RADIANT SUN BEETLE

Quick Care Guide

Common Name: Radiant Sun Beetle
Scientific Name: Chrysina sp.
Adult Size: Approximately 2.5–4 cm | Activity: Mostly nocturnal

📏 SIZE

• Adults are usually around 2.5–4 cm long.

• Males and females can differ slightly in size.

• Larvae are considerably smaller and spend most of their time underground.

🏠 HOUSING

• Adults can be kept in a secure, well-ventilated terrarium.

• Provide plenty of branches, cork bark and foliage for climbing.

• A suitable substrate should be deep enough for larvae to burrow and develop.

• Keep the enclosure secure — beetles are capable climbers and flyers.

🌡️ TEMPERATURE

• Aim for approximately 20–25°C.

• A slight drop at night is beneficial.

• Avoid prolonged temperatures above 27–28°C.

• Monitor temperatures with a digital thermometer.

💡 LIGHTING

• No specialist UVB is essential for keeping them.

• Provide a normal day/night cycle.

• Avoid strong direct sunlight, which can rapidly overheat the enclosure.

💧 HUMIDITY

• Aim for approximately 60–80% humidity.

• Lightly mist the enclosure as required.

• Substrate should remain slightly damp but never waterlogged.

• Good ventilation is essential.

🍎 FOOD

• Adults can be offered ripe fruit, such as banana, apple, pear and melon.

• Specialist beetle jelly can also be used.

• Remove uneaten fruit before it spoils or attracts pests.

• Larvae feed primarily on decaying organic matter, particularly rotting wood and leaf litter.

• Provide suitable decaying hardwood throughout the larval stage.

🚰 WATER

• Most moisture is obtained from food and the enclosure humidity.

• Light misting provides additional hydration.

• Avoid deep water bowls — beetles can become trapped and drown.

🐛 SHEDDING

• Larvae moult several times as they grow.

• They eventually form a pupa underground, where metamorphosis into the adult beetle takes place.

• Never dig up or disturb larvae or pupae unnecessarily.

• Stable temperature, humidity and suitable substrate are essential for successful development.

🤲 HANDLING

• Handle gently and only when necessary.

• Allow the beetle to walk onto your hand rather than grabbing it.

• Avoid handling newly emerged adults until their exoskeleton has fully hardened.

• Take care when handling — beetles have delicate legs and wings.

❤️ HEALTH

• Healthy adults should be active, alert and able to grip surfaces firmly.

• Watch for inability to climb, damaged limbs, mould or persistent weakness.

• Larvae spending time underground is completely normal.

• Avoid excessive disturbance during pupation.

🧹 CLEANING

• Remove uneaten fruit and beetle jelly regularly.

• Remove obvious mould or heavily contaminated material.

• Do not completely replace larval substrate unnecessarily — it provides both food and habitat.

• Top up decaying wood and leaf litter as required.

🏡 BEFORE YOU BRING YOUR ANIMAL HOME

✓ Set up the enclosure before bringing your beetles home.
✓ Establish temperature and humidity.
✓ Add climbing surfaces and foliage.
✓ Prepare suitable fruit/beetle jelly.
✓ If keeping larvae, provide deep, suitable decaying-wood substrate.
✓ Make sure the enclosure is secure and well ventilated.

⚠️ IMPORTANT BITS

• Larvae and pupae should not be disturbed or dug up.

• Never allow the substrate to become completely dry during larval development.

• Equally, avoid waterlogged substrate, which can cause mould and poor conditions.

• Remove old fruit before it ferments or attracts flies and mites.

• Keep beetles away from pesticides, chemicals and treated wood.

• Radiant Sun Beetles are primarily a display species and should be handled gently.