Pachnoda marginata - Sun beetle

Pachnoda marginata For Sale- Sun Beetle

Pachnoda marginata For Sale. Sun beetles, also known as Pachnoda marginata, are popular choices for pet beetles due to several reasons:

• Their lifecycle is relatively quick
• Beginner friendly
• Affordable
• Easy to breed
• Beautiful colour

Pachnoda marginata or Sun Beetles are medium-sized, hailing from the tropical regions of Africa. They are easily recognizable by their shiny black bodies adorned with bright yellow elytra (hardened forewings) that fold over their backs.

Adults reach about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in size. The larvae start as tiny white grubs, growing to roughly the thickness of your little finger and around 4 cm long when fully mature.

From Egg to Adult

Sun beetle eggs and larvae develop underground, where the grubs feast on decomposing leaves and rotten fruit. Adult beetles, on the other hand, prefer to dine on fruits. The entire lifecycle, from egg to adult, takes approximately 3 to 5 months, depending on the temperature. Adult sun beetles typically live for 2 to 5 months.

Creating the perfect habitat for your Pachnoda marginata

Adult beetles can thrive in a tank measuring about 20 x 30 x 30 cm. Fill the bottom with a thick layer of soil (around 10 cm) to allow them to burrow and lay eggs.

You can cecorate their home with twigs, branches, bark and live plants. A piece of bark or wood placed on the soil can provide a great humid hiding spot.

For the larvae, a plastic box with at least 1 litre of soil per larva will suffice. Maintain a soil depth of around 10 cm.

Enrich the soil with leaves from deciduous trees and pieces of rotten white wood if making your own substrate. We also have our own substrate mix for sale. Keep the substrate moist but not soggy – think the consistency of a freshly opened bag of potting soil. The top layer can dry out slightly as long as the rest remains damp.

Keeping Things Warm and Humid

Sun beetle larvae require a temperature range of 20 to 28°C for proper development, with an ideal temperature of around 25°C. Adult enclosures need heating from a light bulb to create a basking area with temperatures between 30 to 35°C, while the rest of the enclosure should be around 20°C. Please ensure you are using a thermostat with any heating lamp. 

A Balanced Beetle Diet

Sun beetle larvae are happy munching on leaf litter from deciduous trees and decaying wood. When offering fruit, avoid overfeeding to prevent leftover pieces from rotting. Ensure the soil in the larvae's enclosure always contains some leaf litter or rotting wood.

Adult beetles have a taste for fruit! Offer them a variety of options like apples, bananas, oranges, mangoes, kiwis, or strawberries. Rotate their fruit selection to prevent nutritional deficiencies. You can also supplement their diet with commercially available beetle jelly.

Breeding Made Easy

Breeding sun beetles is a breeze. Providing a pair of adult beetles with the proper environment as described in this guide is all they need to get started. You can choose to raise the larvae in a separate container or leave them in the same enclosure as the adults.

Captive Bred Pachnoda marginata Sun Beetles for sale at the Bug Room