Breeding Beetles: A Guide to breeding Flower beetles (Cetonidae), Rhinoceros beetles (Dynastidae), and Stag beetles (Lucanidae)
IntroductionThere is a wealth of information available on beetle breeding in both English and other languages, so I will not go into detail here. However, I hope that the information will be useful not only for beginners but also for experienced breeders.Breeding conditions for adultsAquariums and various plastic containers are particularly suitable for housing adult beetles and their reproduction. The most important factors are their size and the possibility of air circulation. Tanks that are too small or too large are not suitable. For most species, sizes (l x w x h) of 30 x 30 x 30, 40 x 30 x 30, 40 x 40 x 30, and so on are fully sufficient. In general, a larger tank should be used for larger species (about 5 cm or more) and vice versa.The bottom of the tank should be covered with a layer of substrate at least 10 cm thick. (The larger the species, the thicker the substrate layer should be.) The composition of the substrate can vary. Beech leaf litter (partially decayed beech leaves) is considered universal. Oak, hornbeam, birch, lime tree leaves, or their mixtures are also popular. The resulting substrate can also consist of decayed deciduous wood, herbivore manure (especially cow manure), sand (cocoons are harder), peat, and so on. It is advisable to place decorative elements - branches and bark - on the substrate in the breeding tank. Beetles climb on them, and the overall impression of the aquarium is better. A light bulb (which can overheat the beetles) or a small fluorescent tube is used to illuminate the tank. It is advisable to light the beetles for 8 to 15 hours a day. However, artificial lighting is not a condition if the tank is placed in a sufficiently bright place. For example, species such as Eudicella smithi bertherandi, Potosia aeruginosa, ... do not need to be lit. Beetles with evening and nocturnal activity also do not need light (Rhinoceros and Stag beetles). Breeding tanks must be closed, as the beetles could escape. However, there must be enough ventilation holes in the lid to allow air circulation. ReproductionAfter mating, the females lay their eggs in the substrate in the breeding tank. These are oblong and about 1 - 3 mm in size. Their development usually takes 3 weeks. Larvae hatch from them. They feed on the same substrate in which the eggs developed. After hatching from the egg, the larva is in the first instar - L1. Gradually during development, the larva molts twice; after the first molt it is referred to as a larva of the second instar - L2, after the second molt as a larva of the third instar - L3. The larval stage lasts 2 to 12 months, depending on the species. However, it can last much longer - for example, 3 years for the species Megasoma actaeon.Towards the end of the 3rd instar, the larvae look for a suitable place to pupate. In this search, they often climb to the surface. Once the larva finds a suitable place, it forms a cocoon from its secretions and the surrounding substrate. In it, it transforms into a pupa and then into a beetle. The beetle remains in the cocoon until the chitin hardens. The time from pupation to hatching of the beetle takes 2 to 3 months for most species, but 4 to 5 months for the species Megalorrhina harisi, for example. Rhinoceros beetles and Stag beetles do not form true cocoons, but rather gnaw out chambers in the wood. Care of larvaeThe larvae should be removed from the breeding tank and raise them in jars, terrariums, or plastic boxes, for example. They can be raised together with other larvae (even of different instars). However, some species have cannibalistic tendencies and need to be raised individually (for example, Chelorrhina savagei, Megalorrhina harrisi, Amaurodes passerini, Goliathus goliathus, etc.).Flower beetle’s larvae can be raised only in leaf litter, or in black soil. Rhinoceros beetle’s larvae cannot be raised only in leaf litter, they prefer a substrate with an approximately 50% share of decayed wood and rest of leaf litter. Well fermented flake soil is great for them. Stag beetle’s larvae should be raised in decayed wood, various types of flake soil, or mycelium bottles (commonly called Kinishi). ResourcesArticles on beetle breeding did often publish in the Czech magazines “Akvárium terrarium”, “Sklípkan”, “Živa”. The Czech-language books “Živé drahokamy v teráriích” by Petr Čuřík and “Chov zlatohlávků a nosorožíků” by Tomáš Vrána and Lubomír Klátil are well known for Czech breeders.In addition to the resources mentioned earlier, there are several publications specifically for beetle lovers all around the world. For those interested in rhinoceros and stag beetles, "For the Love of Rhinoceros and Stag Beetles" by Jonathan Lai is a valuable resource (available in English and Chinese). Similarly, the books by Benjamin Harink offer a wealth of information (available in English and German). For breeders particularly focused on stag and rhinoceros beetles, "BE-KUWA" magazines is a highly regarded publication, though currently only available in Japanese. |
