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For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
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Photo#326341
Beetle - Dactylosternum

Beetle - Dactylosternum
Alameda County, California, USA
August 28, 2009
Size: 3/16 in. (5 mm)
Found three of these inside an outdoor caterpillar-rearing enclosure. They may have emerged from pupae in a leaf/compost mix provided for caterpillar pupation. They walk with the gait of ladybugs. They seem reluctant to fly. They tip over easily and have a hard time righting themselves.

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Beetle - Dactylosternum Beetle - Dactylosternum Beetle - Dactylosternum Beetle - Dactylosternum

Moved
Moved from Sphaeridiinae.

Moved
Moved to subfamily page, not knowing how close the kin might be.

Sphaeridium or close kin
*

ground pupaters.
when i have ground pupaters, i bake the dirt in the oven before i let them in it. ( i let it cool first) or i simply put them in a container with a bunch of wadded up tp and paper toweling and they do fine..that way i minimise the dangers to pupaes and by the way have you ever been to wlss the saturnide site? i see we are in the same age group etc..and have similar stories, thought i would share that great resourse. i have had lots of fun there too.