Christmas Beetles
on 10th January 2012
It was full moon last night and an unprecedented number of Christmas Beetles - 13! - ended up in the pool overnight. Some 2-3 is normal, but this many is exceptional and I am speculating that it has to do with the moon.
This observation is interesting as earlier in the week on CapeTalk567 John Maytham requested information on why Xmas beetles were not as common as they used to be. Which raised the issue of which Xmas Beetle? The Cicada, this chappie or something else (the Red Driver Ant, for instance) - Just google "Christmas Beetle South Africa" to get a taste of the discussion and see http://answerit.news24.com/Question/Are%20there%20still%20Christmas%20Be... for an overview of how people dont even talk about the same thing.
Clearly they are still around, but my real question is: why did they end up in the pool - using the reflection of the full moon to navigate and crash landing? Trying to visit a flower in the water?
What do they do? Feed on flowers at night? Why - what do they do daytime?
Sadly they were all dead, one looked as if it moved but it was probably just drying out or rigor mortis because it never moved again. The two Adoretus (see http://za.ispot.org.uk/node/143774) that were also in the pool recovered and flew off: presumably they did not spend all night in the pool.
Other observations of Flying peanuts, Christmas beetles, leaf chafers, May beetles (Melolonthinae)
Comments
50 genera!
50 genera!
I presume 50 genera in the Melalonthinae, but how many of these look like Flying Peanuts? (sorry, but I like Flying Peanuts far more than Christmas Beetles - I am hooked).
Are they all in the same genus, or a few related genera, or dispersed among several unrelated genera?
Good heavens man: it is THE Christmas Beetle - you must be able to give us a name!
It is of singular importance: a beetle (other than a pest or ladybeetle) that actually has a common name is not to be scoffed at!
I am guessing the figures now
Yes, about 50 SA genera in the Melolonthinae, of which certainly half contain "flying peanuts". And some of these genera with >150 SA species per genus. But "flying peanuts" sensu lato are also found in about 15 genera of Rutelinae (one with >120 SA species), and among odd little scarab groups such as the Ochodaeidae and Glaresidae.
We need an entire Institute for the Study of African Flying Peanuts. But we don't have one.
When I am at the Collection, I shall (with trepidation) try to put a genus name to your (THE) Christmas Beetle in your pictures. A hazardous undertaking.
Beetledude, SANC
Christmas Beetles.... so what's in a name?
The confusion sown by common names - I grew up in Stellenbosch where Christmas Beetles were cicadas that whined in the plane trees in high summer. "Flying Peanuts" were hardbacks that were irritating when they dropped into your wineglass, or found their way into your clothing.
The need for clear identifications
The 'Answerit' link http://answerit.news24.com/Question/Are%20there%20still%20Christmas%20Be... supplied by Tony (above) is telling proof of how important it is to have correct identifications (of anything!); how important it is that those identifications/names are universal and unique; and how common names (Christmas Beetle) are frequently so redundant that it is impossible to be sure what things are about. But, alas, without real specimens under my microscope and a few large tomes of technical literature to my left, it is impossible to identify the Christmas Beetles in Tony's swimming pool anywhere beyond tribal level.
More later.
Beetledude, SANC