The Wild One
Chameleon Enthusiast
So I was updating my roach enclosure and I saw these things crawling around.... are they babies?
There is like 20 of them!!
There is like 20 of them!!
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Those are lesser Mealworms. Commonly used as CUCs and can become Litter Beetles. Though I think pupation is like that of Supers, they need to be kept seperated without food to pupate.
Buffalo Beetles larvae looks like a fuzzy caterpillar.
Ah - thanks for correcting me, Cyber! I'm still working on my bug ID ability.
You were right, those dark ones look a lot like buffalo beetles. Often mixed with lesser mealworm beetles as CuC. The fuzzy ones are dermestids, which I do not see here.
does anyone have a picture or size reference for the mature adults?
Let me clarify I'm having an infestation of beetles in a roach colony they are black 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch long and have larva similar to the picture the OP posted. I summed they were CUC but think they might be eating the roach eggs as production has dropped off.
Let me clarify I'm having an infestation of beetles in a roach colony they are black 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch long and have larva similar to the picture the OP posted. I summed they were CUC but think they might be eating the roach eggs as production has dropped off.
Yes that must be the problem looks like I'm going to have to overhaul the colony.Is it a red runner colony? I know exactly what you're talking about. The common mix of cleaner beetles you get from people like nick barta are good for dry set ups where their numbers stay in check, but when moisture is involved(like with red runners which they need for laying their ooths ), the beetles and larvae blow up out of control and eat anything around. I have witnessed them relentlessly assault roaches by the hundreds. Molted roaches are especially vulnerable. Ooths, forget it, they will surely eat them up. I wouldn't even trust isopods with them.
Thank you for the correction. I should have said eating the young. These are red runners and other than being over run with little beetles and larvae they seem fine.
Yes that must be the problem looks like I'm going to have to overhaul the colony.
@cyberlocc off topic cyber, but sorry I been MIA on those roaches. Life has been overwhelming for the moment with everything going on... So I decided to take a break from everything for a little while until we finish moving and get on more of a schedule with our infant. Hoping to start back up by late aug/sept and keep it going smoothly from there.
Thank you for the correction. I should have said eating the young. These are red runners and other than being over run with little beetles and larvae they seem fine.
Yes that must be the problem looks like I'm going to have to overhaul the colony.
Ya I would pull the runners out and Cull those stupid beetles. I dont know why they add them to roaches, they can be helpful, they can also become a serious problem.
I think RRs do lay eggs, actually as james implied they do, and so does people on google. I stay far and away from them, as they can infest badly here, I want no part of it. They along with American Cockroaches infest large areas of Arizona, my dealings with them have been wilds, infesting my homes growing up. They are the devil incarnate to me.
Not a Problem I am in no hurry ,