Interestingly, the deeper you go into the isopod world, the more variety you find, and some are rare, like Bumblebee isopods. As one of the sought-after species, they are preferred by many mainly because of their appearance, which mimics an actual bumblebee. The bold yellow and black markings on their body create a striking look that makes you want them even more. But since, it is a rare species, getting your hands on them is a bigger struggle than you think.
Bumblebee Isopods: A Glimpse
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Origin: Thailand
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Scientific Name: Cubaris sp. Bumblebee
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Difficulty: Medium
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Rarity: Rare
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Temperature: 18-26°
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Size: Up to 8-10 mm
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Humidity: 70-80%
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Favorable Foods: Decaying organic matter, leaf litter, wood, fruits, and fish flakes.
An Overview
Originating from Thailand, Bumblebee isopods are among the Cubaris geniuses. Still, unlike other species in the category, they cannot be found in abundance, which is why they have a high monetary value.
With a tendency of growing up to 8 to 10 mm, they prefer high-humid ambiance to reach their potential and lead a healthy life.
What's special about them is the appearance that gives them a bee-like appearance but without wings. However, you should own them only if you are experienced and can meet the requirements necessary.
Bumblebee Isopods: Basic Care
With some proven tips, you can give your isopods a healthy life and good shape:
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Despite the fact that they grow in terrariums, they do need proper regulation of fresh air along with good ventilation.
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Another important requirement for their growth highly relies in high humidity, and that is why you must properly mist the enclosure at regular intervals. For that reason, misting the enclosure regularly and using a substrate mix to retain moisture well is important.
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Above anything, a stable temperature is crucial, so make sure it doesn't fluctuate much; otherwise, it may create issues for your isopods.
Bumblebee Isopods: Feeding
Like others, Bumblebee isopods are no different and feed on decaying organic matter in abundance in the wild. But in captivity, you must give them a balanced diet containing plenty of leaf litter, rotting wood, and dried moss for their good health. As for supplementation, you can add vegetables, cuttlebone, fish flakes, and protein sources, but do not overfeed them as they cause molting issues.
Bumblebee Isopods: Appearance & Behaviour
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It is easy to recognize them because of their distinctive yellow and black bands on their body, characteristics you don't see in other isopods.
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The bold patterns on their bodies serve as a natural defense mechanism, mimicking a Bumblebee and keeping predators away.
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They are highly active at night but not so much during the daytime, and they stay hidden under leaf litter. They also like to move in groups while foraging.
Bumblebee Isopods: Habitat
Bumblebee isopods make places with tropical climates their home and live under rocks, decaying logs, and leaf litter so nobody can bother or attack them. You need to mimic the same when keeping them in captivity with plenty of hiding spots, perfect air flow, and moisture-retaining materials.
Bumblebee Isopods: Substrate Mix
You may have a thought of experimenting with substrate mix to feed your bumblebee isopods, and then you will end up putting their overall health on stake. This is why you create a proper substrate mix containing coconut fiber, sphagnum moss, decayed wood, leaf litter, sand, and crushed eggshells or cuttlebone to fulfill their calcium requirement.
