| Living Materials
Information
Bess beetles
(Odontotaenius
disjunctus)
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Materials |
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1 holding pail and
lid |
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Several
cups of damp soil |
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Wood chunks |
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1
pair of scissors |
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| Bess beetle |
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Procedure
Using the scissors, carefully punch a few air holes in the lid of the holding pail.
Next, create a 5-cm (2-in) layer of damp soil in the bottom of the pail.
Open the shipping container. Gently tip the beetles into the holding pail. (The beetles will probably
squeak because they are being disturbed.)
Check to see if there are wood chunks in the holding pail. If not, add a couple. Put the lid on the pail.
The beetles should not be kept in the holding pail for more than a week.
Note: Most of the organisms you receive should be in good condition. When organisms are shipped, however, it is possible that some may arrive damaged or dead. If this happens, contact your supplier immediately.
Maintaining bess beetles in the classroom
Add a wood chunk to each terrarium. Place it on the side opposite the tree seedling and moss. Keeping the wood away from the living plants
deters the beetles from digging under them and disturbing their roots. The beetles will dig under the wood and, generally, remain there. Add more wood when you observe that
an existing chunk is almost consumed. Keep the wood chunks moist by misting them
with water once or twice a day.
The terrarium now contains all that the beetles need to live. As with the pill bugs, just check the moisture level of the terrarium daily. Students may lift the terrarium lid to discover where the beetles prefer to be.
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