african millipede with a friend, but looks like a long shot so I'll likely be settling for a couple of the larger us varieties (not that that's an undesirable outcome if I'm being honest). It probably works out better space-wise anyway -- then I could just keep them in a large critter keeper instead of a larger tank. Oh, the dream of having plenty of space for pets...

 

[Matts inverts]

Yes, I recommend millipedes or tons of isopods but beware that once you get one, you are going to get more.

 

[goliathusdavid]

Sounds like your SO is getting a good deal tbh. And I would absolutely love to keep millipedes! Actually have been looking into trying to get a giant african millipede with a friend, but looks like a long shot so I'll likely be settling for a couple of the larger us varieties (not that that's an undesirable outcome if I'm being honest). It probably works out better space-wise anyway -- then I could just keep them in a large critter keeper instead of a larger tank. Oh, the dream of having plenty of space for pets...

AGBs are AWESOME, and are the first species that's going to be on my permit application. But until I can acquire them legally, I've taken the similar approach of working with the American species (my favorites probably being those in the Narceus genus which I'm actually about to write a post about!). They are incredibly fun, and definitely easier to house.