Giant Flower Beetle (Mecynorhina torquata immaculicollis)

Giant Flower Beetle Mecynorhina torquata immaculicollis
Name	Giant Flower Beetle
Name Lat.	Mecynorhina torquata immaculicollis
Family	Fruit and Flower Chafers
Family lat.	Cetoniidae
Order	Beetles
Order lat.	Coleoptera
Origin	Central Africa
Habitat	Shrubland
Diet	Fruits, beetle jelly, maple syrup
Humidity	60-80 %
Behavior	Diurnal
Keeping	Pair, group
Care Level	Moderate
Housing	Semi-humid terrarium
Breeding	Moderately difficult
Life Span	3-4 months
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	5-8,5 cm
Temperature Day	25-27 °C
Temperature Night	18-20 °C
Housing Size	40 x 30 x 30 cm
US Units
Size	2"-3.3"
Temperature Day	77-81 °F
Temperature Night	64-68 °F
Housing Size	15" x 10" x 10"

Distribution and habitat

The distribution area of the diurnal Mecynorhina torquata immaculicollis is in Central Africa, where they are mainly native to the Congo. There they inhabit different habitats, such as tropical forests, bush and shrub savannas.

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 males are slightly larger than the females and easily recognized by their more or less conspicuous horn on the forehead.

After mating, the female lays the eggs in the soil substrate. The generation period is 8-14 months depending on the temperature.

At temperatures below 18 °C reproduction does not take place.

Important

They can 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 only take in the required liquid 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: petdata; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: HENKEL & SCHMIDT (2010): Taschenatlas Wirbellose für das Terrarium, Ulmer Verlag; ENGELMAN & LANGE (2011): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Wirbellose, Verlag Harri Deutsch