Breeding The Blue Death Feigning Beetle Cryptoglossa verrucosus

Breeding The Blue Death Feigning Beetle Cryptoglossa verrucosa

Suzanne RoweAquaristThe Deep

Species OverviewOriginate South Western Deserts of the USAFound around areas of waterOpportunistic feeders of vegetation and animal matterSpecially adapted to their environmentLong lived species, approx. 10-20 years!No documented history of successful captive rearing

Our Aim at The DeepArrived within the collection in 2011Undertook basic husbandry feeds and mistsFurther research into the needs of the species revealed insufficient dataThe Deep aims to identify species triggers and lifecycle to produce an informative and usable husbandry guide.

What are we doing?Naturalistic EnclosureMimicking Seasonality of the Sonoran DesertCaptive DietIdentifying Triggers for copulation and ovipositionHatch rate and larval development researchFuture Considerations

Naturalistic Enclosure - DisplaySand and coco-fibre substrate at differing depths

Logs and dry moss for natural shelter

Provision of a water dish

Naturalistic enclosure - quarantineDeep substrate bed of coco-fibre and sand Cork bark shelterRotten wood within substrateEvidence of movement and tunnelling apparentLightly misted daily to maintain humidity of approximately 55%

Mimicking SeasonalitySPRINGSUMMERAUTUMNWINTERFORE-SUMMER DROUGHT

KEY:

Wild Diet Vs. Captive DietWild DietCaptive DietLive vegetationLeaf litterRotting vegetationRotting logsCarrionCarrotBroccoliMushroomSweet cornSeedsMuesliLettuce (not iceberg)Cat food or fish flake/pellet

Identifying TriggersCryptoglossa is potentially a very seasonal species in terms of breeding and development so far we have identified the following:

July to September (summer monsoon) High occurrence of courting and copulation. Burrowing also observed, potential incubation sites?

October and November (autumn)Oviposition (egg laying). Scattered on substrate surface and possibly buried.March and April (Spring)Larvae hatch

Courting, Copulation and OvipositionCourting involves the tactile use of the males antennae to identify if the female is receptive. If successful they will wrestle and the male will mount.

Evidence of burrow construction has been witnessed, it is unclear as to whether the use is for incubation or shelter. Eggs have also been observed scatter on the substrate.

Scattered Egg

Burrows construction observed here. Now been sealed.

Larval DevelopmentIt is assumed that the larvae hatch in the spring, as it was during these months following a wet period that the larvae were first observed.Regular measurements have been on-going to try and track growth rates

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Larval DevelopmentSame diet offered to larvae as adultsLive predominantly subterraneanPossible max length of 5cmIf disturbed will feign death too!

Method of pupationIt is unsure whether Cryptoglossa will take on an external method of pupation, as a pupa or an internal method, within a pupal cell or chamber.

Being part of the darkling beetle family it is presumed external, as with the mealworm (shown right)

However this cell was recently discovered in our larval tank? (right)

Future ConsiderationsWe are yet to observe any definitive pupation, we need to establish its method and conditions required.Length of larval stage and pupation??Feeds on plant matter in the wild, are there any specific species it requires?Adults are very long lived, would a husbandry document be beneficial to other collections?

MONTHWEATHER DESCRIPTIONTEMPERATUREMax / Min CHUMIDITY%

JANUARYWinter Monsoon sunny, cool temperature, rain16 / 059

FEBRUARYWinter Monsoon sunny, cool temperature, rain20 / 457

MARCHSpring mild temp, little rain25 / 954

APRILSpring mild temp, little rain28 / 1353

MAYFore-Summer Drought31 / 1757

JUNEFore-Summer Drought35 / 2252

JULYSummer Monsoon High Temp and Humidity35 / 2356

AUGUSTSummer Monsoon High Temp and Humidity35 / 2352

SEPTEMBERSummer Monsoon High Temp and Humidity31 / 1759

OCTOBERAutumn 27 / 1259

NOVEMBERAutumn22 / 558

DECEMBERWinter Monsoon sunny, cool temperature, rain16 / 262