Beetles, Worms, and Roaches

You pull on your gloves, grab the feeding tray, and start with the beetle shelf.

Frog-leg beetle resting on a leaf with enlarged hind legs. — One of the frog-leg beetles with its powerful hind legs.

You give the Hercules beetle, the frog-leg beetles, and the blue death feigning beetles (BDFBs) some nice sweet fruit to snack on.

Hercules beetle partly hidden under bark. — The Hercules beetle relaxing beneath a piece of cork bark.

The Eastern lubber grasshoppers get a fresh pile of lettuce and carrots, while the hornworms happily start chewing on new tomato plants.

In the worm bins, you refresh the silkworms with crisp mulberry leaves. Finally, the domino roaches and cave roaches get a good mixed plate of leftovers and veggie scraps so nothing goes to waste.

Everyone is eating, climbing, and exploring. The room is quiet except for tiny feet tapping on bark and plastic. It feels like the day is finally settling into motion.

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All photos in this project were taken by me at the American Museum of Natural History.