Keith
Megaloblatta
Many popular feeder insects are tougher than you think!
In my house we have an unfinished basement of concrete and sometimes we get small drops of water when it rains, our oil burner has dead insects under it, and our cats food and litterbox are down there.
I've had mealworms escape. They managed to crawl and avoid my cats to the side where the oil burner is. I didn't see them for over a month assuming they died. Then one day I notice mealworm beetles crawling up my basement walls and flying around the house trying to get outside. The mealworms not only survived, they were reproducing in my basement! The oil burner provides warmth and they eat the dead insects that fall under it. The beetles crawl in search of any moisture and eat whatever they find not a basement there is enough. Over a year and there is a small population thriving but they are more agile than ones you buy at the store.
I had purchased house crickets and tropical house crickets during the summer. The box had a hole and quite a few escaped outside. I thought they wouldn't last a day. Next day I hear and find both species in my garage and under our back deck. We have cat food outside and the crickets came from below the deck, and carry the food under the deck to eat! The species both got along together. During the day they were silent, at night they congregated on the house walls and along the concrete walkway and driveway. They eat whatever they can find, grass, dead bugs, seeds, plants, soil, cat food, it's amazing! They traveled from my yard down a few houses it truly was shocking. Late summer thousands of babies were everywhere at night, they reproduced outside! This is New York no tropical climate here even summer gets rain or windy days. As it got cooler they all found three way into my basement and like the mealworms thrive and reproduce! I've seen both species interbreed but no offspring result.
The tropical house cricket is best suited for survival they are tough, agile, and grow quickest! I've even spotted some outside during 40F degrees outside in October sitting where the sun hits to stay warm with the wild field crickets, truly mind blowing!
Never underestimate these critters!
In my house we have an unfinished basement of concrete and sometimes we get small drops of water when it rains, our oil burner has dead insects under it, and our cats food and litterbox are down there.
I've had mealworms escape. They managed to crawl and avoid my cats to the side where the oil burner is. I didn't see them for over a month assuming they died. Then one day I notice mealworm beetles crawling up my basement walls and flying around the house trying to get outside. The mealworms not only survived, they were reproducing in my basement! The oil burner provides warmth and they eat the dead insects that fall under it. The beetles crawl in search of any moisture and eat whatever they find not a basement there is enough. Over a year and there is a small population thriving but they are more agile than ones you buy at the store.
I had purchased house crickets and tropical house crickets during the summer. The box had a hole and quite a few escaped outside. I thought they wouldn't last a day. Next day I hear and find both species in my garage and under our back deck. We have cat food outside and the crickets came from below the deck, and carry the food under the deck to eat! The species both got along together. During the day they were silent, at night they congregated on the house walls and along the concrete walkway and driveway. They eat whatever they can find, grass, dead bugs, seeds, plants, soil, cat food, it's amazing! They traveled from my yard down a few houses it truly was shocking. Late summer thousands of babies were everywhere at night, they reproduced outside! This is New York no tropical climate here even summer gets rain or windy days. As it got cooler they all found three way into my basement and like the mealworms thrive and reproduce! I've seen both species interbreed but no offspring result.
The tropical house cricket is best suited for survival they are tough, agile, and grow quickest! I've even spotted some outside during 40F degrees outside in October sitting where the sun hits to stay warm with the wild field crickets, truly mind blowing!
Never underestimate these critters!
