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Post by huntnfishnut on Aug 23, 2016 20:07:44 GMT -5
My foray into dermestid beetles for taxidermy purposes. Skulls are big cleaned, degreased, and whitened. No painting, skulls are completely bleached bone
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Post by huntnfishnut on Aug 23, 2016 20:09:59 GMT -5
So I started a bug box. I started last fall, but a failure of my temperature control caused them to overheat. Luckily, they all did not bake out and I have a strong healthy colony. So far I have done two coyote, a bear, and two whitetail bucks.
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Post by huntnfishnut on Aug 23, 2016 20:11:34 GMT -5
Dad's coyote and bear Attachments:
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Post by huntnfishnut on Aug 23, 2016 20:13:22 GMT -5
Closeup of the bear
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Post by huntnfishnut on Aug 23, 2016 20:17:07 GMT -5
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Post by gkonduris on Aug 23, 2016 21:08:30 GMT -5
Good looking skulls!
I've boiled and picked and boiled and picked then added too much bromate so I found a guy in Sandpoint that does the bug thing. Best looking skulls IMO.
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Post by p on Aug 23, 2016 22:19:34 GMT -5
Nice job, HFN!! This one looks like whack..
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Post by killermidget on Aug 23, 2016 22:31:02 GMT -5
I have a couple of bear skulls that were cleaned by the bugs. And I agree that there isnt a better way to do it. Mine are clean as a whistle....
I like that euro you have too!
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Post by killermidget on Aug 23, 2016 22:33:32 GMT -5
So I started a bug box. I started last fall, but a failure of my temperature control caused them to overheat. Luckily, they all did not bake out and I have a strong healthy colony. So far I have done two coyote, a bear, and two whitetail bucks. Do you have to have something for the bugs to eat on at all times?
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Post by huntnfishnut on Aug 24, 2016 6:55:03 GMT -5
So I started a bug box. I started last fall, but a failure of my temperature control caused them to overheat. Luckily, they all did not bake out and I have a strong healthy colony. So far I have done two coyote, a bear, and two whitetail bucks. Do you have to have something for the bugs to eat on at all times? It's not constant. We feed them once a week or so if there isn't anything in there. Been feeding them off a tube of hamburger that got a bit warm on our Canadian fishing trip that we don't want to eat. Also have obtained butchering scraps from the local butcher shop.
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Post by killermidget on Aug 24, 2016 13:15:06 GMT -5
Do you have to have something for the bugs to eat on at all times? It's not constant. We feed them once a week or so if there isn't anything in there. Been feeding them off a tube of hamburger that got a bit warm on our Canadian fishing trip that we don't want to eat. Also have obtained butchering scraps from the local butcher shop. OK, I was curious just what it takes to maintain them. Can you post a pic of the bug box? I might be interested in keeping a colony myself....
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Post by huntnfishnut on Aug 24, 2016 13:18:57 GMT -5
It's not constant. We feed them once a week or so if there isn't anything in there. Been feeding them off a tube of hamburger that got a bit warm on our Canadian fishing trip that we don't want to eat. Also have obtained butchering scraps from the local butcher shop. OK, I was curious just what it takes to maintain them. Can you post a pic of the bug box? I might be interested in keeping a colony myself.... Sure. I'll get it all detailed tonight
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Post by killermidget on Aug 24, 2016 14:24:04 GMT -5
I just googled the beetles and found a supplier that sells a kit of 8-10 full grown beetles, 6 larvae and two pupae for 24 bucks.
2 questions.... Is that enough beetles for a start, and how fast do you get new beetles accumulated through their breeding?
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Post by tsm213 on Aug 24, 2016 15:07:22 GMT -5
Sounds like a cool idea. I'm not sure if I would want to maintain a colony year round. Can they hibernate? Also how long to clean up a skull
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Post by killermidget on Aug 24, 2016 16:29:53 GMT -5
Sounds like a cool idea. I'm not sure if I would want to maintain a colony year round. Can they hibernate? Also how long to clean up a skull It doesnt sound like a lot of work.........yet. lol
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Post by tsm213 on Aug 24, 2016 17:28:53 GMT -5
Sounds like a cool idea. I'm not sure if I would want to maintain a colony year round. Can they hibernate? Also how long to clean up a skull It doesnt sound like a lot of work.........yet. lol I bet they stink like hell!! I'm not housing anything in my heated garage all winter lol
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Post by killermidget on Aug 24, 2016 17:43:48 GMT -5
It doesnt sound like a lot of work.........yet. lol I bet they stink like hell!! I'm not housing anything in my heated garage all winter lol Lmao!
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Post by elkguide on Aug 24, 2016 19:44:31 GMT -5
It doesnt sound like a lot of work.........yet. lol I bet they stink like hell!! I'm not housing anything in my heated garage all winter lol You're pointing that out to a midget, T?
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Post by huntnfishnut on Aug 24, 2016 19:54:20 GMT -5
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Post by huntnfishnut on Aug 24, 2016 19:59:56 GMT -5
It can get stinky, we keep this down in my parents pole shed. It's the brains of whatever you put in there that stink. Otherwise they are not that bad. During the summer now, we let the fan run full time and it is vented out the window.
I have not put a head in there with the colony this sized yet to know how quickly they will do work. I do know when we put about a pound of hamburger in there now, it takes them just over a day to eat it all.
I would probably not keep it in my garage, as I don't scoop the brains out ahead of time. Heck, my wife won't even let the box on our property period...
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