Beetles Infected

The videos did not work for me but, if what you see are small, white dots on the beetles, then it is mites and you should probably just get rid of the infected colonies. If they are being fed dry dog food, then this is almost guaranteed to happen. Maybe next year, instead of separating into different tanks, just keep them all together in one tank. As long as they have enough food they will be fine and your parents will no longer be disgusted.

 

I would not be able to identify a Spanish bug. If you keep picking them out and the rest of the beetles do ok then that would be the best that you can do. Many many beetles can all be in the same enclosure and live just fine. You can probably put all 3 colonies into one and they would be happy. Except now you have 2 colonies that have received poor care and now have invaders. I would have kept them all together originally but I would not put them back together now.

 

I have trouble playing the video but I was able to click through pictures and see bits of video. I can see the problem bugs are very tiny. They might be "Flour Beetles". Do they look like this? Also Google Flour beetles/Tribolium castaneum and see to compare. If this is what they are, honestly, it would be best to get them out of your parents house. These bugs will get into food in the kitchen and contaminate it. Any sort of packaged cereals and food will be ruined. Maybe they are already there. If your parents realize that maybe the bugs got into their home because you brought them there I would imagine that they will be very upset.

 

I think your diagnosis is correct Sea Wolf. They look like weevils to me, and since dry pet food uses cereal based binders to pellet it, their natural food source is in the dog food.

 

I would think that if you used Google (in Spanish) and searched for pest beetles, pantry beetles or something similar but in Spanish, you might find some pictures of what you are seeing. Try also a small bug called book lice.

 

Hi SpanishGirl, I just saw your video. The insects in your beetle colony are Psocids. Sea Wolf is correct. They are commonly called book lice. They feed on grains, flour and other household commodities. They managed to hitch a ride on something when you added it to your colony. They are harmless to your Dermestids! I am a retired entomologist.

 

Do not feed them dry dog food. Many, many troubles because of this.

Have to laugh when I see those advertisements for the school. I still have all the lessons, the binders .. catalogs ... everything.