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To begin with the Cetonidae

Classification

I. I begin

When one is initial, best is always to start with the family of the Cetonidae, because the cycle is a short duration in comparison with other families like the Dynastidae or the Lucanidae (the cycle of a Cetonidae is 4-5 month for the small species up to 1 years for the large species).

The cycle of a beetle have several stages:

1. The egg
2. Larvae - L1 stage
3. Larvae - L2 stage
4. Larvae - L3 stage
5. Pupation - Nymph
6. Adult - imago

The cycle of a beetle :

Le cycle de la cétoine

II. The choice of the species (nonexaustive list as examples) :

With regard to the choice of the species, it is preferable to take species of the kind Chlorocola sp. (Chlorocola africana oertzeni or Chlorocola africana aficana), Pachnoda sp. (Pachnoda marginata peregrina or Pachnoda sinuata) like Eudicella sp. (Eudicella smithi bertherandi, Eudicella aethiopica or Eudicella smithi shiratica), they have the advantages of having beautiful colors and a short larval cycle (5-6 month). (Certainly, the discouragement arrives less quickly) ; Moreover these kinds and species are not expencive.

III. Breeding larvae :

The important point for the maintenance of the larvae is the substrate; This one must be made up of sheets of oak, beech, poplar, birch etc crushed (with the hand or with crushing [undoubtedly the best of the solutions) as well as wood itself crushed, with the addition of compost when the larva arrives at the end of its larval cycle, for the pupation; (This stage isn't obligatory for the species quoted in the preceding paragraph.) The substrate is mixed in the following quantities:
for 10 parts, 7 of sheet, 2 of wood and 1 of compost; The compost is not important for the growth of the larvae (few nutritive elements), but that can be more for the pupation.

sheet for Cetonidae

Sheets crushed.

wood for Cetonidae

wood crushed.

The substrate is the place of life of the larva like her food. Concerning capacity it is necessary to count 1 liter of substrate per larva L3, a little less for the lower stages.

The substrate must be placed in a box in plastic or a fauna box with a ventilation minimum (not too confined) but not too important to desiccate the substrate and to keep an optimal moisture of the substrate.

Installation for Cetonidae breeding

IV. The substrate does not need to be stirred up ! :

You should not constantly excavate the substrate, especially when the larvae are L3 stage, with the risk to break the pupe and/or to obstruct the nymphose of the larvae, which will involve malformations.

It also happens that the larvae form their pupe against the paroie of the box, it is a clothes industry normale and current for the Cetonidae.

V. How many larvae by box and cohabitation :

Like known as previously, it is necessary to count 1 liter of substrate per L3 larva.

About ten larvae of Pachnoda of Chlorocola or d'Eudicella can cohabit in 8-10 liters of capacity, together without problem. I never observed cannibalism at these species provided that they have sufficient substrate. (Contrary to the big species of Mecynorrhina or Chelorrhina who sometime can eat their other larvea).

VI. The nymphose :

Before making the pupe the larvae (end L3) will have a yellower color, you will not have not to touch the substrate before the imagoes leave, under consequence to obstruct the nymphose, but this is a repetition.

pupation

pupation of Mecynorrhina oberthuri

Nymph of Eudicella smithi bertherandi

Nymph of Eudicella smithi bertherandi.

VII. Imago breeding :

Installation for Cetonidae breeding

You needs an aquarium, a fauna box or a plastic box of mean size (40*30*30 approximately), ventilated (bored with holes), with a great possibility height substrate; (composition equivalent to that quoted in III. Breeding larvae) approximately 15 cm height, which will possible to the females to lay their eggs and the small larvae to feed after the hatching (it'ss in this substrate that the first larval stages are carried out).

Terrarium

It is necessary to decorate the box of breeding with some pieces of wood to make it possible to the adults to climb and flutter (an article that I read and not found since anymore, put forth the hypothesis that the sexual maturity of the adult coleopters started by flies?).

UA standard light neon some watts (15 - 18 Watts) stimulates the coupling of the imagoes as well as the layings (10 hours per day of lighting approximately).

Stephanorrhina adelpha

Imago of Stephanorrhina adelpha

Chelorrhina polyphemus confluens

Male of Chelorrhina polyphemus confluens.

VIII. The food of adults :

Fruits! Banana, apple or beetle jelly (see http://www.beetle-jelly.fr). This last has the advantage of preventing the invasion of the drosophilas which do not lay their eggs inside, contrary to banana or apple. It is necessary to put food on a container and not in direct contact with the substrate, because it help to the development of the acarina!

Indonesian Beetle Jelly

Jelly holder. It is a very good food for your coleopters and in all points beneficial.

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