ID this critter from my cricket bin

[BugCatcher]

Hey guys and gals. I've got these pesky little critters in my cricket bin. I am not sure what they are or if I should be concerned with them.

 

[chendy]

i think there beetle larvae, not sure if they are harmful but i have had them when i get crickets too sorry hopefully someone else will be more help

 

[melric]

I don't think they're a problem. I haven't had any. I don't know about beatles, but those things in my bin usually turn into those tiny brown moths. You might see them around.

 

[facelesdoll]

those larva tend to feed on cricket remains almost as a parasite to them in a sence or as a cleaner. i have fed them to animals no problem did some research and found they are a good source of nutrients aswell. good luck and less worries.

 

[DansDragons]

Dermestid Beetle larva

 

[patrickfraser]

+1 I've seen them sold on ebay as a "dubia cleaning crew". They eat up all the dead feeders so you don't have to remove them. I don't know if, over time, they may become over abundant in the bin or not.

 

[amanda509]

i have about 3 or 4 of these guys in my bin (the beetles, havent seen any larvea like you have) but they keep my cricket bin soo clean. they eat the shed skin and the dead ones

 

[laurie]

+1 I've seen them sold on ebay as a "dubia cleaning crew". They eat up all the dead feeders so you don't have to remove them. I don't know if, over time, they may become over abundant in the bin or not.

They clean up your dubia's? I want them NOW. How do I find them?

 

[Draco1702]

Dermestid Beetle larva

Yes, they are dermestid larvae. These beetles are beneficial in the sense that they will eat dead feeders, keeping the colony clean. They are also used in taxidermy to deflesh animal skeletons while keeping ligaments intact. It is important to contain them, since they will eat almost anything organic, from rugs to clothing, stuffed animals, etc.

 

[laurie]

Yes, they are dermestid larvae. These beetles are beneficial in the sense that they will eat dead feeders, keeping the colony clean. They are also used in taxidermy to deflesh animal skeletons while keeping ligaments intact. It is important to contain them, since they will eat almost anything organic, from rugs to clothing, stuffed animals, etc.

Maybe I don't want them. Are these the same beetles that they put things like a elk or deer, heads in to strip it for mounting? David would never let those near the house, and they would scare me to death.

 

[amanda509]

They clean up your dubia's? I want them NOW. How do I find them?

mine came with the crix i got from dave, maybe order a small amount and ask him to put some in

 

[melric]

I've never seen the beetles. Hmm, I wonder where the moths are coming from??? Are there another kind?

 

[chamguy]

Maybe I don't want them. Are these the same beetles that they put things like a elk or deer, heads in to strip it for mounting? David would never let those near the house, and they would scare me to death.

Yes, they are also known as "flesh eaters" for this exact reason. They are no threat to you or your animals. Not even to your feeders you maybe raiseing. The big farms that raise crickets use these beetles to cut down on waste and ammonia build up, that is why sometimes they come in your order with crickets. They only eat decaying/dead material similar to maggots. The beetles can fly ( atleast mine did) but are not very good at it. Very slow also. They are an excellent food source for hatchlings. My bearded dragon hachlings loved the larvae and beetles. Thats mainly what I used, which saved me a bunch when it came to feeder costs.

Also they make breeding crickets MUCH EASIER from my experince. I had alot less deaths due to them. Crickets are very fragile little things ,and can die from the smallest raise in ammonia.
I dont think there is much risk of them infesting ( unless they are a native species). I had some for a while, and they always escaped. After I stoped feeding them, they all died, and so did the escapees, but took longer for them.

 

[laurie]

Yes, they are also known as "flesh eaters" for this exact reason. They are no threat to you or your animals. Not even to your feeders you maybe raiseing. The big farms that raise crickets use these beetles to cut down on waste and ammonia build up, that is why sometimes they come in your order with crickets. They only eat decaying/dead material similar to maggots. The beetles can fly ( atleast mine did) but are not very good at it. Very slow also. They are an excellent food source for hatchlings. My bearded dragon hachlings loved the larvae and beetles. Thats mainly what I used, which saved me a bunch when it came to feeder costs.

Also they make breeding crickets MUCH EASIER from my experince. I had alot less deaths due to them. Crickets are very fragile little things ,and can die from the smallest raise in ammonia.
I dont think there is much risk of them infesting ( unless they are a native species). I had some for a while, and they always escaped. After I stoped feeding them, they all died, and so did the escapees, but took longer for them.

Thanks lots guess I will ask David and see what he says. I know they have them here because David had his buffalo head "beetled". It sounded way creepy. But it sure stripped that skull as clean as could be. But I still made him hang it at his office.

 

[JonRich]

Dermestid Beetle larva

^^ This!! And i LOVE them!!

I just got some crickets in that didnt have any and holy hell these crickets stinkkkk!! The dead ones are just there!

My last batch had some dermestid larva and it smelt a lottt better and was clean.

 

[BugCatcher]

Awesome thanks. Ive seen them in my bins before but this batch of crix has a TON of them. Ill just have to transfer these into the other feeder bins.

 

[Zen Reptiles]

Great posts, good tip for the dubia colonies! Thank you.

Gonna go fishing in my cricket bin right now for these. I've often wondered what they were.

Are there anything harmful about this in the home? Do they fly? Will they eat natural fibers in clothes?

 

[JonRich]

Great posts, good tip for the dubia colonies! Thank you.

Gonna go fishing in my cricket bin right now for these. I've often wondered what they were.

Are there anything harmful about this in the home? Do they fly? Will they eat natural fibers in clothes?

They are nothing but good, aside from looking creepy.

The beetles do fly. Every time i would open my cricket bin 1 or 2 would fly out. I'd just catch them and feed them off. The larva only eat dead matter. Because of this i would not feed these too often to your Chams, i have seen a few munch on BudBurger. But mainly they just eat the dead crickets/roaches)

 

[Thezillaman21]

Really I didnt know flesh eating beetles could fly. The 2 I have can't fly they are in the bags the pet store sells crickets in and all they do is run.

 

[Thezillaman21]

Just did a quick search "most beetles can not/do not fly" I'm ganna use some to polish up my deer skull.