Family: Chrysomelidae
© BluTunaGarden in Johannesburg
Description
6 mm. Pronotum with two black patches, eight black patches on the elytra.
Geographical distribution
Widely distributed in South Africa.
Habitat
Bushveld, savanna and fynbos.
AW Insect Book: Beetles - Coleoptera
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Re: Africa Wild Insect Book: Beetles - Photos & Descriptions
Ten-spotted Leaf Beetle Cryptocephalus decemnotatus
Family: Chrysomelidae
© BluTuna
Garden in Johannesburg
Description
6 mm. Pronotum with two black patches, eight black patches on the elytra.
Geographical distribution
Widely distributed in South Africa.
Habitat
Bushveld, savanna and fynbos.
Family: Chrysomelidae
© BluTunaGarden in Johannesburg
Description
6 mm. Pronotum with two black patches, eight black patches on the elytra.
Geographical distribution
Widely distributed in South Africa.
Habitat
Bushveld, savanna and fynbos.
Hunting cannot be considered a sport as all contestants in a sport should know they are playing the game!
Re: Africa Wild Insect Book: Beetles - Photos & Descriptions
Royal Tiger Beetle, African Riverine Tiger Beetle Chaetodera regalis
Family: Carabidae. Subfamily: Cicindelinae
© leachy
Kruger National Park
Tiger beetles of the subfamily Cicindelinae are medium to large sized, fast-moving beetles with slender legs. Flattened, metallic bodies with black or brown with yellow or white patterns. They have large, prominent eyes, making the head wider than the prothorax. Covered in hairs that lie flat against the body surface.
Most are fast fliers, usually in fast bursts when disturbed where they rest on beaches and open ground. They are successful predators using speed, large eyes and large and toothed mandibles. The larvae live in vertical burrows in the sand from which they ambush their prey.
Description
Length 13.5-18.5 mm. It can be easily recognized by its distinctive elytral color pattern and by the iridescent blue coloration on the elytra in most specimens (although individual specimens will occasionally have black elytral markings rather than iridescent blue markings)
Geographical distribution
Widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Habitat
During the dry season, adult beetles are found on sand bars along perennial rivers. In the rainy season, adults are found in large numbers on a broad spectrum of substrates and geomorphological features (sand flats, mud flats, sand bars, beaches, riverbanks, and dry and wet sandy streambeds) in riverine areas.
Biology
Active during the heat of the day, patrolling river courses on sand banks. It hunts small arthropods.
Family: Carabidae. Subfamily: Cicindelinae
© leachyKruger National Park
Tiger beetles of the subfamily Cicindelinae are medium to large sized, fast-moving beetles with slender legs. Flattened, metallic bodies with black or brown with yellow or white patterns. They have large, prominent eyes, making the head wider than the prothorax. Covered in hairs that lie flat against the body surface.
Most are fast fliers, usually in fast bursts when disturbed where they rest on beaches and open ground. They are successful predators using speed, large eyes and large and toothed mandibles. The larvae live in vertical burrows in the sand from which they ambush their prey.
Description
Length 13.5-18.5 mm. It can be easily recognized by its distinctive elytral color pattern and by the iridescent blue coloration on the elytra in most specimens (although individual specimens will occasionally have black elytral markings rather than iridescent blue markings)
Geographical distribution
Widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Habitat
During the dry season, adult beetles are found on sand bars along perennial rivers. In the rainy season, adults are found in large numbers on a broad spectrum of substrates and geomorphological features (sand flats, mud flats, sand bars, beaches, riverbanks, and dry and wet sandy streambeds) in riverine areas.
Biology
Active during the heat of the day, patrolling river courses on sand banks. It hunts small arthropods.
Re: AW Insect Book: Beetles - Photos & Descriptions
Potato Lady Beetle Solanophila dregei
Family Coccinellidae. Subfamily Epilachninae. Tribe Epilachnini
© BluTuna
© BluTuna
Garden in Johannesburg
All species of Epilachinae are large, pubescent (hairy) beetles. Adults and larvae of all species are are phytophagous (eat plants) and many are pests of cultivated crops. The larvae of this subfamily can be distinguished from those of the other subfamilies by the long, branched spines on the dorsal ad lateral surfaces. In late summer large numbers of adults migrate and congregate on high places such as hill-tops.
