Dermestid Beetles 1/29/2017

1/29/2017
While I was feeding the critters today, I noticed that they have started picking up the pace. It used to be that they could go through over half way through a pinky in about three or four days, they have begun going through them much faster. I pt one in as recently as 1/27/17 and it was eaten nearly completely. I got to learn something rather interesting today, as well. While examining the remains of the pinkies, I noticed that the beetles had eaten through not just the flesh, but through half of the youngest pinky's skull! It seems that when the pinkies are very young, the bones are still very soft and more reminiscent of cartilage and less like bone. This means that the beetles can eat through the thinner parts of the skull and through the not-yet-fused vertebral column. I think it is time that I start preparing a new specimen so that I can take advantage of this new rate of consumption. Also, this would train them to eat more rigorously and often.

As a side note, I forgot to mention that because I received all of my beetles as larva, it is going to take at least 45 days to have a viable colony. While larva are great consumers, it is a better idea to have a healthy variety of ages in the same colony. You should always have beetles as adults (actual beetles,) to constantly add eggs to the tank. You should also have infant larva present as they are voracious eaters immediately after hatching. This combination of ages creates a smooth flow of progress. With any luck, I will have a completely cleaned specimen in about a month. I will be breaking up the specimen into about 4 portions (head, legs, tail, and torso.) This will allow the beetles to work on small parts at once, which makes it easier for the to process.

First Set of Finished Bones

These are the bones of a common groundhog. The process to get to this point took a total of 4 months of cool to cold temperatures. A few bones are missing, but there is still plenty to work with.