Derby’s Flower Beetle (Dicronorhina derbyana) Care Sheet

Quick Facts

Attribute	Details
Common Name	Derby’s Flower Beetle
Scientific Name	Dicronorhina derbyana
Origin	West Africa (Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo)
Adult Size	4–7 cm
Lifespan	1–2 years
Activity	Diurnal, terrestrial

Behavior

• Active during the day; generally calm and non-aggressive.

• Adults may occasionally compete for food but rarely fight.

• Prefers hiding under leaf litter or decorative pieces when inactive.

Enclosure Requirements

• Tank Size: Minimum 20–30 liters for 1–2 adults

• Substrate: 5–8 cm of coconut fiber, soil, or leaf litter; keep slightly moist

• Decor: Logs, bark pieces, leaves for hiding and climbing

• Humidity: 65–75%

• Temperature:

  • Day: 24–28°C

  • Night: 20–24°C

• Lighting: Indirect light; avoid direct sunlight

• Ventilation: Moderate airflow to prevent mold

Compatibility

• Social species; multiple adults can be housed together if space allows.

• Avoid predatory arthropods or smaller beetle species in the same enclosure.

Diet

• Herbivorous / frugivorous; feeds on soft fruits and flower matter.

• Foods:

  • Banana, apple, mango

  • Beetle jelly or commercial fruit supplements

• Remove uneaten food promptly to prevent mold.

• Provide shallow water dish or lightly mist enclosure.

Care Tips

• Maintain consistent humidity to support molting.

• Provide climbing and hiding opportunities with leaves and logs.

• Avoid overhandling; adults are fragile.

• Spot-clean enclosure regularly; remove mold and waste.

Breeding

• Oviparous; females lay eggs in substrate.

• Eggs hatch in ~2–3 weeks depending on temperature and humidity.

• Larvae develop in substrate for 3–4 months before pupating.

• Pupation occurs in a separate chamber; adults emerge in 6–8 weeks.

Visual Quick Guide

• 🏠 Enclosure: ≥20–30 L, terrestrial substrate, hides and climbing branches

• 🌡️ Temp: Day 24–28°C / Night 20–24°C

• 💧 Humidity: 65–75%

• 🍴 Diet: Herbivore (soft fruits, flower matter)

• 🕒 Activity: Diurnal

• ⚠️ Stress: Avoid excessive handling; provide climbing and hiding spots