486 1-800-452-1261
Animals—Living, Invertebrates, continued
Bessbugs
Also known as patent-leather beetles, Betsy bugs and horned beetles, these slowmoving
beetles exhibit complete metamorphosis, subsocial colony behavior and
even feed their larva predigested wood. These amazing specimens are also able to
pull 100 times their weight! Adults can produce different sounds by rubbing their
wings against their bodies; 14 sounds are known and the most common is a small
squeak. May not be available in July and August. A state permit is required to ship to
Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
★MAINTENANCE: Maintain bessbugs in moist unbleached paper towels and untreated, slightly
rotted oak or elm wood in a bucket or terrarium. Keep their habitat out of direct sunlight to avoid overheating.
Hissing Cockroach
The Madagascar Hissing Cockroach or Gromphadorhina portentosa is quickly
becoming a classroom favorite. The hissing noise these animals are known for is
produced by forcefully exhaling air through abdominal spiracles. These excellent
low-maintenance pets don’t fly or bite. An ideal organism to study metamorphosis,
behavioral modification, population effects and many other topics. A state permit is
required to ship to California, Arizona, Florida and Tennessee.
★MAINTENANCE: Maintain Hissing Cockroaches in a clear habitat with a tight fitting lid, plenty
of places to hide and a temperature of 75 ºF. They will eat fresh fruits, vegetables or dry dog or cat food.
Moldy food should be removed promptly. Maintain moisture and humidity by misting the habitat daily
using a spray bottle filled with distilled water.
Catalog No. Description Price/Each
LM1277 Hissing Cockroach $11.50
ANIMALS—LIVING, INVERTEBRATES continued on next page.
Crickets
LM1164, etc.
© Pat Anderson/Visuals Unlimited
Crickets
Acheta domesticus, the house cricket. The essential food organism for most popular
reptiles and amphibians. Breeding colonies kept in the classroom are also a practical
means of demonstrating insect life cycles and incomplete metamorphosis. A state
permit is required to ship to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
★MAINTENANCE: Maintain crickets on coarse sand substrate with lots of hiding places, such as
cardboard tubes and egg cartons. Crickets will thrive on fresh fruit and dry dog food.
Catalog No. Description Pkg. Size Price/Pkg.
LM1164 Crickets—Live 50 $25.15
LM1165 100 39.90
Hissing Cockroach
LM1277
Mealworms (Tenebrio)
LM1112, etc.
© John D. Cunningham/Visuals Unlimited
Mealworms
Larvae of the beetle Tenebrio. Popular in biology classrooms for observation of insect
metamorphosis. Also an excellent food source for amphibians and reptiles. Shipped
in shallow bait containers with bran meal medium.
★MAINTENANCE: Maintain mealworms in containers with screens or ventilated covers at 25 to
30 °C. Mealworms thrive on any type of grain—including bran meal, oat flakes, or corn meal. Provide
moisture by adding slices of carrot, potato or apple.
Catalog No. Description Pkg. Size Price/Pkg.
LM1112 Mealworms. Tenebrio larvae 30 $10.70
LM1113 100 12.75
Daphnia
The “water-flea.” Daphnia has long been popular for simple physiology studies
because its heartbeat is easily viewed under the microscope. The effect on heartbeat
caused by changes in temperature and by the application of specific drugs to the
culture water are readily reproduced experiments. Daphnia is also popular as a food
organism for Hydra and other invertebrates.
★MAINTENANCE: Maintain Daphnia in indirect light at 18 to 24 °C. Large cultures can be set up
in 5- or 10-gallon aquariums in aged tap water. Feed by adding 100 mL of a rich culture of a unicellular
algae three times a week. Daphnia also eat yeast from suspension—prepare by adding a pinch of active
dry yeast to 100 mL of warm water and let stand 2–3 hours.
Catalog No. Description Class Size Price/Each
LM1107 Daphnia sp. Selected smaller species. This would be the
choice for use as a food organism for Hydra and others.
30 $ 9.95
LM1108 100 31.30
LM1109 Daphnia magna. Two or more times the size of other
species. The choice for physiological studies and
observation under the microscope.
30 12.15
LM1110 100 43.25
LM1111 Daphnia Culture Kit. Includes culture of D. magna, culture
of unicellular algae (food organism), bag of timothy hay
(for preparing medium), and complete instructions.
For five-gallon tank or aquarium.
30 39.60
Adults can live up to a year. Ages of shipped specimens vary.
Catalog No. Description Price/Pkg. of 3
LM1246 Bessbugs $14.20
Daphnia
LM1107, etc.
© Neo Sci
Bessbugs
LM1246
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/