pelidnoda punctata

[Ralph]

Hi, I found a grapevine beetle (P. punctata) in western Illinois. How common are these beetles there? I've kept them before and gotten them to mate, but the females never layed eggs. Does anyone have experience with P. punctata and a proper breeding environment?

 

[Allpet Roaches]

They lay their eggs in rotten wood and often won't lay them in anything else. Try grinding up some rotten wood by hand (if you can't the wood is too hard). Don't use extremely dark rotten wood and avoid softood (pine). That is one of the more easily reared Rutelines.

 

[Ralph]

Thanks Orin. Can well rotted but dry wood be wetted, then ground up; or does it need to be moist when I get it?

 

[Allpet Roaches]

Wetting dry wood is not a problem, if it's really dry you may not have to worry about treating for pests.