Breeding Projects

At Cornwall Beetles we are passionate about creating healthy breeding stock of our species and sharing our methods with fellow breeders. We work together with other breeders and local businesses to share knowledge and best practice so that more people can enjoy beetle breeding without needing to rely on wild caught insects.

Anthia sexmaculata

A fantastically active beetle that hunts live insects. Breeding these in captivity is a huge challenge and we are not aware of anyone yet doing so, but we are making excellent progress. They require an ants nest in order to lay eggs, so we are testing two different species across three separate nests.

Plaesiorhinella watkinsiana

A slightly more complicated species to breed as the adults require a heavily organic compost substrate in order to oviposit. We use a mix of our own 4 year old compost and oak leaf litter. This season we have gained 54 healthy captive bred larvae. Pupation is likely to require a sandier substrate.

Protaetia speciosa jousselini

This is a fairly easy beetle to rear in captivity. The larvae require a three month winter diapause in order to maximise egg laying when adults. This should consist of gradual temperature changes with 2 weeks at 12-15 degrees, 2 months at 6-10 degrees and then another 2 weeks at 12-15 degrees. Diapause should start when the L3 larvae have turned yellow.

Phalacrognathus muelleri

The Rainbow Stag Beetle is a very popular species in the hobby. Easy to rear on flake soil or white rotten wood with temperatures around 24 degrees. Excellent opportunity for colour mixing the genetics - we currently have 5 breeding lines, each female laying an average of 40-50 eggs directly into compressed flake soil.

Protaetia speciosa cyanochlora

This is a fairly easy beetle to rear in captivity. The larvae require a three month winter diapause in order to maximise egg laying when adults. The diapause requirements are the same as for Jousselini. Under different lights these beetles can range from deep blue to bright green.

Mecynorhina torquata ugandensis

One of the most popular beetles in the breeding hobby. These are quick and easy to rear and their genetics offer the opportunity for selective breeding to achieve desired colours. We currently have blue, black, brown, green and fully blue breeding lines. Larvae can eat oak leaf mulch or flake soil.

Cetonia aurata

These are our only UK native species that we currently have. Our aim for these is to breed them and release them across permitted sites in Cornwall and Devon so their numbers can rise.

Asbolus verrucosus

Blue Death Feigning Beetles are an excellent and very easy beetle to keep due to their simple diet, barren dry terrariums and long lifespan. Contrary to popular beliefs this species require a high-protein, low-sugar diet of freshly killed inverts. Fruit and vegetables are not suitable as regular food.

Goliathus orientalis

A less commonly kept species of goliath beetle. These species have amazing unique patterns on their elytra. Like all goliath beetles they require a high protein diet and very regular feeding.

Goliathus regius

The Royal Goliath Beetle is VERY rare in the beetle breeding hobby. We are very fortunate to have acquired a small number of L1 larvae which we are raising on a very carefully monitored diet where each individual larvae is given the correct amount of protein daily.