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Water Beetles:
Both adult water beetles and their larvae may be maintained in an aquarium. Both will carry on their normal activities freely. As they are vicious and voracious, they cannot be maintained with other aquarium inhabitants.
Beetles need "balanced" aquarium (see Part II); use 2- to 5-gallon aquarium or aquarium jar. Cover bottom with 2 inches of clean aquarium sand; anchor 6 strands of common aquarium plants with a few clean rocks. Let water stand 24 hours; then drop adult beetle or larvae or both in habitat.Clean out entire box annually. Using common wire strainer, sift out and keep stages of beetles; discard debris. Fill box with fresh supply of bran and replace beetles.
When the weather is warm and food is plentiful, the life cycle of most species of ladybird beetles is completed in an average of three weeks. Broods begin to appear in early spring, and there is a succession of them throughout the summer. Ladybird beetles will complete their entire life cycle in a small cage when established in the proper habitat and given an abundance of food. It is best to obtain beetles when they first appear in the spring since they are about ready to deposit eggs at that time.
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