Description
The Potato Ladybeetle is relatively large ladybeetle, measuring about 8 mm in length and 5-6 mm in width. It is usually black, with 10 large orange patches on the elytra. However, colour variations commonly occur; the patches may also be yellow or red. Covered with short whitish down. Head and pronotum usually orange.
Distribution
Throughout South Africa.
Biology
Both, the larvae and the adult beetles of Epilachnini, feed on the surface of host plants, feeding on leaf tissue. In contrast to other phytophagous beetles, for instance Chrysomelidae, Epilachnini do not swallow pieces of leaf fragments, but only scrape the soft tissue, masticate it and suck the juices. The larvae of Epilachnini usually feed on the underside of the leaves of host plants, whereas the adult beetles feed on the upper surface.
Eggs are laid in clusters of about 30 on the undersides of leaves. A life cycle from egg to adult takes approximately 40 days. The larva of the potato ladybeetle is yellow and covered with long, dark coloured spiny projections. The fully grown fifth instar larva seeks a protected place to attach itself to pupate, usually on the lower stems of haulms. The pupae are darker in colour, covered by the old hard and spiny skin of the larva. In the northern parts of the country, adults migrate to hilltops or higher places during the latter parts of summer or early autumn. At such places, they gather in dense masses to hibernate for up to 10 months until the first rains the following spring. After the first good rain, adults again appear from their hiding places to invade newly planted potato fields.
Links:
https://academic.oup.com/jinsectscience ... 01/2726713
Ladybeetles that damage potatoes (PDF)
Family Coccinellidae. Subfamily Epilachninae. Tribe Epilachnini
© BluTuna © BluTunaGarden in Johannesburg
All species of Epilachinae are large, pubescent (hairy) beetles. Adults and larvae of all species are are phytophagous (eat plants) and many are pests of cultivated crops. The larvae of this subfamily can be distinguished from those of the other subfamilies by the long, branched spines on the dorsal ad lateral surfaces. In late summer large numbers of adults migrate and congregate on high places such as hill-tops.
Description
The Potato Ladybeetle is relatively large ladybeetle, measuring about 8 mm in length and 5-6 mm in width. It is usually black, with 10 large orange patches on the elytra. However, colour variations commonly occur; the patches may also be yellow or red. Covered with short whitish down. Head and pronotum usually orange.
Distribution
Throughout South Africa.
Biology
Both, the larvae and the adult beetles of Epilachnini, feed on the surface of host plants, feeding on leaf tissue. In contrast to other phytophagous beetles, for instance Chrysomelidae, Epilachnini do not swallow pieces of leaf fragments, but only scrape the soft tissue, masticate it and suck the juices. The larvae of Epilachnini usually feed on the underside of the leaves of host plants, whereas the adult beetles feed on the upper surface.
Eggs are laid in clusters of about 30 on the undersides of leaves. A life cycle from egg to adult takes approximately 40 days. The larva of the potato ladybeetle is yellow and covered with long, dark coloured spiny projections. The fully grown fifth instar larva seeks a protected place to attach itself to pupate, usually on the lower stems of haulms. The pupae are darker in colour, covered by the old hard and spiny skin of the larva. In the northern parts of the country, adults migrate to hilltops or higher places during the latter parts of summer or early autumn. At such places, they gather in dense masses to hibernate for up to 10 months until the first rains the following spring. After the first good rain, adults again appear from their hiding places to invade newly planted potato fields.
Links:
https://academic.oup.com/jinsectscience ... 01/2726713
Ladybeetles that damage potatoes (PDF)
Hunting cannot be considered a sport as all contestants in a sport should know they are playing the game!
