Protocol 1

Developed for X. crassiusculus in North Carolina.
Used sweetgum (Liquidambar). Cut out branches ~4cm thick. Autoclave, OR soak in ethanol and then autoclave without drying.
Direct inoculation:
1. Cut end of vial and plug with cotton (control for excessive moisture).
2. Drill shallow holes of equal diameter as vial thread.
3. Screw vial in, with beetle inside.
4. Place log in jar of water, parafilm around.
5. Place in well-lit and well ventilated space.

Indirect inoculation:
1. Parafilm log ends.
2. Drill hole in base of diameter equal to small aquarium tube.
3. Plug tube with cotton and connect tube to water source.
4. Insert in log.
5. Place on a moist paper, in a large screen enclosure.
6. Release beetles in enclosure.

Protocol 2

Cut fresh branch (50 x 5 cm) of sweetgum or maple, seal its exposed ends with parafilm (or wax, or natural latex) to prevent dessication. Prepare containment vials – between 1-3 cm, bottom perforated with many miniature holes, or with one large hole sealed over with wire micromesh (for ventilation – water condensation traps and kills beetles). Soak log for 24 hours in water, remove from water na dry briefly. Drill shallow holes of exactly the diameter of your vial. Place beetle in hole, cover with vial. Keep in humid place. Tupperware with source of water is sufficient. Ventilation is ideal, especially in the beginning of gallery development, but not essential.

For rearing beetle families in twigs: PDC broth (Potato dextrose + 10g casein/L). Tested, but results unclear. Some beetles emerged, not many.