Eudicella frontalis
(Westwood, 1843)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Cetoniinae
It is a medium-sized flower beetle . Females measure between 30 and 35mm, males between 35 and 40mm and are a little larger. Some specimens, depending on breeding conditions or in the wild, can measure up to 45mm.
It has a fairly marked green pronotum and scutellum. The legs are green with orange bases. The elytra are yellow with green and black bands. The edges of the elytra in contact with the scutellum are orange.
The species resembles Eudicella schultzeorum. The notable difference is the male's horn which is U-shaped (not V-shaped) and appears thicker.
No particularity at the larval level.
This species can be found in West Africa: Ivory Coast, Ghana and Guinea
Several points to note for this species:
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Temperature: for optimal conditions 23/24°C but breeding possible between 20°C and 28°C. To encourage reproduction, a temperature of around 25°C seems necessary.
Humidity:
For larvae: provide a slightly damp substrate.
During pupation: provide a slightly drier substrate.
For adults: Provide a slightly damp substrate. If the terrarium is well ventilated, provide a small spray of water every 2 to 3 days.
Lighting : Classic lighting required for adults (bulb, spotlight, tube, etc.)
For larvae : Plastic boxes with ventilation.
Separate breeding strongly recommended . Indeed there is a high risk of cannibalism. Provide a box of approximately 1 to 2 liters per larva.
For adults: Provide a terrarium adapted to the number of individuals. For example, for 1/2 couples, provide a terrarium of 40x30x40 (LxWxH) with ventilation on the lid. Also provide about 20 cm of substrate and small branches for movement.
The ground should not be completely flat because the beetles that fall on their backs die quickly because they can no longer turn around. It is therefore very important to fill it with bark, stones or other materials and not to flatten the substrate.
For larvae: For L1/L2: Classic flower beetle substrate: decomposed and crushed oak, beech or possibly chestnut leaves, with possibly decomposed wood. For L3: in addition to the substrate , it is advisable to add a protein supplement: approximately 0.5g of Gammarus per larva every 3/4 days. The substrate will need to be renewed as soon as there is too much excrement.
For adults: Fruits (mainly banana) or beetle jelly. Possible supplement with pollen. To be renewed as often as possible as soon as the food begins to deteriorate.
Incubation
ABOUT 10-15 days
Development
From 4 months to 6 months
Nymphosis
From 1 to 2 months
Imago lifespan
3 to 4 months
Sexing: The male has a U-shaped horn.
Prolificacy: Not prolific. Laying remains low compared to other Eudicella.
Cannibalism: High risk. The larvae are highly cannibalistic, so up to the L3 stage they will be raised individually. From L3 onwards, group rearing is possible provided there is a nutritional supply.
