Monochelus calcaratus
| Monochelus calcaratus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Scarabaeiformia |
| Family: | Scarabaeidae |
| Genus: | Monochelus |
| Species: | M. calcaratus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Monochelus calcaratus Burmeister, 1844
| |
Monochelus calcaratus, the small wattle chafer, is a species of beetle of the family Scarabaeidae.[1] It is found in South Africa (Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal).[2][3]
Description
Adults reach a length of about 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in). Males are black, with the elytra red and the legs piceous red. The pronotum has five bands of flavescent scales. The scutellum is scaly and the elytra have rows of scales. The apical part of the propygidium, the whole of the pygidium and the sides of abdomen and of pectus are scaly. Females are similar to males in colour, sculpture, and vestiture, but the punctures on the elytra are seldom filled with scales.[3]
Life history
The larvae have been recorded feeding on the roots of young trees. In rare cases, adults have been observed defoliating trees. The species is considered a minor pest of black wattles.[4]
References
- ^ BioLib
- ^ Schoolmeesters, P. (2025). "Monochelus calcaratus at Catalogue of Life". World Scarabaeidae Database (version 2025-10-07). In O. Bánki, Y. Roskov, M. Döring, G. Ower, D. R. Hernández Robles, C. A. Plata Corredor, T. Stjernegaard Jeppesen, A. Örn, T. Pape, D. Hobern, S. Garnett, H. Little, R. E. DeWalt, J. Miller, T. Orrell, & R. Aalbu, Catalogue of Life (2026-01-16). Amsterdam, Netherlands: Catalogue of Life Foundation. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ a b Péringuey, L. (1902). "Descriptive catalogue of the Coleoptera of South Africa (Lucanidae and Scarabaeidae), Sub-families: Rutelinae, Hopliinae". Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 12: 561–920. Retrieved March 17, 2026. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Fruit Journal: Monkey beetles attack citrus fruit