Sunday 25 July 2010

shiny green beetle



I caught this shiny green beetle munching on the leaves of my mickey mouse taro (Xanthosoma atrovirens 'Variegated Monstrosum). The same beetle was last seen attacking the leaves of my white lotus a few years ago. I tried to look up the internet for an ID and i've basically narrowed the search to 3 species, the 1) fig eater beetle (Cotinis mutabilis), 2) green rose chafer beetle (Cetonia aurata) and 3) Anomala albopilosa. All three look very similar and have the same shiny green body. However, after further research, and through the process of elimination, I've concluded that this is the Anomala albopilosa because this is the only beetle of the 3 which feeds on the leaves of certain plants. The fig eater beetle thrives on decaying matter while the green rose chafer feeds on nectar of flowers, mostly roses.

Anomala albopilosa belongs to the genus Anomala which comes from the family Rutelidae. They are mostly nocturnal and feed on leaves of various fruit trees, often damaging them in the process.

The body is bluish green overall while the head, thorax, and horny front wings are densely covered with pits. The compound eyes are dark brown, and antennae are reddish black. The horny front wing lacks distinct longitudinal dotted groove, but has vague lines. The shoulder area of horny front wing and wing tip are protruded like bump. Long white hairs are sparely developed on hip. The ventral side of body is golden green, and ornamented with long yellow hairs in front, and pits and sparsely developed long yellow hairs on abdomen. Legs are golden green and ornamented by pits and rows of long yellow hairs.

6 comments:

  1. keanu botak :D

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  2. Thanks for your write up! We found a green beetle like the one in your picture and are googling to identify it.

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  3. Thanks. Frequent visitors to my ylang ylang tree. They are attracted to the flowers. Some damage to the petals.

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  4. Awww... nice! A beetle just like this came to visit last night, and we're googling to look for what it might be... it's exactly the same as yours so there we have it! :D Thanks!

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  5. Just caught one, fed it to my dragonfish

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  6. caught one munching on my philodendron the other night... it must have been at it for several days and I didn't notice. Great that I chanced on this post, for an ID :-)

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