Would you feed this to your chicken?

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I wonder if chickens can eat termites

They do

 

[aart]

I collected some of these from a rotten tree I cut down last year in the winter and left them in a container full of that rotten tree dirt months. In July they hatched out as adult beetles.

Sweet! Where did you leave the container....and what kind of container??

 

[Pterocactus]

I just used a plastic Chinese food container, but a Tupperware or similar container with a loose fitting lid would work. If it has a tight lid, maybe leave one corner cracked slightly open for ventilation. You'll want the tree dirt to stay about as damp as you found it in the tree and not dry out. Just fill it up most of the way with the tree dirt. If you want to try a bunch of them, a 5 gallon bucket might be good so there's more dirt for them to hide in.

This time of year, you'll want to grab the biggest grubs you can find since they'll be the oldest and ready to pupate this winter. I had taken some of the smaller ones too but they didn't survive. It might still be early but you may be able to find some pupae too, they'll look like oblong dirt balls. Those have a better chance of surviving since they won't need to eat anymore.

I kept mine in an unheated garage. Figure they're gonna get exposed to freezing weather outside in a tree anyway, but the mass of the tree will protect them from drying winds and abrupt temperature changes. Expect to wait for many months for results. I think I found mine in February here in Connecticut, and I had beetles 5 months later. In many species the adults don't live very long, so check the container once a week or so as summer approaches.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

I just used a plastic Chinese food container, but a Tupperware or similar container with a loose fitting lid would work. If it has a tight lid, maybe leave one corner cracked slightly open for ventilation. You'll want the tree dirt to stay about as damp as you found it in the tree and not dry out. Just fill it up most of the way with the tree dirt. If you want to try a bunch of them, a 5 gallon bucket might be good so there's more dirt for them to hide in.

This time of year, you'll want to grab the biggest grubs you can find since they'll be the oldest and ready to pupate this winter. I had taken some of the smaller ones too but they didn't survive. It might still be early but you may be able to find some pupae too, they'll look like oblong dirt balls. Those have a better chance of surviving since they won't need to eat anymore.

I kept mine in an unheated garage. Figure they're gonna get exposed to freezing weather outside in a tree anyway, but the mass of the tree will protect them from drying winds and abrupt temperature changes. Expect to wait for many months for results. I think I found mine in February here in Connecticut, and I had beetles 5 months later. In many species the adults don't live very long, so check the container once a week or so as summer approaches.

It took until July?! Knowing me...I'd forget about that little experiment and happen upon it in the garage and scare the bejesus out of myself

 

[aart]

I just used a plastic Chinese food container, but a Tupperware or similar container with a loose fitting lid would work. If it has a tight lid, maybe leave one corner cracked slightly open for ventilation. You'll want the tree dirt to stay about as damp as you found it in the tree and not dry out. Just fill it up most of the way with the tree dirt. If you want to try a bunch of them, a 5 gallon bucket might be good so there's more dirt for them to hide in.

This time of year, you'll want to grab the biggest grubs you can find since they'll be the oldest and ready to pupate this winter. I had taken some of the smaller ones too but they didn't survive. It might still be early but you may be able to find some pupae too, they'll look like oblong dirt balls. Those have a better chance of surviving since they won't need to eat anymore.

I kept mine in an unheated garage. Figure they're gonna get exposed to freezing weather outside in a tree anyway, but the mass of the tree will protect them from drying winds and abrupt temperature changes. Expect to wait for many months for results. I think I found mine in February here in Connecticut, and I had beetles 5 months later. In many species the adults don't live very long, so check the container once a week or so as summer approaches.

Excellent details and advise, thank you!

It took until July?! Knowing me...I'd forget about that little experiment and happen upon it in the garage and scare the bejesus out of myself

I've been keeping insects in jars for years...mark them clearly "Science Experiment...do not ingest"

 

[jeepgirl13]

I picked about 10 of those horrid horn worms of my tomatoes about a month ago. Stinking birds wouldn't touch them. Had to smoosh them myself to save my tomatoes. They are green on the inside too. Yuck.

Yall with these hornworm problems are missing out on free money! People with reptiles like chameleons and bearded dragons buy these things at a premium at the pet store for treats! $7 for two TINY little worms!

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Excellent details and advise, thank you!


I've been keeping insects in jars for years...mark them clearly "Science Experiment...do not ingest"

I have enough of those in my fridge!

 

[tn_artist]

Yall with these hornworm problems are missing out on free money! People with reptiles like chameleons and bearded dragons buy these things at a premium at the pet store for treats! $7 for two TINY little worms!

Wow! Some of them were the size and length of my fingers!

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

We cut down the previous tree's "sister" today. Also a basswood and had several dead branches. The hole in the middle was not as large and it had what looked like the flat head borer larvae in it. I didnt get a good pic unfortunately.

Sorry its blurry. Had to zoom in because I'm inside making dinner for my lumberjack

 

[jeepgirl13]

Wow! Some of them were the size and length of my fingers!

Keep it in mind for next year! I'm sure there are people who would love to buy them!