Beetles are find almost everywhere in
the world, tropics in our European gardens. One can
maintain them in an aquarium of modest size (about twenty
liters), but it is necessary to separate them according
to the stages of evolution. Indeed, larvas tend, to many
of them, to the cannibalism, what one does not meet at
the adult's. You should even have to for some raise them
individually. It is advised by the good to feed them to
limit this problem. Larvas of the kind Pachnoda live very
well among them.
For the adults, a tub covered with a railings (because
they fly!!!) filled in the middle of a mixture of compost
(described farther), some boughs and ends of barks put on
the ground, lit 10 at 12 o'clock a day and warmed in 20 /
25°C. Keep them to ambient temperature of an
apartment is completely possible but the cycle of growth
will be extended it.
For larvas, that they are in group or in the unity,
one limps tuck in 3/4 of compost is enough, with or
without lighting, and warmed as the adults.
For the food of the adults, you can have in a small
dish of fruits and vegetables as a banana, an orange,
apples, carrots, and pollen.
For larvas, they are nourishing on organic matters in
decomposition in the compost. This last one consists of
compost, dead leaves (oak, beech, or chestnut tree) and
of wood in decomposition collected in forest (be carreful
to crush a lot the wood, it can transport other insects
parasites as scolopendrids which would attack and kill
your larvas). Please , never put a conifer !!! The
mixture of compost should be wet without being diluted.
The compost should be replaced as soon as one observes
the plentiful presence of excrements. You can also give
them some ends of fruits by paying attention not to let
them rot. The sorts of customs more carnivorous
(Eudicella, Dicranorhina...) will eat also
croquettes(food) for dogs/cats pushed in the ground.
The growth varies according to the sorts and the care
which are brought to them. As example, Pachnoda's larva
puts 3/4 month to develop, one of Eudicella, 5 - 6. More
beetle is big, more growth is long. More the food is
rich, more larvas are big and very fat. There is then 1
in 2 months of nymphose, then some weeks in some months
of life in the grown-up stage.
Beetles is diurnal and appreciates a source of heat.
They feed at the warmest moment and often couple on their
food. Females lay every day some eggs which they
bury.
They ask generally for not enough care and reproduce
very well in captivity. They are one fascinating subject
of studies for schools as for oldest'people !!! ;o)
Some
Insects...
