Living weisswusts - Mecynorhina ugandensis

[ItalianTermiteMan]

Here we have a cute couple (male on the right, female on the left) of larvae of Mecynorhina ugandensis, a large and extremely color-variable goliatine beetle from central Africa very common in the (European, at least) beetle-keeping hobby but not less impressive for it. They might not be fully grown yet, but they already look like the white German sausages they sell here at Lidl

Sexing them is extremely easy when they achieve a decent size, as males sport a black chitinized "stub" on the last segment (visible even in this pic) called the Hardold's organ. This method can be used to sex a wide range of beetle species, but it's especially simple in large-sized Cetoniidae.

 

[Ratmosphere]

One of my favorite species to keep/breed! Had some fun times dealing with this species.