Tempest Rhinoceros Beetle (Allomyrina pfeifferi)

IMPORTANT: Live beetles cannot be released into non-native habitats under any circumstances.  Please contact me to re-home any unwanted non-native beetles.

The Tempest Rhinoceros Beetle (Allomyrina pfeifferi) can be found in Malaysia and Brunei.  The Japanese call this sabiiro kabutomushi, or the rusty rhinoceros beetle because of it's rusty color and mottling. 

This diminutive rhino not only looks cute with it's round body and fuzzy exterior, but it also squeaks!  Yes, when the Tempest beetle is threatened or annoyed it will emit a soft squeaking sound to tell you to back off!  The male exhibits the typical curved front horn, hence the rhino name along with a small, wide pronotal horn.  The females do not have the horns but do maintain the rusty, fuzzy look of the species.

Tempest rhinos tend to be longer lived than it's cousin the Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle with lifespans up to 8 months.  The beetles are somewhat calmer in demeanor and expend less energy from their sedentary lifestyle perhaps leading to longer lifespans than many other rhinos.  

Male Tempest rhinos can get up to 50mm on the large side but normally come in around 35-45mm with females slightly smaller.  These beetles are extremely easy to care for and to breed and make for a great beginner species.  They also eat less than their larger brethren and use up less resources with their smaller size and ability to be kept communally.  The Tempest rhino beetle is truly overlooked as a great hardy species with a cute personality!

Suggested substrate container sizes for Tempest Rhinoceros Beetle larvae are:

• L1: 4 oz. container
• L2: 8 oz. container
• L3: 24-32 oz. container
  

Adult Tempest Rhino Beetles can eat soft fruits such as banana, melons, peaches, etc.  Buying organic produce is a better option to avoid pesticides that can be found in fruit.  Also stay away from citrus fruits (too acidic) and watermelon as it's water content is too high to use as a regular food source.  The best choice though is probably beetle jelly since it is designed to provide beetles with the proper nutrients and with additional protein (helpful for breeding).