Beetle breeding of family R U T E L I D A E
Beetles of family Rutelidae belong to rather demanding representatives in forced breeding.
It is caused especially by their cramp food specialization to, very often, one type of plant. This specialization is the same both for imago and for larva. If they don't obtain "their" plant, they can live with soft fruit (banana, orange, etc.) very long in breed, often 4 - 5 months, but they lose their fertility. It was already proved by some other colegues with various types of this family.
I tried several tens of kinds of flourishing plants, but imagoes accepted only hawthorn - both blow and leaves. I gave them pollen corns too, which you can buy all over the year in specialized shops. Beetles liked it too. It is very important, because otherwise breeding of beetles wouldn't be possible during winter period.
I suppose, that after getting more knowledge about live of these nice beetles, artificial breeding of rare types will be possible.
And now briefly something about evolution of this type:
Female lays into decayed deciduous wood (proved oak tree and beech tree), which must be rather humid. After another 12 - 16 days larvas engender, which are adult in 10 weeks and begine change into chrysalis in wood. After another 6 weeks imago eats through the cowl and after approx. one month it copulates again.
The all evolution is shorter and then is possible to breed 2 generation in one year. The experience with one type isn't common of course, the evolution of other type could be longer.
It is probable that imagoes of majority of beetles need to their next breeding not only banana, but "their" plant, mostly flourishing.
If some of readers has some experience in breeding of this family and is willing to share it, I will write him with pleasure.