Re: AW Insect Book: Beetles - Photos & Descriptions
Garden Fruit Chafer Pachnoda sinuata
Family Scarabaeidae. Subfamily Cetoniinae. Tribe Cetoniini
Darling (Western Cape), December 2015 © arks
© BluTuna
Garden in Johannesburg
Description
This species is large with a smooth carapace. Adults reach a length of up to 25 mm. These beetles have a slightly flat, robust body with a yellow colour on the ventral side of the body and dark brown on the dorsal surface of the body. The coloration is also broken by yellow spots and a transverse yellow line across the rear of the forewings. The head is dark brownish with two long yellowish patches on each side of it and two oval white spots above the eyes. These colours help deter predators from eating them.
Distribution
South Africa and Namibia.
There are several subspecies. The species P. sinuata flaviventris is most common. P. sinuata calceata lives in the succulent Karoo and Pre-Namib of the Western/Northern Cape Province and Namibia.
Habitat
Garden fruit chafers are commonly found in orchards and gardens.
Biology
Adult beetles feed on flowers and fruit, often destroying them in the process which makes them unpopular with gardeners. While commonly found on exotic plants like roses and camellias, these beetles also feed on a range of indigenous plants including Acacia. They feed on overripe fruit, and favour roses, reason why they are also known as 'rose beetles' and fruit chafers. The beetle bores into the soft, ripe flesh of almost any fruit to extract the juices.
Adults lay their eggs in manure and compost heaps or among plant roots. The female makes several little balls of dung or compost and lays an egg in each of them. The tiny larvae feed on the decaying vegetable debris and plant root contents of these balls, before transforming into pupae. The pupae develop inside large, egg-shaped protective clay shells.
© BluTuna
© BluTuna
© BluTuna
My dog dug it out of a flowerpot filled with sawdust.
© BluTuna
Grub (soft-bodied larval stage of the Fruit Chafer)
© BluTuna
Garden in Johannesburg.
Family Scarabaeidae. Subfamily Cetoniinae. Tribe Cetoniini
© BluTunaGarden in Johannesburg
Description
This species is large with a smooth carapace. Adults reach a length of up to 25 mm. These beetles have a slightly flat, robust body with a yellow colour on the ventral side of the body and dark brown on the dorsal surface of the body. The coloration is also broken by yellow spots and a transverse yellow line across the rear of the forewings. The head is dark brownish with two long yellowish patches on each side of it and two oval white spots above the eyes. These colours help deter predators from eating them.
Distribution
South Africa and Namibia.
There are several subspecies. The species P. sinuata flaviventris is most common. P. sinuata calceata lives in the succulent Karoo and Pre-Namib of the Western/Northern Cape Province and Namibia.
Habitat
Garden fruit chafers are commonly found in orchards and gardens.
Biology
Adult beetles feed on flowers and fruit, often destroying them in the process which makes them unpopular with gardeners. While commonly found on exotic plants like roses and camellias, these beetles also feed on a range of indigenous plants including Acacia. They feed on overripe fruit, and favour roses, reason why they are also known as 'rose beetles' and fruit chafers. The beetle bores into the soft, ripe flesh of almost any fruit to extract the juices.
Adults lay their eggs in manure and compost heaps or among plant roots. The female makes several little balls of dung or compost and lays an egg in each of them. The tiny larvae feed on the decaying vegetable debris and plant root contents of these balls, before transforming into pupae. The pupae develop inside large, egg-shaped protective clay shells.
© BluTuna © BluTuna © BluTunaMy dog dug it out of a flowerpot filled with sawdust.
© BluTunaGrub (soft-bodied larval stage of the Fruit Chafer)
© BluTunaGarden in Johannesburg.
Hunting cannot be considered a sport as all contestants in a sport should know they are playing the game!
Re: Africa Wild Insect Book: Beetles - Photos & Descriptions
Beaded Weevil Protostrophus sp
Family: Curculionidae
© Super Mongoose
Vaalkop Dam Nature Reserve, North West Province
The family Curculionidae (weevils, snout beetles) is the largest family in the animal kingdom, including about 48 000 species in total, of which about 2 500 species occur in southern Africa. Their mandibles (jaws) are situated at the end of a rostrum (snout) that is adapted for chewing into seeds and stems. The antennae (feelers) are characteristically elbowed and clubbed and situated on the rostrum. Both adults and larvae feed on plants and the female bores into seeds and stems where the eggs are laid. This group of beetles includes a wide range of pests of crops and stored products.
