I searched the archives and it didn't tell anything about dermestid beetles that are flying. I came home today to find some of the adults climbing on the underside of my screen cover. Is this a problem? They don't seem to be getting out. I turned their heat lamp off to cool them down a bit. It's a homemade, wooden, screen cover with aluminum window screen. The wood is covered in another layer of screen which, in turn, is covered in duct tape.
Return to Lifesize Mammal Taxidermy Category Menu
Well, not too hot... too hot is 100 degrees we have in Texas coming soon. Above 75-80 degrees F the adult beetles will fly. Naturally in the wild that is how they get from carcass to carcass. In a tank, you want them to stay put, and not get loose which is what will happen if they keep flying.
Feeding them plenty instead of starving them will keep the flyers grounded, as well as lowering the temp. A higher temp 80-90 the beetles will clean bones more rapidly, a lower temp, they will slow down a bit. They are cold blooded like a reptile, use common sense and some trail and error to find a happy medium that works for you.
Just a note... they can climb duck tape and screen, and extremely young larva can get through the holes of fine mesh screen. Speaking form experience...
The beetle tank temp has gotten down to 65 degrees as it got dark and the flyers have all been grounded. I turned the heat lamp back on and It's staying at around 70 degrees. I kinda invented a device to stop escapees (but I am sure that they'll find the weak spot.LOL) I have 3 layers of screen and a large heat lamp with a small bulb so if they somehow manage to get through the screen their'll be another waiting for them to maneuver through. And by the time the get to the top they'll be dead as the heat lamp will fry them. This is also a reason why I don't put fly traps around my tank. The flies crawl under the heat lamp. Oh well. Thanks to all that have beared with me.
what kinda of heat light are u using? i use a 60 watt bulb keeps their cribs at 70 degrees, never have flying problems and if your skulls or what ever u have below the top by 3-4" they cant climb glass or at least mine havent.
I use a 75 watt bulb and I turn it off if they get too hot.