LIVERPOOL’S World Museum is the first place in the world to breed an Indian ground beetle in captivity.
In February, 2009, the World Museum Bug House acquired eight of the beetles with the intention of breeding them, something never successfully achieved by anyone else.
Unfortunately, seven of the beetles died, leaving just one female whom staff believed would not survive very long.
Imagine their surprise when, on August 16, 2010, they discovered a young adult male in the tank with the female.
It seems the female had produced eggs which had been burrowed away where staff couldn’t see them.
Paul Finnegan, education team leader at the Bug House, believes the secret to their success is the sand/cement substrate he used in the tank.
