Bean Beetle Culture Cup - Callosobruchus maculatus
$12.99
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Bean beetles (Callosobruchus maculatus), also known as cowpea weevils, are small seed beetles native to tropical and subtropical regions. They are not true weevils, but belong to the leaf beetle family (Chrysomelidae). They are widely used as a highly nutritious, easily digestible live food source for small dart frogs, spiderlings, and tiny reptiles.
Appearance & Behavior
- Size: Adults measure 2 to 5 millimeters long, making them an ideal size for small predators.
- Color: Their bodies are teardrop-shaped and mottled brown, black, and gray with dark patches on their wing covers.
- Lifespan: Adults live for only 1 to 2 weeks and do not eat or drink during this stage.
- Movement: They are highly active walkers and can fly if temperatures exceed 85°F, though they rarely do at normal room temperatures.
Life Cycle & Biology
- Egg: Females cement small, clear, oval eggs directly onto the surface of dried beans.
- Larva: The larva hatches and bores straight down into the bean, completely hidden from sight.
- Pupa: Inside the bean, the larva consumes the interior starch and transitions into a pupa.
- Adult: The adult beetle cuts a perfectly round exit hole through the bean shell to emerge.
Nutritional Value
- Chitin: They have a softer exoskeleton than flour beetles, making them easier for small pets to digest.
- Hydration: While they require no liquid water, their bodies provide excellent moisture content for insectivores.
- Gut-Loading: They cannot be gut-loaded as adults, but their nutritional profile is determined by the dried bean they feed on as larvae.
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