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Gymnetis pantherina meleagris
(Burmeister, 1842)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Cetoniinae
Gymnetis pantherina meleagris is a beautiful species native to Venezuela. It measures about 2 to 2.5cm and has a brown-greenish body with numerous black spots on the pronotum and elytra. These patterns can vary from one individual to another. In nature it feeds on sap, ripe fruits but also on pollen, nectar and floral parts of various plant species.
In breeding, species quite discreet during the day.
Special features:
Species not recommended for beginners.
- Gymnetis pantherina meleagris have the particularity of having a spongy surface on their exoskeleton. As a result, when they bury themselves, they change color and darken. They become dark brown, making the patterns disappear.
- The clutches are small and delicate. Adults appear to lay eggs within a few weeks or months of hatching.


What you might need:
01. Breeding
For larvae : Plastic boxes with ventilation. Provide a quantity of substrate adapted to the number of larvae.
For example, for 10 larvae: provide a 5L box.
For the nymphs : Once in the shell, you can either leave them in the same box as the larvae or transfer them to another ventilated container. To do this, you will need to reposition the shell in the substrate.
For adults: Provide a terrarium adapted to the number of individuals. For 3/4 couples, provide a terrarium of approximately 40x30x30 (LxWxH) with ventilation on the lid. Also provide approximately 10cm minimum 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.
Temperature: 20 to 25°C.
Humidity:
For larvae: Provide a slightly damp substrate.
During pupation: Provide a slightly drier substrate.
For adults: Provide a slightly damp substrate.
Lighting: Lighting required for adults (bulb, spotlight, tube, etc.)
For larvae: Classic flower beetle substrate: decomposed and crushed oak leaves. The larvae are saproxylophagous and feed on decomposing materials (wood, leaves). If the larvae lack food, there is a risk of dying them or of obtaining small specimens. The substrate will need to be renewed as soon as there is too much excrement.
For adults: Fruits (mainly banana) or beetle jelly. Pollen seems to be well appreciated. Renew as often as possible as soon as the food starts to deteriorate.
Incubation
APPROXIMATELY 7 days*
Development
From 5 months to 6 months*
Nymphosis
1 to 2 months*
Imago lifespan
4 to 6 months*
* Approximate durations
02. Please note
Sexing: The male has a gray and matte ventral face. That of the female is black and shiny.
Prolificacy, mating and laying: Low prolificacy if conditions are optimal.
Cannibalism: Absent.