ENY-1001 Guide to Collecting and Maintaining Live Arthropods for Classroom Display in Florida1 S. McCann, J. D. Ellis, and M. K. O’Malley2 Introduction General Care This guide is intended for those interested in maintenance Proper care of captive insects and other arthropods is and display of insects and other arthropods for educational essential to maintain their health and appearance as well as purposes in Florida. It can be used in conjunction with demonstrate to children the proper care of these specimens. other entomology curricula and is relevant and accessible to Unfortunately, many species lack proper husbandry all age groups, although the amount of teacher involvement resources because those species have never been reared in will vary accordingly. Few illustrations are more effective captivity. The best advice is to infer an insect’s appropriate for the entomology classroom than live insect displays, and living condition from its natural situation. Was the insect this document details the entire process of maintaining found associated with a particular plant? Is it active in the such displays. day or the night? Is the family known to have predatory members or are they herbivores? Are they known to Legal Considerations: Non-Native produce secretions that can irritate the skin? There are many insects and spiders in Florida, so it may be best to Arthropods take a picture and send it to the Insect Identification Lab Florida Statute 581.083 regulates the importation or pos- in the Entomology and Nematology Department at the session of exotic invertebrates in Florida. In practice, this University of Florida for identification. Knowing the species means that importation or possession of exotic insects is will help in taking care of the organism. regulated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. As such, many large showy insects Climbing insects such as mantids, walkingsticks, and (such as Hissing Cockroaches) that are suitable for live grasshoppers do well in vertically-oriented cages with some classroom display are not legally available in Florida. This vegetation or sticks to climb on. Ground dwelling insects is no barrier, however, to the capture and display of native appreciate a substrate where they can dig, as well as have insects and spiders. Florida has a rich insect fauna that can some hiding places fashioned from cardboard, leaves, or be found through much of the year, making it easy to col- bark. lect interesting insects for display. Species of conservation concern may be protected by law. For more information see Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida Vol. IV. Invertebrates by M. Deyrup, R. Franz. 1. This document is ENY-1001, one of a series of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date January 2008. Revised October 2014 and December 2017. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. 2. S. McCann, former Extension assistant; J. D. Ellis, associate professor; and M. K. O’Malley, former Extension assistant, Department of Entomology and Nematology; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other UF/IFAS Extension publications, contact your county’s UF/IFAS Extension office. U.S. Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A & M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension. Food and Water Species Accounts If commercial foodstuffs are provided to captive insects, Horned Passalid, Odontotaenius disjunctus a few general considerations are worth mentioning. First, Easily collected from beneath rotting oak logs, these food should be maintained in a fresh state unless the spe- impressive beetles (Figure 1) should be maintained in the cies is one that prefers rotting food. Uneaten food should be same rotted oak medium where they are found. Diet can removed regularly. If fruits or vegetables are provided, try be supplemented with fruits and vegetables. Transport the to use organically-grown or pesticide-free. Needless to say, beetles in a smaller cage with less rotting wood for easier pesticides can be dangerous for captive invertebrates. Water display. These beetles have large mandibles and should be should be provided in such a manner that your insects handled with care. are not able to drown in it. Water provided in a dish filled with marbles or soaked on a cotton wick is good for this purpose. Some insects appreciate droplets of water sprayed on leaves, which simulates dew. Displaying Insects Insects can be displayed in plastic terraria, jars, glass aquariums, and other such containers. Dangerous or chemically-defended species should be displayed in containers that are break-proof and difficult for children to open. If displaying such species, ensure that children are supervised at all times. One may think that bringing children into contact with creatures such as widow spiders Figure 1. Horned Passalid Odontotaenius disjunctus. This large, is not advisable; however, if proper precautions are taken, impressive beetle makes a fine display specimen. such encounters can show kids what species they should avoid in nature. On the other hand, be aware that children Rainbow Scarab, Phanaeus vindex often return home and try to capture insects/spiders they Impressive in coloration (Figure 2), this beetle is easily have seen displayed. As such, it is important to teach collected near dung as it prepares its nest. This beetle will children where the dangers lie in this practice and provide readily fly, so it is suitable only for caged display. Adults them safer alternatives instead. may be fed on fresh fruits such as banana. Males are recognized by a long horn on the head. The shape of the Many children like to handle insects and other creatures, female’s pronotum lends itself to forming dung balls and and this experience can be the highlight of any presenta- digging, while the male’s is suited to territorial combat. tion. Suitable insects for handling purposes can be found in Florida, especially Ox beetles, scarabs, click beetles, buprestids, weevils, and mantids. Lubber grasshoppers are extremely large, impressive insects and can be handled gently. However, they are capable of producing an irritating secretion when disturbed. Please bear this in mind when using insects with younger children. Be sure to provide some interesting background informa- tion about the species you wish to display such as life history, economic importance, behavior, conservation status and habitat. Doing so with native species will go a long way towards stimulating and sustaining interest in insects and the natural word in general. Figure 2. Male Rainbow Scarab, Phanaeus vindex. This most impressive insect is sure to fascinate with its dinosaur-like appearance. Guide to Collecting and Maintaining Live Arthropods for Classroom Display in Florida 2 Ox Beetles, Strategus antaeus makes an interesting classroom demonstration. Alaus These large scarabs make great displays and can be myops is a smaller relative of this species that is also good handled easily. They should be maintained in a woodland for display. vivarium (an enclosed container that simulates a woodland environment) and fed fruits as adults. Males of Strategus antaeus (Figure 3) have three elongate horns on the prono- tum, used for territorial combat with other males. They may be found in wooded areas with sandy soils. Adults may be fed soft fruits and leaves. Figure 5. Alaus oculatus. This large eyed click beetle makes an attractive demonstration insect. Other smaller click beetles are less striking in appearance, Figure 3. Strategus antaeus. This large male has impressive horns. yet if gathered in large numbers may be used for children to Hercules Beetles, Dynastes tityus handle. Both species should be fed cut pieces of soft fruit. This enormous beetle makes an impressive and hardy Buprestid Beetles (Metallic Wood-Boring classroom display. They should be maintained in insect cages and fed fruit. It is uncommon in Florida but if Beetles) collected makes an impressive insect. Many species of buprestid (Figure 6) beetles are suitable for in-class display or handling. They are impressive, beautiful, and gentle. They may be found near damaged or dying trees on warm days, often in some abundance. Their metallic colors and sculptured texture make them ideal display insects. Try feeding them the foliage of trees, especially from trees found near where the beetles were collected. Figure 4. Dynastes tityus. This beetle’s horn structure is unique. Eyed Click Beetle, Alaus oculatus The eyed click beetle can be found near houses, under Figure 6. Buprestid beetle, Chalcophora virginiensis. This large, bark, etc. Unmistakable in appearance (Figure 5), adults of impressive species is often abundant around dying pine trees. this species are large, impressive, and gentle. The clicking mechanism is a means of defense and allows the insect to right itself if placed on its back on a smooth surface. This Guide to Collecting and Maintaining Live Arthropods for Classroom Display in Florida 3 Diaprepes (Citrus) Root Weevils, Diaprepes They should be housed in tall, planted cages and fed insects abbreviatus, Pachnaeus litus, Pachnaeus daily. opalus These large, attractive weevils are easy to find, maintain, and make excellent display animals (Figure 7). They also are important pests of Florida citrus and thus are excellent teaching tools to explain crop pests and introduced species problems. They can be found feeding on many tree and shrub species and are best collected in the morning by shaking vegetation vigorously over a sheet or umbrella. They may be kept in jars and fed green beans, carrots, and other vegetables.