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Rearing of Dynastes granti


go to D. granti papa.

Dynastes granti is the longest Dynastid in the U.S. and males can measure as much as 85mm (3 1/2 inches). Adults are a blue-gray color and can have from zero to hundreds of brown spots on the elytra. The thoracic horn is very long on D. granti but is much shorter, in comparison, on D. tityus males.go to D.granti ova.
 
 

Food:

Adults, especially males, voraciously attack banana and other soft, sugary foods. Larvae are easily kept healthy if fed on rotten wood, dead leaves, and compost. go to D.granti L2.
 
 

Life cycle:

D. granti females lay as many as 50-60 eggs which usually take between 3 and 4 months to hatch. If fed well, in 4 weeks the larvae will molt and in another 8 weeks molt again. Depending on where the adults are collected will mainly determine whether the larvae will make pupal cells in another 6 months to 17 months. Temperature and feeding also affect when pupal cells are made but despite excellent feeding and temperature D. granti from certain areas will not become adults till two years after eggs are laid.

Difficulties:

Often females may lay few or no eggs and a very rich compactible substrate may help. Also, usually more than half of the eggs originally laid, die during the long incubation period. 
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