
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Amaurodes passerinii
An African flower beetle with a cream pronotum crossed by a broad black stripe and black elytra scattered with rounded reddish-brown spots. The larvae are strongly cannibalistic and must be separated one per container as soon as they hatch.
Amaurodes passerinii is a flower beetle centred on east Africa, and Ben's Beetle Breeding Pages treats it as Tanzanian. GBIF records for the genus come mainly from South Africa (96), Malawi (40) and Tanzania (28), so the range runs from east to southern Africa. The same page rates it fairly easy to breed: females lay in ordinary substrate and slightly drier leaf litter gives good results. The larvae, however, are strongly cannibalistic and must be separated as soon as they hatch. Raised on plain substrate they produce rather small adults, and added protein is needed for large specimens. Cat food was used in the early days, while silkworm powder and casein now give better results. A Natural History Museum specimen from the Nguru Mountains of Tanzania shows a cream pronotum crossed by a broad black stripe and black elytra bearing rounded reddish-brown spots. Two subspecies are known, linnei and nigricans.
Source: beetlebreeding.ch
The Passerini's Flower Beetle lives Adults 3-6 months.
Origin
East and southern Africa (Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa)
Lifespan
Adults 3-6 months
Temperature
20〜28℃ (typical for Insect)
Humidity
60〜80%
Sources: Ben's Beetle Breeding Pages - Amaurodes passerini linnei (Tanzania, fairly easy to breed, slightly drier leaf litter, highly cannibalistic larvae, protein feeding for larger adults) / Ben's Beetle Breeding Pages - Amaurodes passerini nigricans (a subspecies whose European captive stock seems to have died out in the late 1990s) / Catalogue of Life - Amaurodes (Amaurodes) passerinii (Westwood, 1843) (accepted name, author and year) / GBIF occurrence records for the genus Amaurodes (counts by country) / Wikimedia Commons - Amaurodes passerinii Westwood, 1844 (Natural History Museum specimen from the Nguru Mountains, Tanzania; colours of pronotum and elytra)
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Primary sources
Accepted name: Amaurodes passerinii (Westwood, 1843)
Synonyms: Ceratorhina (Amaurodes) passerinii Westwood, 1843
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Plant Protection Act: When importing live specimens of Scarabaeoidea (including rhinoceros beetles, stag beetles, flower beetles, etc.), a species identification certificate issued by the exporting country government agency or equivalent must be attached in accordance with the Invasive Species Act (import ports are limited to Narita, Chubu, Kansai, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima airports). This species itself is not a designated invasive species, and import is possible upon submission of the certificate.
Sources: Ministry of the Environment, Invasive Species Act: "Guidance for Those Importing Live Insects in Scarabaeoidea" / CITES Appendix (checklist.cites.org)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
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Adults take fruit and beetle jelly; larvae feed on a leaf-based substrate with added protein
Slightly drier leaf litter is said to give good results for laying, so the point is to avoid keeping it too wet.
Females lay in ordinary flower-beetle substrate. The larvae are strongly cannibalistic and must be separated one per container as soon as they hatch. Plain substrate yields only small adults, so protein such as silkworm powder or casein is added when large specimens are wanted. Adding larvae of non-cannibalistic species as feeders is described as the method least likely to bring mites or mould.
Larvae must be reared singly. Adult males also fight, so keep them apart except for pairing.
The subspecies nigricans appears to have been lost from European breeding stock in the late 1990s, so maintaining a line is not straightforward.
Protein given to the larvae easily brings mould and mites, so remove anything uneaten. Importing live stock requires the species identification certificate demanded for Scarabaeoidea. Several subspecies exist, so do not cross beetles from different localities.
Intermediate. This is an intermediate-level species. Some prior experience and knowledge of environmental management are recommended.
The average lifespan of Passerini's Flower Beetle is Adults 3-6 months. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.
Passerini's Flower Beetle feeds on: Adults take fruit and beetle jelly; larvae feed on a leaf-based substrate with added protein. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.
The price of Passerini's Flower Beetle varies significantly depending on bloodline, size, captive-bred generation, and sex. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.
Last updated: September 17, 2026