Superworm Beetles

[Linds]

I have two questions about these guys...

1) What is their real name?... hehehe I'm sure they aren't called superworm or zoophoba beetles :p

2) Thanks to my cat, I keep finding superworms, the aliens, and the beetles all over my house. Bad because I am finding them everywhere, and their are people here that are not impressed! Good because now I finally have a decent shot of starting a colony after several failed attempts. Anyways, I can't seem to keep them alive for the life of me, which was the same problem I was having before when I tried this (only I didn't manage to pupate half as many as I am now). They seem to die after only days :confused: My setup is probably a bit unconventional... however this was working for them before I caught them and it wasn't the same way I was keeping them in the past, so I'm sure the new bits and peices aren't to blame ;)
<center>+ opaque rubbermaid w/ screened top
+ substrate of various grains, etc (my mealie recipe)
+ mixed in to the substrate are old socks and plastic bags fopr security) these are mainly where I was finding the beetles and aliens around the house)
+ various greens, fruits, and veggies for moisture and food
+ temps range from 80-85
</center>
So what am I doing wrong? Or do they jsut have a very short lifespan?

[Siretsap]

Lolol you have too many things in there not needed (old socks).
Waht we keep our in is quite simple.
A rubbermaid back with oats and bran as a substrat. We put yougourt covers with veggies on it and we put one yogourt cover with a wet scottowel in it. They need water, we had some only last for days before we started puttign the water in now, they can live for a whole month if not more. IT works really well for us. The trick is not to put too much humidity in it soes your substrat doesn't start rotting.

[JD@reptiles]

all i can tell you is they are called flower beetles.

Sorry i cant help more

Jordan

[Linds]

Siretsap,
Are you producing a lot of babies? I have been told by many sources that they need places to hide and feel secure in order to breed, and defintiely to pupate. Every old sock I would find under a bed or wheverever, and all my bags of substrate and magazines and stuff had them in there so I figured if they were choosing it it would be a good idea to go with their choice. I kept mine the way you were suggesting the past few attempts at this and had no success :confused:

Jordan,
I knwo that mealies (aka Darkling) beetles are also called flour beetles....are you thinking of that maybe? Just since they sounded so similar...

[silke]

my beetles seem to last forever....6 months or more
and they mostly hide under collard leaves or romaine leaves
if you put in toilet or papertowel rolls that'd be good too
i toss in all kinds of stuff like the left over husk of a wedge of canteloupe (for moisture) or a slice of apple
the old sox is funny and i'd be afraid they's sufficate in the bag....and maybe the sock (BLECH)