origin: South Africa, Eastern Cape
wild imago size: 16 mm
remark: Small sized Rhinocoeta species with the distribution from Cape and Karoo habitats to savanna areas of Namibia and Zimbabwe.
species: cornuta (Fabricius,1781)
origin: South Africa, Eastern Cape
wild imago size: 18-23 mm
remark: Most common member of the genus, which varies much in size, with small specimens smaller than the average Rhinocoeta (Rhinocoeta) armata. The species occurs in sandy coastal areas and in the southern Karoo region of the Eastern and Western Cape provinces. Adults have very limited activity period after substantial rainfall only.
genus: XIPHOSCELIS Burmeister, 1842
species: schuckardi Burmeister, 1842
origin: South Africa, Eastern Cape
wild imago size: 12-16 mm
remark: A remarkable feature of the genus is the hypertrophic growth of metatibial internal spine and spurs which the beetles probably use to hold females during mating. Several fully grown larvae were collected in wild habitat. Larvae pupated after 1–2 months in captivity being kept in dry soil, partly original substrate, occasionally being given lettuce leaves as a source of moisture. Pupal phase took approximately 6–7 months. The imagos were extricated from their cells a few weeks after they completed metamorphosis. They showed only little activity, neither flying nor mating.
1st page 2nd page
