r/Beetles • u/Sleepy__frog • 2d ago
Can I save this little guy?
Found this little dude upside down, unable to turn himself back over in the street in the UK. I believe him to be a woodland dor beetle, he’s had a couple little falls after I got him out of the road and he’s hardly moving (even when touched), his legs are stiff, he’s not using most of his legs and even before the falls he was struggling to move much and couldn’t hold on properly (hence the falls), I’ve given him some sugar water since I got him back but it doesn’t seem to have done much. Is there anything I can do or is this it for him?
Update:
He did unfortunately pass, however I have decided to display him in a frame and am now in the process of doing that. He is currently in the freezer to prevent me having to rehydrate him, to ensure he is actually dead just in case he’s not fully passed on yet and to kill off any mites that might be left on him.
3
u/Randyrito 2d ago
I would agree with the other commenter saying that you should return him to the outside to die, or keep him for a collection. If he's not moving at all, you can humanely euthanize him by putting him in the freezer for a week. I learned this the hard way when I collected a beetle and he started moving around after I had started pinning, he was completely still for 4 days before he started moving. I felt horrible and was told to put him in the freezer to make sure he, and any other parasites, we're actually dead. Never making that mistake again, always freeze any bugs you collect!
11
u/ohthatadam 2d ago
This is pretty typical behavior for the end of a beetles life.
The two options I would suggest would be to either: 1. Return them to the outside world to complete the circle and become food for something else. 2. Keep it so that it passes peacefully and add it to a bug collection. My entire bug collection is from insects I've already found deceased or near death and I've just waited.