I need to clear this up. It is not very humid where I live and know that dermestids need to have a pretty humid climate. I used to water my colony once every two days. I now water them twice each day(morning and evening) by lightly spraying them with a water bottle. they always come up on the skulls and suck the water up. This is why I thought that they weren't getting enough water. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks a lot.
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You are doing everything right, i water mine once in the morning and once at night. Mine are kept in my basement and humidity is a factor, i have a humidity meter and temp strips on their tanks. just be careful not to over do the water and if its dry then water you dont want mold to start growing.
I was once a guest at the osteology dept at Guelph University. They showed me where they kept their colonies, in unplugged freezers with lead liners for door seals. They also showed me where the larvae were actually scouring and boring through the lead liners! With this image in mind, I ask, how could you keep a dermestid colony in your basement? Also, in what type of container? Arent you worried about other trophies nearby? Ive often seen these posts, but just had to ask this time...
I just wanted to make sure I was doing things right.
They indeed eat through lead and tin, tupperware and hard PEG plastic if given a chance, wood, heck I had one eat a plastic bag I had labeling a sea otter this week. But they don't eat through glass or window screen. They aren't really so bad.
Easton, the archives tell you much. You do not EVER need to mist your colony if you run it properly - I haven't misted it in at least three years. You have to gain some experience and not ask every little question - each locaity is different, and you need to find out what works for your area.
You think having beetles in the basement is close for comfort, mine are in my studio... right next to the skinning table, about 10 feet from the mounting stand. I keep mine in glass aquariums, and plastic storage boxes; sometimes I leave the lids off for air circulation. That's not to mention the wild dermestids outside in the garbage and under the maceration buckets, that can get inside if they please. ;-)
Yep, they escape... sooner or later one will get loose, fly out if its too hot or something. But the "wild" ones and escapees always go for the fresh skulls and carcasses laying on the rack right next to the tanks. When I feed those skulls to the beetles in the tanks, the couple of loose ones get put in the tank too.
I had dermestids only attack one thing of mine, 4 caribou feet that hadn't been skinned down to the toes proper from when I started learning taxidermy. They got inside and finished cleaning the dried meat out, they never mess up the hide and fur, and I cleaned and remounted those feet. The bug that gives me trouble is carpet beetles, the tiny ones the size of a pin head... I've had them destroy a squirrel mount (completely de-hair it) and occasionally I find them in my insect collection. Keeping them out of my studio is my priority.
Out of the hide beetles, carrion beetles, burying beetles, dermestids, coffin flies, and even the 15+ other fly species that have inadvertently aided in my bone cleaning and occassionally get inside my studio, none of them have been a problem with properly prepared taxidermy specimens. They're to interested in fresh meat. You can find them under the bloody box full of entrails waiting for garbage day, but never once in the last 3 years have they gotten on or near the white-tail shoulder mount that is hanging right there on the wall. Not one bit of trouble with any mount, or ever freeze-dried specimens.
Easton, I'm with Taxidermologist... I haven't watered my beetles in 3 years. The one time I did what your doing, I had a mite infestation. My colonies are mostly wild Texas beetles, used to dry environment. They get fresh meat on occassion, so they get some moisture from it. A lower humidity also keeps flies at bay and away from your colony. Flies/maggots and mites in your beetles is a mix you don't want. Dermestids are forgiving and extremely easy to care for, yet at the same time, picky and problemsome. The more you work with them, the more you learn about them, and in that you find the correct husbandry needed for them.
Howl at you later,
Wolf
Thanks guys, I suppose theyd rather feed on the stuff you give them...but theyd still scare me!
They dont scare me in the basement. Number 1 they need at least 72 degrees to fly, basement is kept at 65 in that area, they dont bore thru glass, i keep them in glass aquariums with fine screen covers. if you keep your skulls,bones etc at least 4" from top they can even crawl on the glass and cant crawl on screen. Mites come from dry foods like dog food, mine do not get that, if i am short of feeding material they get my left overs. i keep their cribs at 70 degrees so they feed really well, remember its the larve that do most of the feeding and i must be doing something right cuz the last 3 months my colonies have more than tripled. and they are right next to my showroom. i have had no problems and understand where Easton's questions are coming from. Mine enjoy their drink 2x a day. Also i handle mine they dont bite just fall off ur hands...I am not dead yet haha best of luck Easton!