On 28/03/2025 my friend, Jyothsna gave me a beetle. She found it from her kitchen space. I thought of creating a terrarium for my cute little beetle with a miniature landscape, small plants and water dish!
Step 1: Choosing a container
I selected a rectangular aquarium with a wide mouth. It is easy for observation and maintenance. I cleaned and then dried the container.
Step 2: Adding the Soil and Plants
Filled the bottom of the container with layers of soil. This will provide a habitat for the beetles to burrow and live. Added small plants, such as mosses, ferns to create a natural environment.
Step 3: Adding Decorations
Added pebbles, small rocks to the container to create a visually appealing environment. Added dried leaves, branches to create hiding places for the beetle.
Step 4: Introducing the Beetle🪲
Once the terrarium is set up, it’s time to introduce the beetles. I gently placed the beetle into the container, making sure not to disturb the arrangements. I covered the terrarium with a cloth.
Step 5: Maintenance and Observation🔎
I always made sure the environment is clean and healthy. Provided food and water as needed.
Making a terrarium was a beautiful experience!!
Terrarium is an enclosure with glass sides, and sometimes a glass top, arranged for keeping plants or terrestrial or semi-terrestrial animals indoors. The purpose may be decoration, scientific observation, or plant or animal propagation.
The beetle I got is a female scarab beetle. Beetles come under the order Coleoptera, the largest order of class insecta. This beetle belongs to the family Scarabaeidae.
Morphology:
Body is black in colour, 3.8cm in length. Body is segmented into head, thorax and abdomen. Antennae, Eyes and the mouthparts are attached to the head. Antennae is short, club shaped. They have 3 pairs of legs, two pairs of wings on each thoracic segments. The first pair of wings is hardened, with no veins modified to form Elytra (key identification feature of beetles). It is stiff and very hard. Elytra has characteristic marks. While at rest, hindwings(very soft and thin, with veins) are folded and tucked under the elytra. During flight, elytra is lifted, separated membranous wings are unfolded. Legs are arranged as front (prolegs), middle, hind legs.
Noted behavior:
They burrow soil and remain underground most of the time. They dig soil with their front legs and claws. They hide under the stones and leaves. They remain passive during day time. And showed activity during night. I introduced fresh leaves of guava, mango and also dead ants. It showed intermittent feeding that too one-two times a day (may be because they are kept in captivity).
Can you spot the beetle in this photo!??
Why are they hiding??
03/04/25; 9.28am
Nallalam, Kozhikode
Photo:Ayana
Here are some interesting facts about scarab beetles!
Beetle very slowly moves around it’s environment. Hide under stones, leaves, branches. Most of the time, they can’t be spotted. They rest completely between the soil layers creating a burrow.
