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Sun Beetle (Pachnoda marginata)

Pachnoda marginata

The Pachnoda marginata (Sun Beetle, Yellow Flower Beetle). It is by far the most bred, iconic, easy and recommended flower and fruit beetle in the world for absolute beginners in terrariums. The most famous subspecies ('P. marginata peregrina') is of a lively bright Sun Yellow with an unmistakable dark brown/red/purplish block in the center of the elytra. Unlike the giants, it is very small (just 0.8-1 inch) and exceptionally diurnal, active and lively. It darts fluttering around the terrarium emitting a funny buzz. Breeding is extremely rapid and 'bullet-proof': unlike Flake Soil for the giants, the rustic Pachnoda takes only 3-5 months from hatching to the adult stage, thriving even in simple organic potting soil mixed with dry leaves. Perfect diurnal colonizers, they love very high temperatures, the sun and stuffing themselves madly with sweet apples and bananas.

Taxonomy
Class:Insecta
Order:Coleoptera
Family:Scarabaeidae
Subfamily:Cetoniinae
Genus:Pachnoda
Species:Pachnoda marginata

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

60 - 80 %

Day temperature

25 - 28 °C

Night temperature

18 - 20 °C

UVB

None

Species description

Geographic Origin and Habitat: This recovery makes no geographic-origin or habitat statement beyond the cited facts above.
Taxonomy and Genetics: The GBIF taxon page lists Pachnoda marginata (Drury, 1773) as an accepted species. The GBIF taxon page lists Scarabaeus marginatus Drury, 1773 as the original name usage for Pachnoda marginata. This recovery makes no genetic statement beyond the cited facts above.
Behaviour and Habits: This recovery makes no behavioural statement beyond the cited facts above.
Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: This recovery makes no morphological or sex-comparison statement beyond the cited facts above.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Terrarium Setup: The Edinburgh Zoo profile identifies Pachnoda marginata as the sun beetle and states that sun beetles live in warm savannahs and forests. These are natural-history observations, not captive setup instructions.
Lighting and Heating: The profile states that sun beetles are more active in the day and are strong fliers. It does not establish a captive lighting schedule or heating target.
Humidity and Hydration: This recovery does not formulate a datum on humidity or hydration.
Feeding and Supplementation: The profile states that sun beetles spend much of their time feeding on ripe fruit, sap and plant matter. This natural-history observation does not establish captive quantities, supplementation, or a feeding schedule.
Compatibility and Coexistence: This recovery does not formulate a datum on compatibility or coexistence.
Health and Common Diseases: This recovery does not formulate a datum on health or common diseases.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: Africa (Savane erbose, arbusti aridi e sottoboschi aperti in Congo, Kenya, Senegal).

Origin

Africa and Madagascar

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet
No verified data available
Life expectancy
No verified data available
Adult size
3 cm
The catalog's scalar value is 3 cm. The Edinburgh Zoo — Sun Beetle source reports a maximum adult measurement of 3 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). The taxonomic record consulted is Pachnoda marginata. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Lifestyle/Microhabitat
No verified data available
Activity cycle
No verified data available
Sociality
No verified data available
Reproduction
No verified data available
Venom level
No verified data available
Handling tolerance
No verified data available
Brumation
No verified data available
Molting
No verified data available

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Emerald Beetle (Chlorocala africana)

Emerald Beetle (Chlorocala africana)

Chlorocala africana

Spotted Flower Beetle (Stephanorrhina guttata)

Spotted Flower Beetle (Stephanorrhina guttata)

Stephanorrhina guttata

Giant African Fruit Beetle (Mecynorrhina torquata)

Giant African Fruit Beetle (Mecynorrhina torquata)

Mecynorhina torquata

Derby's Flower Beetle (Dicronorhina derbyana)

Derby's Flower Beetle (Dicronorhina derbyana)

Dicronorhina derbyana

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Similar care

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Last updated: 08/10/2026
Sun Beetle (Pachnoda marginata) Care Guide & Terrarium Setup | Atlarium