phanaeus-vindex-blog

[phanaeus-vindex-blog]

The two color morphs of the polydamas swallowtail caterpillar side by side. The color doesn't seem to be linked to whether they decide to have a brown or green cocoon. I really like the lighter morph.

#polydamas swallowtail caterpillar #polydamas swallowtail #caterpillar

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Another species of snail. These are a little less pretty, but they are faster and seem to be more interesting personality wise. They are a lot less prevalent in the backyard. Does anyone have an id? I'm in Florida.

#florida #snail #snails #snail id

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Snails from the big rain. Including a bonus mutant snail!! I've never seen a shell mutation before it is really exciting.  I really like this species, especially the ultra dark ones. Does anyone have a specific id? I'd like to know if they are native before I decide to keep any.

#snails #florida #snail #mutant snail

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The bugs are larger in Melbourne, Florida.

#spiders #milipede #melbourne

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Attempting to get a cute little flock of polydamas swallowtail caterpillars to show off their little angry fork things (super scientific term for it you know). Didn't work out so swell, but one on the bottom displayed them.  Also shows one of the little guys in the lighter redish grey color morph hanging with his standard black colored siblings. I really like the different color, they have more visual interest.

#polydamas swallowtail #Battus Polydamas #butterfly #caterpillars

[phanaeus-vindex-blog]

Very old photo I found in my computer of a mystery caterpillar. Turns out it is a fig sphinx baby! Wish I had kept it, and will know to search that area next time I go!

#caterpillar #moth

[phanaeus-vindex-blog]

Found a random caterpillar with my polydamas caterpillars, so I raised it up until it became this lovely thing! Beautiful, still need an i.d. though. It's underwings are clearish white and pinkish sparkles. Really cool little bug.

#moths #moth #insects

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Rosy Wolf Snail before being kicked back out to the backyard. Killer mustache.

#rosy wolf snail #snail

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My Polydamas Swallowtails have eclosed! Heck yess! I raised them all from caterpillars on my dad's host plant. Only one little guy left to hatch, kind of sad that my buddies have to fly away. I know I can always go back and get more caterpillars but they will pupate soon anyway. Got to get more long term invert friends!

#Battus Polydamas #butterflies #butterfly #polydamas swallowtail

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A beautiful Blaberus Giganteus (Giant Cave Roach) baby in my backyard, finger for size comparison. Sorry for the loud noises, I was near the air conditioner. I have a pretty bad dislike for roaches (mainly because of house invasion), but giant cave roaches are a big soft spot for me. There is a healthy colony of them living in my backyard, I'm kind of slightly tempted to raise some one of these days.

#blaberus giganteus #giant cave roach #roach

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Super tempted to start up raising beetles again! Just look at this cutie.

#beetle #Phanaeus vindex #dung beetle

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I caught a group of about 20 of these small caterpillars about a month ago. They ate two different types of plant, so I assume they are just some type of cutworm. They all hatched in about a week and I released them. This was my first group of caterpillars I raised, and it really started my interest!

#caterpillars #moths #insects

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My current babies! Polydamas Swallowtail caterpillars. I had ten, and five have pupated so far (including the adorable grey one in the last two photos). I never thought insect pets would be as rewarding as these little dudes are. More pictures to come.

#butterflies #butterfly #caterpillar

[phanaeus-vindex-blog]

Hey I was wondering where you got your rainbows? I want to get some of my own to raise them.

Oh hey I forgot I even had this side blog. Wow. I collected my beetles wild from the ones who live in my back yard. I think there might be some people who sell them, but I can’t vouch for any of them. If you could find a wild source your costs are pretty low, but a downside is you never know the age of the specimens so they could die pretty suddenly!

#asks #phanaeus vindex #rainbow scarab #beetles

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Since I haven't had photos in a while, here is my current beetles after I took them out to check the substrate.

#beetles #dung beetles #Phanaeus vindex #p vindex #scarabs #rainbow scarab

[phanaeus-vindex-blog]

Update

Today I was checking up on my beetles by sifting through the tank when I came across a grub NOT in a brood ball. Quickly looking around I didn't see a broken brood ball so I'm not sure what happened. The grub was about the size of a grain of rice when doubled over. I should have some crappy pictures uploaded today. If it is indeed P. Vindex grub, then I assume it is going to die without a brood ball :/ Over the weekend I am going to prepare a second container and carefully move all of my brood balls into it so none of them get damaged. I've also found a bunch of uneaten fuzzy poop at the bottom of the container which I had to remove! Why the heck do they bury it and never eat it?? Also, the tiny little bugs who live on the beetles and the poop are getting out of control, does anyone know how to control them?

#beetles #phanaeus vindex #p vindex #scarabs #dung beetles #helpppp

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Behavioral Notes 2

I spent some time with my beetles today, since I got home early from school and they were pretty active. I spotted both females and the male collecting dung today. To make up for vinny passing, I collected another female, this will be the last beetle I am collecting from the wild unless all of my females die. I noticed my dung in my yard not being collected as fast as usual, so I don't want to take any more and have no next generation.

I noticed a LOT more of those little bugs hanging on them now, and all over the dung. The book says they aren't harmful, but so many of them! It's kind of creepy. When I see the beetles out I might give them a little bath to at least keep the population from getting crazy!

Never give them poop of irregular shape. I watched a female awkwardly try and roll a potato chip type piece for about fifteen minutes before she gave up and used another piece. I admit it was pretty funny though.

Not much to report, I've been leaving them alone for a while and giving them a lot more dung in hopes of getting my first brood ball. I'm worried that some of them will die underground and I won't get to have their bodies. But whatever.

#beetle behavior