Bug metamorphosis?

[Sunbeam56]

Do you remember Fred?
http://www.americanponders.com/forum/index.php?topic=10640.0

He/she is either dead or changing - and I can't tell which. 

Fred has gone completely still, hasn't shrunk, isn't decaying, just turning brown and hardening.

You know, I've never watched a beetle "hatch". I've seen butterflies - they make a cocoon. I've seen cicadas - they split their skin and emerge into a new being. But I've never watched a beetle go through the change.

Does anyone know if this is normal?

[Esther]

I have found shells like what you are describing and figured that something hatched out of it. Come to think of it, June Bugs around here do that. Is Fred contained in something he cannot crawl out of when he does his thing?

[karen J]

How was he behaving before the change? Eating, drinking, etc? Maybe you'll have a new pet beetle soon?

My daughter has wanted one of those pet beetles for a long time... but they're kind of expensive. 
They are quite affectionate. Maybe yours will be affectionate too!

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.japanprobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/beetle-breeder.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/03/bug-breeder-cashes-in-on-japanese-beetle-mania/&h=375&w=300&sz=45&tbnid=2tls9XFWu_19hM:&tbnh=122&tbnw=98&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpet%2Bbeetle&usg=__2811IlGtI9bIJGbF2jApF5vXs-A=&ei=pJOnS4TUDaPKMOyimYMD&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=5&ct=image&ved=0CBQQ9QEwBA

[Esther]

affectionate??? I don't have a problem with bugs or beetles but it's hard to imagine an affectionate beetle that turns into a horse fly or am I misunderstanding what's going on here.

[PondmaninAL]

Esther, beetles don't turn into horse flies. Horse fly larvae are the same as any other fly, a maggot.

Sunbeam, you need the expertise of a entomologist. For those not smart enough to know, that's one who studies insects.

[Esther]

That is what I thought. Got off track with the beetle talk.

[Pondering]

I found this link you may find helpful: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2500.html 

I know i have more than my fair share of these things in my lawn.    Although i think mine are from Japanese Beetles.  Grubs are one of the ugliest bugs i've ever seen... yours are ginormous compared to what i have, can't say i've ever seen one during it's morphing stage.  I definately leave them for the birds when i find 'em, yuck!

[Sunbeam56]

Thank you. Yes, I researched online, too. There are several sites like that. They say that the grubs go through a complete metamorphosis, and some species even have posted photos of pupa - which look like grubs with fleshy wing stubs. But they don't say HOW.

Fred continues to darken. And be still.
He doesn't seem to be adding wing stubs - but there's no indication that I have read about how long it takes.
I saw one article that says that grubs will go through "precocious metamorphosis" if starved. And Fred did spend about three weeks in a glass jar on top of Roark's refrigerator - so maybe that is part of the story.

He was crawling around and eating algae off the side of the aquarium before he just curled up and stopped.
I dunno.
I don't feel a need to throw him out. So I guess we will watch and see.

[Bearb]

Sunbeam, Texas A&M has an Entomology Department (perhaps a University closer to you does as well). I bet if you made a call or emailed the Department, you would find someone who is willing to tell you all you need to know. It may be a bit of a trick finding that right person (likely a professor or graduate student). . . entomology strikes me as one of those fields where people who choose it, are very happy when someone takes an interest.

[Julles]

I have a cousin who's an entomologist.  He married a Peruvian gal who's a... whatever they call the people who study trees.  They spent quite a few years on a mountain in Peru, counting bugs and measuring trees.

Peru is a long way from Danbury, TX, though, so hopefully you can find info on your bug on the Internet.  I say, just let him be and let Nature take her course.

[PondmaninAL]

I have a cousin who's an entomologist.  He married a Peruvian gal who's a... whatever they call the people who study trees.  They spent quite a few years on a mountain in Peru, counting bugs and measuring trees.

Peru is a long way from Danbury, TX, though, so hopefully you can find info on your bug on the Internet.  I say, just let him be and let Nature take her course.

By then it will have turned into a meat-eating beetle that devours Sunbeam and Roark and all the animals and koi.