Dermestes Lardarius Care Sheet!

[koolkid]

Introduction-This guide will help those of you who want to keep dermestids.The main dermestid focused on this guide is dermestes lardaruis AKA Larder Beetle or Bacon Beetle.

Creating The Inclosure-The inclosure needs three main things or it will not be suitable for larder beetles,big,escape proof and easy to clean,I will say this once and only once you don't wanna start keeping dermestids in a deli container they can and will chew through this it is best to use hard plastic or glass.The main thing i use for my colonies is a kritter keeper.The kritter keeper is already escape proof.After you have your kritter keeper you can use paper toweling as bedding.I use goldfish crackers,some cotton and a sponge.The cotton should be moist but not wet the sponge should stay as dry as possible.Here are some pictures[not mine]


After you have the inclosure done it is time to move onto feeding your new colony.
Feeding Your New Colony-Larder beetles will eat a viriaty of things including meats,cheeses,furs,fabric,roadkill,dead insects ect.I feed my colony gold fish crackers and ham.I don't feed my smaller colonies ham however as i wait until they can finish it in around a week or so.You can feed your colony ham,bacon,cheese crackers,cheese,marble cheese,dead flies,wasps,other beetles.I have also witnessed my colony eating their own dead.
Getting Your New colony-Larder beetles can be bought online but i find mine.I usually find them in my house in furniture under carpets in the dirty clothes and in dresser draws.It is best to start out with around 50 beetles however if you can not find that many then you just get as many beetles as you can as the more beetles the more reproduction in your colony of dermestids.
Tempature-Above 80degrees f. adults will begin to fly. This is a problem because it means that you may start finding them around your home. You may not care, but your significant other, parents, or guests might. If you have any uncured furs, pelts, meats drying, etc, these beetles will find it and begin eating it. Best temps are in the low to mid 70's. Below these temps you will see much less activity from the colony and I would never risk letting them get below 60. I heat them with an under the tank heater which you can find in the reptile section of your local pet store. During the summer you may not even need to plug this in but during the winter I leave mine on constantly.
Lighting-
I've kepth beetles in total darkness and in direct sunlight and neither seems to phase them. you will see them scatter if you shine bright light on them but they soon become accustomed to it. I prefer to keep mine in the light simply for the pleasure of seeing them work.
Other pictures-





Conclusion/Special Thanks-Well there you have it my dermestid caresheet i hope it helps out some people.Special thanks to Calum for some of the pictures,And my dermestes for there pictures.
Koolkid
http://bugsnstuff.myfineforum.org/index.php

[koolkid]

BUMP
no one likes the caresheet?

[koolkid]

Hellooo anybody??

[garlicpickle]

I'm sure it's a great caresheet mate, just never heard of anyone keeping these!

Are those bits of mealworm in the tub with the beetles?

Are you keeping them as pets or breeding them in order to strip flesh from carcasses?

[koolkid]

As pets yes that is mealworms/superworms not my picture though.I keep em for well as feeders too to feed my ant queen's colony when they start enclosing which will be another month or so

[_TiMiSdRuNk_]

Yeah as a care sheet it's great, well laid out, good pictures and some good info, but yeah same here i've never known anyone to keep these :P

[koolkid]

I have a way better one now if you want me to post it?!