Beaded Weevils of the genus Protostrophus are medium-sized (body length 12 mm), stout, with rounded abdomen and broad snout equal in length to reminder of head. Body scales are brown, grey, silver or bronze. Longitudinal rows of punctures on the elytra. Antennae shorter than head and pronotum.
They feed on a variety of plants including ornamentals, cotton and tobacco seedlings, young wheat, sweet potato and groundnut plants.
A flightless beetle, ground-dwelling or in foliage. The larvae live in soil.
There are over 130 species in the region.
Family: Curculionidae
© Super MongooseVaalkop Dam Nature Reserve, North West Province
The family Curculionidae (weevils, snout beetles) is the largest family in the animal kingdom, including about 48 000 species in total, of which about 2 500 species occur in southern Africa. Their mandibles (jaws) are situated at the end of a rostrum (snout) that is adapted for chewing into seeds and stems. The antennae (feelers) are characteristically elbowed and clubbed and situated on the rostrum. Both adults and larvae feed on plants and the female bores into seeds and stems where the eggs are laid. This group of beetles includes a wide range of pests of crops and stored products.
Beaded Weevils of the genus Protostrophus are medium-sized (body length 12 mm), stout, with rounded abdomen and broad snout equal in length to reminder of head. Body scales are brown, grey, silver or bronze. Longitudinal rows of punctures on the elytra. Antennae shorter than head and pronotum.
They feed on a variety of plants including ornamentals, cotton and tobacco seedlings, young wheat, sweet potato and groundnut plants.
A flightless beetle, ground-dwelling or in foliage. The larvae live in soil.
There are over 130 species in the region.
Re: AW Insect Book: Beetles - Photos & Descriptions
Striped Toktokkie Psammodes gibbus
Family Tenebrionidae. Subfamily Pimeliinae. Tribe Sepidiini
Cape Agulhas
Description
The abdomen of this species is predominantly black with dark brown longitudinal stripes. They are large, slow and flightless.
Distribution
Cape Provinces in South Africa, Namibia.
Habitat
Ground-dwelling, often on koppies. Commonly seen in the fynbos.
Diet
The beetles feed on a variety of plants and even animal matter.
Biology
Psammodes striatus communicates by substrate vibrations produced by tapping its abdomen on the ground to attract mates.
Life history
Eggs are laid in the soil. Larvae look like mealworms, feeding underground on plant litter and roots. They pupate in the soil.
Family Tenebrionidae. Subfamily Pimeliinae. Tribe Sepidiini
Cape Agulhas
Description
The abdomen of this species is predominantly black with dark brown longitudinal stripes. They are large, slow and flightless.
Distribution
Cape Provinces in South Africa, Namibia.
Habitat
Ground-dwelling, often on koppies. Commonly seen in the fynbos.
Diet
The beetles feed on a variety of plants and even animal matter.
Biology
Psammodes striatus communicates by substrate vibrations produced by tapping its abdomen on the ground to attract mates.
Life history
Eggs are laid in the soil. Larvae look like mealworms, feeding underground on plant litter and roots. They pupate in the soil.
Re: AW Insect Book: Beetles - Photos & Descriptions
Clytrine Leaf Beetle
Family: Chrysomelidae. Subfamily: Cryptocephalinae. Tribe Clytrini
© BluTuna
Garden in Johannesburg
Leaf Beetles of the Tribe Clytrini are characterized by head sunk into the pronotum, the short, cylindrical or subcyilndrlcal body; antennae serratae, relatively short and often more developed in males, elytra laterally lobed.
