Why are blue death feigning beetles blue?

When threatened, the blue death feigning beetle rolls over on its back and plays dead. The blue coloring comes from the wax secreted by the desert-dwelling beetle to create a protective shield against dehydration and overheating.

How do you keep blue death feigning beetles?

Size – Blue Death Feigning Beetles can be housed in plastic or glass enclosures. Keeping them in an enclosure that is equal in length to 5 times its body length ensures plenty of room to scavenge. Substrate – Since Blue Death Feigning beetles are native to the desert, a sand substrate is ideal.

Where do blue death feigning beetles come from?

Also known as the desert ironclad beetle or blue death feigning beetle is a species native to the deserts of the Southwestern United States, mainly the Sonoran desert. This beetle has been known to play dead when threatened. They are increasingly becoming popular due to their ease of care, hardiness, and longevity.

Are blue death feigning beetles nocturnal?

Blue Death Feigning Beetles get their distinctive blue coloring from a wax that they secrete to protect themselves from the desert heat. The Blue Death Feigning Beetles is considered a darkling beetle that goes through a complete metamorphosis. Their larvae are a type of mealworm. They are nocturnal.

Are blue death feigning beetle poisonous?

Blue death feigning beetles are easily moved because they play dead when disturbed. These beetles will not bite, and are perfectly safe to hold in your hands.

What can live with death feigning beetles?

Yes, you can keep the blue death feigning beetles with other insect pets. These beetles are not aggressive. Some hobbyists have successfully kept them with velvet ants, desert scorpions and other desert beetles which have similar living conditions.

Can blue death feigning beetles climb glass?

Give the beetles plenty of room to wander around. Remember that a bigger space is always better. You can buy a glass terrarium or plastic critter keeper from a pet store, but a plastic storage bin also works. Beetles can’t climb glass or plastic walls, so you don’t need a lid for the habitat.

Do blue death feigning beetles dig?

Females will dig an inch or two down and will lay hundreds of eggs, usually in spring to summer. In the wild the female beetle would wander over a wide area to lay her eggs but in a small container they are highly concentrated.

Can you hear death watch beetle?

The tapping of the adult Deathwatch beetle is traditionally meant to be bad luck, heralding tragedy in a household. It could often be heard in the quiet of the night, and was thought to be a countdown to death as rhythmic as the ticking of a watch.

How much space do blue death feigning beetles need?

Housing for the Adult Blue Death Feigning Beetles A 1 gal container can house 2 beetles. The beetles do appreciate more space because they like to explore around. Fill the container with dry sands for about 2-3 inches in depth. Some people do add in a small portion of coco fiber, ~10-20%.

What is blue death?

Cholera has been nicknamed the “blue death” because a person’s skin may turn bluish-gray from extreme loss of fluids. Fever is rare and should raise suspicion for secondary infection.

What do mealworms turn into?

Mealworms are the larval stage of the Darkling beetle insect. While dormant, they are transforming into adult Darkling beetles. During this time, they do not eat. This stage will last for two to three weeks before hatching.