Topeka Zoo Receives AZA Award
The Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center has been recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) with an Innovation Award in the Edward H. Bean Population Sustainability Award category for its work advancing the successful breeding and rearing of blue death feigning beetles, a small but important species native to the Sonoran Desert of the southwestern United States.
Blue death feigning beetles have become increasingly popular in the pet trade because of their striking blue-gray color, ease of care and long-life span. However, most beetles in the pet trade are collected from the wild, creating an opportunity to develop sustainable alternatives through successful breeding in human care.
The Topeka Zoo began focusing on breeding and rearing the beetles in 2021, with its first successful results in 2023. While breeding the beetles and producing larvae had been achievable, getting those larvae to successfully develop into adult beetles presented a significant challenge.
In 2023, the Zoo joined an AZA collaborative initiative known as the Safety Web for Arthropod Research and Management (SWARM), which brings together zoos working to improve the care and breeding of this species.
Since then, the Topeka Zoo has successfully raised more than 70 blue death feigning beetles, making it one of the most successful participants in the collaborative effort. The Zoo also demonstrated that beetles raised entirely in human care can reproduce and produce another generation, an important step toward establishing sustainable populations without relying on wild collection.
In addition, Zoo staff developed a breeding and care guide that has been shared with other facilities to help advance the work across the zoological community.
“We are honored to receive this recognition, and it is a wonderful example of how zoos can play an important role in conservation and sustainability, even for species that may not get as much attention,” said Wrylie Guffey, Animal Care Director at the Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center.
“Our staff are proud to contribute to a collaborative effort that is helping ensure the future of the blue death feigning beetle.”
The AZA Innovation Award recognizes creative approaches and advancements in zoological practices.
The Zoo’s work demonstrates how collaboration, research and hands-on animal carecan help address conservation challenges, including those affecting species that receive less public attention.
Through its participation in SWARM, the Topeka Zoo is sharing knowledge and practical resources that can help other facilities successfully rear blue death feigning beetles, reduce reliance on wild-caught animals and expand sustainable practices across the zoological community.