Family: Chrysomelidae. Subfamily: Cryptocephalinae. Tribe Clytrini
© BluTunaGarden in Johannesburg
Leaf Beetles of the Tribe Clytrini are characterized by head sunk into the pronotum, the short, cylindrical or subcyilndrlcal body; antennae serratae, relatively short and often more developed in males, elytra laterally lobed.
Hunting cannot be considered a sport as all contestants in a sport should know they are playing the game!
Re: Africa Wild Insect Book: Beetles - Photos & Descriptions
Lesser Aloe Weevil Rhadinomerus illicitus
Family: Curculionidae. Subfamily: Molytinae Tribe: Aedemonini
© BluTuna
© BluTuna
Garden in Johannesburg
The family Curculionidae (weevils, snout beetles) is the largest family in the animal kingdom, including about 48 000 species in total, of which about 2 500 species occur in southern Africa. Their mandibles (jaws) are situated at the end of a rostrum (snout) that is adapted for chewing into seeds and stems. The antennae (feelers) are characteristically elbowed and clubbed and situated on the rostrum. Both adults and larvae feed on plants and the female bores into seeds and stems where the eggs are laid. This group of beetles includes a wide range of pests of crops and stored products.
Rhadinomerus illicitus feeds primarily on Aloe spp. and can be particularly harmful to the plants it infests.
Family: Curculionidae. Subfamily: Molytinae Tribe: Aedemonini
© BluTuna © BluTunaGarden in Johannesburg
The family Curculionidae (weevils, snout beetles) is the largest family in the animal kingdom, including about 48 000 species in total, of which about 2 500 species occur in southern Africa. Their mandibles (jaws) are situated at the end of a rostrum (snout) that is adapted for chewing into seeds and stems. The antennae (feelers) are characteristically elbowed and clubbed and situated on the rostrum. Both adults and larvae feed on plants and the female bores into seeds and stems where the eggs are laid. This group of beetles includes a wide range of pests of crops and stored products.
Rhadinomerus illicitus feeds primarily on Aloe spp. and can be particularly harmful to the plants it infests.
Hunting cannot be considered a sport as all contestants in a sport should know they are playing the game!
Re: Africa Wild Insect Book: Beetles - Photos & Descriptions
Fuller's Rose Weevil Pantomorus cervinus
Family Curculionidae. Subfamily Entiminae. Tribe Naupactini
© BluTuna
© BluTuna
Garden in Johannesburg
Weevils of the family Curculionidae have elbowed antennae with clubs. Their antennae are attached to the sides of the snout.
Family Curculionidae. Subfamily Entiminae. Tribe Naupactini
© BluTuna © BluTunaGarden in Johannesburg
Weevils of the family Curculionidae have elbowed antennae with clubs. Their antennae are attached to the sides of the snout.
Hunting cannot be considered a sport as all contestants in a sport should know they are playing the game!
Re: Africa Wild Insect Book: Beetles - Photos & Descriptions
Hispine Leaf Beetle
Family: Chrysomelidae. Subfamily: Cassidinae. Tribe: Hispini
© BluTuna
© BluTuna
Garden in Johannesburg
Hispines comprise half of the subfamily Cassidinae in the family Chrysomelidae. Until recently, most authors treated the group as a separate subfamily.
Beetles of the tribe Hispini are elongated square- or wedge-shaped, the elytra often broadly and squarely truncate behind and with rows of deep punctures, sometimes costate as well, sometimes with spines both on and along the edges. The antennae bases are close together on their small heads.
Two Hispine Leaf Beetles mating.
Family: Chrysomelidae. Subfamily: Cassidinae. Tribe: Hispini
© BluTuna © BluTunaGarden in Johannesburg
Hispines comprise half of the subfamily Cassidinae in the family Chrysomelidae. Until recently, most authors treated the group as a separate subfamily.
Beetles of the tribe Hispini are elongated square- or wedge-shaped, the elytra often broadly and squarely truncate behind and with rows of deep punctures, sometimes costate as well, sometimes with spines both on and along the edges. The antennae bases are close together on their small heads.
Two Hispine Leaf Beetles mating.
Hunting cannot be considered a sport as all contestants in a sport should know they are playing the game!