Before rhinoceros beetles reach their famously large size, they go through several stages of development. Successfully raising these beetles as pets means understanding their four life stages and providing them with the specific care they need during each of these stages. Right now, my insect farm has 10 grubs. They measure approximately five inches. These grubs will eventually turn into an adult beetles. Stage 2: Larvae or Grub Looking back from my previous post, after the eggs hatch, the stage 2 of Rhino Beetles life cycle is called larvae or grub. This stage actually includes three substages known as instar and referred to as L1, L2 and L3. Instar is a period between molts that insects experience as they grow. During all of these substages, the beetle grubs will look similar to maggots or other insect larvae. However, the larvae will grow larger during each molt. If you want the larvae to thrive, separate the males and females as soon as possible. During the L2 substage, you will be able to see a dent on the underside of male grubs that is not present on the females. If you wait until the third instar, you will notice a size difference between the males and females. At this substage, male larvae can weigh around 3.5 ounces while females weigh less than 2.8 ounces. During the larval stage, you will need to replace the compost or top soil because the beetles will use the material for food. Place rotting branches or other vegetation in the container with the larvae so they can use these items for food as well. The soil replacement should be done every six months during this stage. The larval process is slow for rhinoceros beetles. Depending on the specific species of rhinoceros beetle you are raising and the sex of the grub, your beetles may not enter their next life stage for 12 to 18 months. Credits: http://animals.mom.me/rhinoceros-beetle-life-cycle-5031024.html Rhino Beetle Grubs - Setting them up Credits: Miss Phantom Fangs One thing I learned about having Rhino beetles as my pet, is to show what qualities I have as a responsible pet owner. Since we are now at the stage of 2 of the beetle’s life cycle, I have to know how to care for them by choosing the proper shelter and food for them to grow healthy. #SD UoI #Research Skills #STP #Grubs #Curiosity #Caring
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