Garden Fruit Chafer (Pachnoda sinuata)
| Garden Fruit Chafer Pachnoda sinuata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Garden Fruit Chafer |
| Name Lat. | Pachnoda sinuata |
| Synonym | Pachnoda sinuata flaviventris |
| Family | Fruit and Flower Chafers |
| Family lat. | Cetoniidae |
| Order | Beetles |
| Order lat. | Coleoptera |
| Origin | Southern Africa |
| Habitat | Shrub savanna, fruit farms |
| Diet | Fruits, beetle jelly, maple syrup |
| Humidity | 60-80 % |
| Behavior | Diurnal |
| Keeping | Pair, group |
| Care Level | Easy |
| Housing | Semi-humid terrarium |
| Breeding | Simple |
| Life Span | 5-7 months |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 20-28 mm |
| Temperature Day | 25-27 °C |
| Temperature Night | 18-20 °C |
| Housing Size | 40 x 30 x 30 cm |
| US Units | |
| Size | 0.8"-1.1" |
| Temperature Day | 77-81 °F |
| Temperature Night | 64-68 °F |
| Housing Size | 15" x 10" x 10" |
Distribution and habitat
The South African fruit beetle is widespread in southern Africa. There they inhabit different habitats, such as forests, bush and shrub savannahs, and orchards.
Maintenance
A terrarium of e.g. 40 x 30 x 30 cm (L x W x H) is recommended. A hinged lid terrarium or an aquarium with a tightly closing lid made of the finest gauze is best suited. The terrarium should be placed in a quiet place without direct sunlight
The substrate, at least 15 cm deep, should be a slightly moist deciduous forest or terrarium humus mixed with a little white rotted wood, with the bottom layer (about 5 cm) well compacted. On top of this some foliage for cover (shelter and hiding places) and/or e.g. Flake Soil, some branches for climbing and uprighting and pieces of bark or moss cushions to maintain humidity.
Several times a week the inside of the terrarium should be finely sprayed (humidity), waterlogging and mold should be avoided at all costs
| Temp. day: 25-27 °C | Temp. night: 18-20 °C | Humidity: 60-80 |
The lighting duration should be 8-10 hrs. Daylight fluorescent tubes supplemented with spotlights that generate the necessary heat are ideal.
Diet
The food for adult beetles (imagines) consists of ripe fruit, especially suitable are bananas, apples, pears and mangoes, maple syrup, Beetle Jelly and flower pollen. Fruit and maple syrup meet their fluid needs. Citrus fruits are not suitable
Larvae feed on deciduous forest humus and white rotted wood, shredded as finely as possible for better absorption, or finished products made from fermented wood substrate (e.g. Flake Soil). Moderate feeding (max. half teaspoon per week) of ground silkworm pupae promotes growth.
Recommended feeding is two to three times a week, too little feeding leads to cannibalism among the larvae. A regular and varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.
Reproduction and breeding
The male beetles can be recognized by the furrow on the underside of the abdomen
After mating, the female lays the eggs in the soil substrate. The generation period is 5-8 months depending on the temperature
At temperatures below 18 °C reproduction does not take place.
Important
In nature, they feed primarily on flowers and pollen and are pests of orchards in their native habitat.
There are some subspecies and cultivated forms that deviate from the species-typical coloration and patterning
They are able to fly well and, like all rose chafer beetles, have their cover wings closed.
It is important to have a certain amount of moisture in the food, because the animals take the necessary liquid only through their food.
A sufficiently deep bottom substrate is essential, as the substrate is both food and habitat for the larvae. The temperature in the moist bottom substrate should be 22-24 °C. A regular substrate exchange is necessary, whereby the intervals can be several months depending on the stocking.
The terrarium must have good ventilation without drafts and meet the species-specific needs. Measuring devices such as thermometers, hygrometers, etc. are necessary. The lighting has to correspond to the species-specific day-night rhythm and has to be placed in such a way that the animals cannot injure themselves. The terrarium should be locked in such a way that neither unauthorized persons can open it nor the animals can escape. Contamination must be removed regularly
Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: Serena Werle; Image: Franz Lowak
Source: HENKEL & SCHMIDT (2010): Taschenatlas Wirbellose für das Terrarium, Verlag Ulmer; ENGELMAN & LANGE (2011): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Wirbellose, Verlag Harri Deutsch