Euphoria sepulcralis
Starter colony (8 mixed larvae): $40
Adults: $10/each
Detailed Species Stats -Click-
My fascination with Cetoniine beetles knows no limits, and even this humble and subjectively drab species is quite endearing to me. While sweep netting on the 2021 Florida trip, I found a copulating pair of this species and for a few seconds, upon considering the feasibility of propagating a colony from a random wild pair of unknown age and condition, almost tossed them back to nature. I decided against this and gave them a Bidens alba flower to eat pollen from and was very surprised to see them in good shape by the end of the trip despite minimal care. A proper set up later and their numbers gradually grew to colony status. This is an easy species though a bit slow breeding relative to their size. The larvae are not picky and will eat leaf litter, rotting wood, and buried food items. Pupation occurs in frass and the pupal cells are quite sturdy. It is possible this species could be used as a feeder insect one day if a large colony is generated and maintained, as the larvae are appropriately sized for insectivores big and small.