Pachnoda sinuata
Pachnoda sinuata flaviventris
The South African fruit beetle or garden fruit beetle ( Pachnoda sinuata ) is a species of beetle from the subfamily of the rose chafer ( Cetoniinae ). The species is next to the Pachnoda ( Pachnoda marginata ) of the best-known representative of the genus Pachnoda.
Features
The South African fruit beetle reaches a size of 20 to 25 millimeters. It distinguishes itself through its high-contrast, black back yellow coloring. Pronotum and elytra ( elytra ) are dark green to black in color. To view the entire outer edge there is a broad yellow band, which is bulged toward elytra seam in the rear third of the elytra from the respective edge off, but does not reach, and therefore does not form a closed binding. In the yellow margin of the pronotum has two small, larger at the shoulders and Elytrenende two black blemish. The rest of the body is drawn vividly yellow ( especially the bottom and the rails of the middle and rear legs) and maroon (remaining leg limbs and head ). At the edge of the head there are two characteristic yellow lines beneath the eyes. The sternites are separated by dark edges. The gaps are yellow ventral and sagittal reddish brown with clearly contrasting white spots on Sternitrand. The last sternite is reddish brown with white dots.
Like all Rosenkäfer this species is enabled by corresponding indentations on the edge of the elytra to fly with closed elytra.
Name and classification
Pachnoda sinuata is called more often " South African fruit beetle " or " garden fruit beetle" in German. As an English common name is occasionally found "Garden fruit chafer " or "Yellow- bellied Beetle" use, which means " garden fruit beetle" or " Gelbbäuchiger beetle" means and refers to that characteristic of the species, which distinguishes these beetles from many other Pachnoda species.
The nominate form was described in 1775 by Fabricius under the name cetonia sinuata. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries different subspecies were added, some of which were described as a distinct species. Your assignment to Pachnoda sinuata is still controversial. Thus, the known subspecies sinuata Pachnoda calceata and Pachnoda sinuata flaviventris are often viewed under the name Pachnoda calceata or Pachnoda flaviventris as a valid species.
The following subspecies are out in the literature:
- Pachnoda sinuata sinuata (Fabricius, 1775)
- Pachnoda sinuata calceata Harold, 1878
- Pachnoda sinuata flaviventris ( Gory & Percheron, 1833)
- Pachnoda sinuata nicolae Rigout, 1986
- Pachnoda sinuata machadoi Rigout, 1989
- Pachnoda sinuata puncticollis
Occurrence
The South African fruit beetle is widespread in several subspecies in South Africa and Namibia. For example, applies Pachnoda sinuata flaviventris as the most common flower beetles in South Africa. The slightly smaller subspecies sinuata Pachnoda calceata lives in the drier western part of South Africa and Namibia. The distribution boundary between two subspecies extends approximately through Windhoek in Namibia and the South African Cape Province.
Way of life
Food
The adults do not only eat the pollen of flowers, but often the entire flower. This makes them especially in fruit growing areas to the problem. Also note that any kind of fruit, even immature, eaten. P. sinuata calceata also eats in want of the fruits of acacia flowers and garden roses. The grubs feed on almost all usable organic soil constituents, such as roots, compost, manure and fallen to the ground fruits that are eaten away from below. The beetles are synanthropic and because of their often massive occurrence as pests.
Behavior
The South African fruit beetle is found both on plants and in soil. Its yellow and black drawing is a signal which indicates its inedible. At risk of beetle supplemented this optical signal or by a chemical, namely the resignation of his foul-smelling excrement.
Reproduction
The Fortpflanzungsphänologie is tied to an annual rhythm. So is the principal flight time and thus the mating season between October and April. The grave end in soil females lay round, 2.5 -millimeter eggs in soil layers from near the surface. The resulting hatching grubs have grown after three to four months to a length of about four centimeters long and begin a 2.5 and 3 centimeters and build from 1.7 to 2 cm wide, egg-shaped cocoon of soil and an endogenous secretion, in which they pupate. After a pupal period of about a month, the adult beetles released from the cocoon.
Terrarium
In the terrarium lovers are currently two subspecies to be found. Pachnoda sinuata flaviventris are with black dorsal coloration to find in which often yellow dots and Pachnoda calceata sinuata, a slightly smaller subspecies that never has yellow dots on the dark green back. Both are easy to maintain and breed. It is only a five better ten centimeters in height layer forest or garden soil required as a substrate. This should always be moist, but never wet. In addition, her white rotten wood of oak, beech, maple or lime should be added. The rest of the establishment of the terrarium is left to the taste of the holder. Room temperature is sufficient animals. The lining is of ripe fruit, such as with longitudinally or transversely sliced bananas ( with skin), which are placed on the ground, so that the larvae can eat from under it.