Brown-and-yellow Flower Beetle

(Pachnoda sinuata)


Facts

Brown-and-yellow Flower Beetle IUCN NOT EVALUATED (NE)

 

Facts about this animal

The brown-and-yellow flower beetles have slightly flat, square robust bodies with a contrasting colour pattern, which should deter predators from eating them. Their upper wings are immobile when flying. Adults reach a length of up to 25 mm.

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.

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.

There are several subspecies. The species, P. sinuata flaviventris is most common. P. sinuata calceata lives in the succulent Karoo and Pre-Namib of theWestern/Northern Cape Province and Namibia.

Did you know?
that there are 108 species of the genus Pachnoda known to science, occurring all over Africa and stretching into southern Europe and Arabic Peninsula? The species most commonly bred in human care is P. marginata. Other species kept by zoos are P. epiphiata, P. flaviventris, P. marginata, P. orphanula, P. peregrina, P. savignyi, and P. sinuata.


 

Factsheet
Class INSECTA
Order COLEOPTERA
Suborder POLYPHAGA
Family CETONIIDAE
Name (Scientific) Pachnoda sinuata
Name (English) Brown-and-yellow Flower Beetle
Name (French) Cétoine noire et jaune d'Afrique du sud
Name (German) Braun-gelber Rosenkäfer
Name (Spanish) Cetónido africano
Local names Afrikaans: Vrugtetorre
CITES Status Not listed
CMS Status Not listed

 

 

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Wikipedia

Distribution

 


Distribution
Range Southern Africa: from Zimbabwe to Namibia
Habitat Orchards, flowerbeds and beehives
Wild population No data
Zoo population 26 institutions reported Pachnoda of several species to ISIS (2008)

In the Zoo

Brown-and-yellow Flower Beetle

 

How this animal should be transported

For air transport of adult individuals, Container Note 62, for caterpillars Container Note 63, of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

 

Find this animal on ZooLex

 

Photo Copyright by
Drägüs

Why do zoos keep this animal

Zoos keep flower beetles because they are of interest for educational purposes as they may help illustrating the food chain.