USDA
Cetonidae : Cetonia aurata
Insect-Collection does not offer live items. 
 Please inform yourself before ordering exotics with your local legislation.
 
Journal of a Goliathus breeder
 
 
Goliathus breeding is considered by many the Holy Grail of beetle breeding. Its massive size and colorful pattern makes it a highly sought item in many collectors’ minds. Specimens of over 10 cm are calculated to the last millimeters and in the hundreds of dollars. It is however its biology that has fascinated me the most. A veil of mystery surrounded its breeding habits. People were already attempting its breeding cycle in the 80’s with little success even though the price for each larva was over $100. Breeders theorized that perhaps, Goliathus larvae required a special tree essence that was not found outside of Africa.  In the meantime,
Goliathus in Collection
Various Goliathus species in collection.
Author:Irene Roxanne, May 2006
the hobby of beetle breeding continued to gain popularity in Japan and elsewhere. Newer techniques to rear them was discovered such as using mushroom mycelium in a wood mixture called kinshi to reproduce Lucanidae specimens larger than the ones found in the wild. One day a well known American breeder, Orin McMonigle, discovered that by feeding his rhinoceros beetle larvae with dog food, he could accelerate the growth and succeed at a greater rate than larvae fed on substrate alone. Using protein additive was perhaps similar to the invention of the wheel in the world of beetle breeding. Suddenly, breeders tried pet food with different species (Lucanidae, Dynastidae and Cetonidae) that were found in breeding and discovered that most species accepted the dried pellet with success. One Japanese breeder admitted that without the discovery of this technique, the breeding of Goliathus would not have been possible.
 
 
Species Found in Breeding
Lucanidae: Lucanus cervus
Lucanidae : Lucanus cervus
Author: Elisabeth Dauscher March 25, 2006
Dynastidae : Dynastes hercules
Dynastidae : Male Dynastes hercules in front of Eudicella gralli.
Author: A. Pingstone May 2006
Cetonidae : Cetonia aurata
Cetonidae : Cetonia aurata
Author: Eric Steinert June 14, 2004

 

 
Page:  - 1  -  2  -  3  -  4  -  5  -  6  -  7  -  8  -  9  -  10  -  11  -  Gallery
 

Protect Your Insect Collection and Family at the Same Time

Protect Your Insect Collection and Family at the Same Time
< More Cedar Oil Info >