Things You'll Need
- Plastic, metal or glass container
- Container lid
- Cotton wadding or shredded paper
- Styrofoam
- Sponge
- Reptile heating pad
- Spray bottle
- Paper towels
- Dry meat
Instructions
Keep the dermestid beetles in a container or aquarium. The container should be hard plastic, metal or glass. Place a lid on the container to prevent the beetles from escaping. A plastic, metal or wire mesh lid will work, but there should be tiny holes, not big enough for the beetles to escape through, poked into the top.
Add 1 inch of cotton wadding or shredded paper to the bottom of the container. Place pieces of Styrofoam or sponge on top of the shredded material to give the larvae a place to burrow into and turn into beetles.
Maintain a temperature of between 65 degrees Fahrenheit and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a reptile heating pad under the container to keep the temperature where it needs to be.
Water the beetles every other day by spraying a fine mist into the container with a water bottle. Another option is to spray a paper towel with a spray bottle once a week and set the towel in the bottom of the container. Maintaining proper moisture in the container promotes egg-laying and prevents mold growth.
Feed the beetles dry meat. Place a dead animal in the container after skinning it and cleaning out the blood and organs. Feed them chicken, beef, pork, fish or any other type of dry meat scraps. Freezer-burned meats are an ideal food. Beetles can go for up to two weeks without feeding if necessary.