Meet Ringo - my new pet!!! (Photo heavy)

[Auryn]

See I just learned something new
I had no idea their life spans were so short,
I was under the -now I know wrong- impression that they lived pretty long lives- in bug standards, considering butterflies have a couple of weeks max.

I applaud you for taking the time to learn all that you are

is mounting beetles a complicated process??
i look forward to the pictures

ohhh man, its a good thing that kid at the church pic nic wasn't doing that in front of me, id have had no problem with putting a stop to it if he was hitting my kid with a stick- i can't believe other parents didn't speak up.
I believe in a good swat on the butt too- although growing up it never got to that because my parents put the fear of god in us that they would know if we even thought about doing something we weren't supposed to.

[Scotty Hunter]

Well, okay when you compare his lifespan to a butterfly it's pretty long... 3-6 months max from what I've read (Goliath's can live for up to a year in imago state! UGH! not fair). But having no idea how long he was an imagio(adult beetle) before I found him, his time could be up anyday I suppose. Enjoying him as much as I am, even 6 months is too short! I dont want him to die!!  *pouting*

Like a pig to the slaughter, I see no reason not to make his end of life as happy as possible... assuming beetles can be happy. And considering I can't find a female for him to enjoy. He'll die a virgin perhaps. lol

From what I saw on youtube and some dried-bug websites, beetles are pretty easy to preserve in general. Keeping their color is the hard part. But since he's not an irridescent or rainbow scarab, it shouldn't be too bad. Though high moisture makes his elytra (shell over the abdomen, see Im learning all kinds of new words!) turn almost completely black which is not what I want to frame.
And then I have found videos and guides on how to "relax" them in case he dries out before I can position his legs. I'm hoping to buy a frame on the 5th when we make it back into civilization, there's a rock shop in town that sells mounting boards for gemstones which will work fine for him. And acid free parchment is at the scrapbook store. Ideally, it should be pretty easy... we'll see.

Course the insect mounting pages I have found are a bit more harsh than I care to be. They sell and mention using "Insect Killing Fluid (Ethyl Acetate)" to send the little beastie into a permanent sleep. I think Ringo will agree when I say 'no thanks' on that. lol.

Some more pics of Ringo:


Practicing for the Bug Olympics. Doing pretty well on the uneven bars.


Visiting with a box turtle, no the turtle did not try to eat Ringo, he was just curious.


Enjoying some nectar. A bit much for him, so yes I have cut down on the amount I offer. Trial and error here. lol

[dbaldock]

Does he wag his tail when he's happy?   

[Scotty Hunter]

lol!!...actually, he kinda does. It's hard to explain, so Ill try to get a video when he does it again, but he wiggles his rump and elytra up and down when he eats sometimes. At first I paniced thinking "oh god, he's going to FLY!" but he never did... I would have freaked though, I dont want anything this size flitting around inside the van. (Further reading has said they do not fly, though others in his family can; as well as the 7 inch Dynastes hercules hercules)


I also just found myself making an agreement with my mom. Once I get the vardo finished, and "move out" of the van and into "my own place" as it were, she said I can get all the bugs I want as long as they stay "out of my van!"

I have a feeling once she buys a larger RV though, Ill still be stuck in the vardo with my insectarium while she's stretching out in her RV with more room than she knows what to do with. But I guess thats a suitable compromise since I have my eyes on some African Millipedes next!

[Scotty Hunter]

Tiny little update on my unique pet; Ringo died through the night. I don't know why, but I had no idea how long he was in his adult form when I found him, and they don't live too terribly long as adult beetles anyhow.

I'd like to think the nectar I was using was a suitable food source, as he lasted for 15 days in my care and was extremely active on a daily basis, crawling all over my arm and table, crawling on the keyboard, etc.

The last few days, he started trying to fly. (Yep, he did in fact have wings). I don't know if he was trying to find better food before he died, or if he knew he was dying and was trying to mate (the beetle grand goal, it seems).

Anyways, my ugly bugly is no more. *sniff*

[Merlin the Elder]

Well, just so you know... Today is Ringo's 71st birthday. So somewhere there is some karma happening....

[Tink]

awww, so sorry about Ringo.  I have no doubt, though, that he had a very happy last few weeks with someone who truly cared about him.  All beetles should be so lucky!