Upside Down Beetles

[kendles]

are my beetles stupid? every one that has morphed is on their back with their little legs going like this %*^!

I remove them from the Pupae box and put them in the Beetle box (that has about 2" of wheat bran substrate), I put them in the feet down, next thing you know it, they are flipped back over and can't seem to figure it out. sigh I am not spending my day putting them right side up. any suggestions on how to educate these beetles?

 

[AshBits007]

mine normally flip when their lifecycle is over

 

[kendles]

No, the beetles that are on their backs are new - either white or bronze color.

 

[yyz0yyz0]

I've noticed that sometimes mine get on their backs and can't seem to get back over as they have nothing to get a grip on.

Try to come up with a way to give your substrate surface more "texture", so they have something to push off of. I use things like papertowel tubes, crumpled balls of paper, small twigs, cardboard egg cartons, etc etc. The more things that provide vertical surface areas the better chance the beetles will be able to right themselves, plus they'll like all the new hiding places.

 

[kendles]

Thanks. I watched them this morning (I was bored) and I saw one on it's back. I refrained from reaching in and rescuing it. Then along came help. One little Beetle, came from halfway across the bin to lend a head butt. He/She, went right up to it, run it's head underneath it and it flipped over. They went their separate ways moments later. Not so much a thank you. I thought that was pretty funny to see that. I swear, they are not very bright. I have since added in some air popped popcorn