Howie's story

I've posted on Howie before, when he was a young grub. Now it seems, Howie's on the brink of beetle-hood and his care-giver has written to me, telling Howie's tale and providing a photograph of where Howie's at. And that's a still place, where we are guessing, Howie's going through some profound changes in preparation for the metamorphosis that will give him wings and an appetite, not for food, as adult huhu don't eat, but for female huhu.
Here's Howie and Howie's grubby tale. Photograph and story by Howie's surrogate dad.

I didn't realise it had been 6 months that Howie had been living with us (we'd already had him for about a fortnight before your post on 13 March). 

 On the day he was rescued he went into a 16 cm cooking pot (no that is not an omen) with some of the woody material from his original home (the piece of wood I split open with the axe before throwing it in the fire).  This arrangement worked well for maybe 10 weeks or so, albeit with the semi occasional watering of the wood to maintain some moisture.  But it did occur to me that he was slowly eating his way through his home.  I had also noticed that he was 'slowing down' and not moving as much (dare I say he seemed depressed?).  In any event, with the amount of material there was he could barely hide himself in the end.  So something had to be done.

 So something was done - a renovation.  We had an old rotting log that was at least 4 1/2 years old and I took to that with an axe and it yielded a large supply of new, soft material for Howie to live in.  there was so much of it that Howie had to move into a larger cooking pot - a 22 cm one (an upgrade from 201 cm2 to 380 cm2 - quite spacious really).   So when the time come for the big move, we made sure that the old material was mixed in with the new material (to give him some sensation of familiarity) and we put him back on the top, put the newspaper back on top (we have a folded newspaper on top to give him the darkness he craves) and left him be.  I sneaked a peek a few minutes later and he was gone - submerged into the depths of his new home (which I took as a sign of approval).

 So Howie's been living in his 380 cm2 "home" and, as before, slowly swimming and boring and eating his way through his bedding.  Only, unlike before, I don't think it bothers him as much.  I noticed about 6 weeks back that instead of being constantly submerged (like a submarine) in his bedding, he was spending more and more time on the surface.
I'll be honest I was starting to get worried, so on a couple of occasions I would cover him up - but he would only uncover himself and end up floating on top.  I also noticed that he was not moving as much. 

 In fact, until quite recently I was convinced that Howie was on his last legs (so to speak).  I check on him every day and, to be honest, usually just touch him (gently) to see if he moves (movement = life).  A few days back he didn't move at all when touched and he was limp when picked up.  I thought he'd gone to Hu Hu heaven.   But...  rather than call the undertaker I gave him 24 hrs.   Touched him again and, well, he wiggled quite violently.  I took that as being the Hu Hu way of saying to me "I'm alive and leave me the f*** alone!"  Anyhow, it's worked.  I've since realised that what is happening (at least this is what I think is happening) is that Howie the Hu Hu Grub is starting to morph into Howie the Hu Hu Beetle. If, indeed, this is what is happening it is fantastic for Howie - it is, after all, what nature intended.  On the downside it will mean that he can no longer live where he does and will have to be set free.  When that time comes Howie the Hu Hu Beetle will be released at Moore's Reserve.

I've just looked at wikipedia and noticed it says this - 

"As the huhu reaches maturity it ceases to bore and casts its skin, this still edible stage is known in Maori as tataka. It then develops wings and legs, and while it is still white, it is known as pepe. Finally it emerges and flies off to reproduce and is known as a huhu beetle or to Maori as tunga rere".

I guess, like all of us, he is getting older.