New Inverts from Alan!

Got a box with some awesome new invertebrates from Alan Jeon recently, a man who has truly become an enabler for my addiction to rare and obscure invertebrates. 🤣 

First off, let's start with Eastern Eyed Elaters, Alaus oculatus! I already have larvae of a PA locality, but Alan caught a pair in Hoover, AL, and I could not refuse taking them in. 😆 

I have my pair in a moderately ventilated gallon shoebox with a CM deep layer of coconut fiber substrate, topped with some bark pieces. I'm keeping the setup moist and at around 75F°, and offering fresh fruits to the adults. The female has been laying eggs nonstop, and I've now got tons of larvae (which are now being offered on my For Sale Page, so if anyone wants any, be sure to get them before I let the majority of them eat each other... 😅).

Here are some pictures of the adult female:

Such an iconic and pretty US native, and easy to breed as far as Elaterids go. 😄 

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Next up, I finally have pillipedes! 😃 Namely a few individuals of Onomeris sp. "Hickory Dickory Park, AL", which will hopefully be a breeding group. These small obscure natives are very understudied, and it's likely there are several undescribed species and perhaps even genera here in the US.

I have mine in a minimally ventilated enclosure with a flake soil and rotten wood mixture for the substrate, topped with a little bit of leaf litter and some bark pieces. I'm keeping them at around 70-75F°, and the setup is kept consistently moist. I'm offering fruits and dog food on occasion as well.

Here are some pics of them:

Cute little species, hopefully they'll do well for me and breed! 🤞 

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I've finally acquired a group of Cryptocercus, namely Cryptocercus cf. garciai "Cooper Creek, GA". This is my first time working with this genus, which is notoriously difficult to culture in captivity with any consistency.

I've got mine set up in a moderately ventilated 5 gallon tote, filled with a deep substrate of slightly aged sawdust mixed with a little old Panesthiinae substrate. I'm keeping them humid, at around 72F°, and am offering dog food and fruits on occasion.

It's my opinion that they'll likely require a winter diapause in order to induce adults to produce oothecae yearly, so that's what I plan on providing them with.

Here are some pictures of a couple adults and some nymphs:

So far they seem to be doing well for me, fingers crossed they'll actually breed!

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Now these are a species that's been on my wishlist for years, the beautiful Porcellio succinctus! These are one of the rarest of the cultured Spanish Porcellio spp., seems they are slightly more picky about having a proper humidity gradient and good airflow compared to other members of the genus, and so have often crashed for most people that keep them. Alan's been having great success with them though, and the ones he sent me seem to be thriving as well!

I've got them housed in a well ventilated shoebox with a thin layer of coconut fiber substrate, topped with bark and leaf litter. I'm offering dog food and calcium carbonate for supplemental food, am keeping one third of the enclosure humid, the rest dry, and have them at around 75-80F°.

Here are some photos of the beauties:

I especially love that some juveniles have yellow spotting going down their backs, though this is oddly lost and reverts to white coloration when they mature. Hopefully these will breed well for me!

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Lastely, I got a group of 6 Bishopella sp. "Tuscaloosa Boat Ramp, AL". A neat little Phalangodid genus that I have yet to work with, and it would appear they are more heat resistant than the other species in that subfamily I'm working with.

I've got them housed in a minimally ventilated enclosure with a couple inches of coconut fiber topped with bark chips, coco coir chunks and sphagnum moss. I'm keeping them moist, at around 70-75F°, and am feeding them primarily springtails.

Here are some pictures of the cuties:

Hopefully they'll do well for me and breed, would love to get these established in culture!

Well, that does it for this post, thanks for reading, hope everyone enjoyed, and I'll see you all next time! 😉