Texas Scarabs

[mcgruber]

Hi y'all,

New to the forum but thought I'd share my newest discovery. Last year I received a dump truck full of compost and turkey manure to start my new garden. Days after finishing I noticed a large dead dark brown beetle near a burrow in the garden soil. The beetle was still in decent shape so I put it the freezer for later pinning (my wife loved this). I forgotten about it until this year when I went to turn over my garden and to my surprise it is filled hundreds of LARGE white grubs. The largest I've found is 3 inches. So I'm freakin', wondering if all my plants are doomed. So I went back to the beetle in the freezer. Had some difficulty ID'ing it with my Audubon book but with the help of the TAMU website I have identified it as Strategus Aloeus (photo attached) and the grubs are likely its larvae. Just thought I'd share. I have 7 of them in a terrarium now with 7 gallons of the same garden soil. Any tips? I hope to rear them to completion.

Attachments:

[gradyleb]

That grub looks amazing! I use to have a live adult speciman, I didn't get to pin it because it flew away a day or two after I caught it. Me and my buds made a little habitat for it and even had made a cart out of bottlecaps and ductape, it had no problem pulling it whatsoever but never attempted to fly away while attached. I was moving it to the habitat and it flew away.

Where did you purchase this soil? I would like to raise some as well, I live in Texas too so there shouldn't be a problem with trying to get live insects here if you were able to purchase the soil.

Also, since this is an international community, you might want to use the metric system when describing your grub, so instead of 3 inches, you should say something along the lines of 76 millimeters or 7.6 centimeters.

[mcgruber]

Sorry I hadn't seen your reply for some time and sorry to hear your beetle flew away. While trying to take a photo the other day, my subject flew straight into the ceiling light. Really freaked out my wife. I was able to recapture him.

My beetles have since emerged and it appears I have collected 5 males and 2 females of Strategus Aloeus (Ox beetle). I have a couple males who will rove around my tank and try to push into the dens of other males. Fun to watch!

If you are in Texas, you also will find Strategus grubs and beetles in similar circumstances. I would suggest going to your local garden soil wholesaler and ask to sift through some of their composted manure. Thats where I found mine. Bound to find some there! The beetles may only come out at night. Its been great fun. I'm not looking forward to the day these guys die. I only hope my two females will produce some progeny.

[Rev. Redmond Farrier]

This is one of the beetles in my area that I have yet to find. I want very badly to catch one of them, but so far no luck. Congrats on your find and successful emergence of the adults. Does anyone here know if these guys ever come to lights? I could buy a specimen, but that would feel like a cop out to me. There is nothing like finding a beautiful specimen in your own back yard.

[ckswank]

I agree, Rev. You'll always remember catching that first specimen. The adults commonly come to lights, but usually stay at the edge, much like the Dynastes tityus. I live in Galveston County, TX & have not found any, but just 12 miles away in Brazoria County, TX, I have. Sometimes you have to expand where you are looking just a bit.

Charlie