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Protea Beetles: Fruit Chafers to Proteas are largely unknown!

The Fruit Chafers of southern Africa were revised by Eric Holm and Eugene Marais in 1992. Of the food plants used by these beetles, Proteas, Acacias and Clusterleaves Terminalia rank by far as the most important. To my surprise the over 170 species of Fruit Chafer live not only off flowers, fruit and sap, but also honey in beehives, food stores in termitaria and even as parasites in bird-nests. Over the next two pages we introduce the "Protea Chafers."

This summary highlights two points.

Firstly, most of the records (33 out of 47) refer to Pr caffra, and yet most of these beetles extend well beyond the range of this Protea species. Given the tractable number of proteas and beetles, it should be easy for any interested amateurs to make a valuable contribution by listing species associations! It is possible that Pr caffra has a special association with Chafers, but this is unlikely.

Secondly, lots of fascinating stories await discovery:

• Is T. barbertonensis only found at Barberton? Does it specialize on one of the endemic Barberton proteas? Why did it change its colours?
• Two species of Trichostetha occur west of Springbok. So do small patches of Pincushions. Is there an interesting story here, or is this just coincidence?
• T. coetzeri is only known from the Sutherland Observatory, where it was found on Rhus. Might a Protea lurk nearby? Fynbos occurs on the southern slopes of the escarpment, but it is not known to harbour Proteas. Might it?
• T. dukei is only known from Waaihoek Mountains. Its biology is unknown and a list of species on which it occurs will be most interesting.
• Which species of Protea do Trichostetha species feed on? Do different species visit different parts or different species?

Are you interested? These would make perfect school or scout projects! As is usual, a bit of knowledge opens unimaginable new vistas!

Tony Rebelo

Eudicella euthalia bertherandi: Found on Protea in Zimbabwe, with a 1907 record from Potchefstroom and a female from Kempton Park - these suggest that it once occured in Transvaal.

E. quadrimaculata: Mainly a sap or gum feeder, it visits Protea from Nov.-Jan. in Zimbabwe.

Cheirolasia burkei: Is known from Zimbabwe to Natal as a fruit chafer, but visits Pr caffra in Oct.-Dec. Larvae feed on a mixture of soil and dung in autumn.

Anisorrhina flavomaculata: A fruit feeder from Zimbabwe to PE, visiting Pr caffra from Nov.-Apr. Also raids hives, prickly pairs & mealies!

A. algoensis: Feeds mainy on flowers (incl. Pr caffra), but also fruit & sap Nov.-Jan.

A. umbonata: Favours flowers (Pr caffra & daisies), Nov.-May in hills & mountains from Zimbabwe to Oudtshoorn.

Plaesiorrhinella plana: Extremely common from Oct. to Feb. on fruit, sap, hives and mealies and Pr caffra.

P. picturata: A species of hot savanna, Nov.-Dec. from Malawi to Rustenberg on flowers (incl. Protea).

P. trivittata: Generation 1: Sep.-Jan., Gen.2.Mar.-Apr. One of most common savanna species (Malawi & Angola to PE) feeding on Pr caffra & other flowers, fruit, sap & cotton balls.

Chlorocala africana: Extremely common from Nov.-Mar. Feeds mainly on sap, but also on Protea. Found from Zimbabwe to Port Edward.

Diplognatha gagates: Flying Sep.-May, breeds in birds nests, thatch, dead leaves & compost heaps over whole subcontinent. Eats vegetables, sap, flowers (Pr caffra) & fruit.

Porphyronota hebreae: Widespread (excl. Karoo), Oct.-Apr. esp. grassland savanna. Feeds on fruit, flowers (incl. Pr caffra), vegetables & beehives. Breeds in soil.

T. dukei: Known only from Waaihoek Mountains 1992 - biology unknown. 20.3

T. signata: Cape Flora & Springbok. Oct.-Apr. Foods not listed. 20.4

T. capensis: W. Cape Sep.-Dec. on Protea, Mi cucullatus, Ls cordifolium. Larvae feed on termite stores. 20.5

T. albopicta: Cape Flora from Dec. to Mar. Collected by grass netting - habits unknown. 20.1

T. barbertonensis: Found only at Barberton on Protea (which ones?) in Feb. Has changed its hair colour from brown to black this century!

T. coetzeri: Only at Sutherland observatory on Rhus in Nov. No Protea present, so it appears to have adapted to other plants which survived! 20.6

T. fascicularis: Most widespread (Cape Flora, Highveld, Drakensberg, but also Springbok, Kalahari & Gaberone - transport in cut flowers?). Invariably found on Protea. 20.2

Xeloma maura: a common savanna species feeding mainly on flowers (incl. Pr caffra) from Sep.-Apr.

X. aspersa: A Transvaal- Zimbabwe savanna species found on flowers of Pr caffra & Vernonia.

Dolichoste-thus levis: Flowers (incl. Pr caffra), Oct.-Apr. Malawi-Transvaal.

X. leprosa: A widely-distri-buted savanna species feeding on flowers (incl. Protea), fruit & sap Oct. - Jan. Larvae breed in rabbit dung heaps.

Phoxomela umbrosa: A small species feeding on flowers (incl. Pr caffra) and fruit from Oct. to Apr.

Atrichelaphinus trigina: Jan. to May on flowers (of daisies, grasses & Protea) & ripe fruit from Little Karoo-Zimbabwe.

A. nigropunctulata: Nov. to May on Protea flowerheads, mainly in eastern Transvaal.

Polybaphes balteata: A flower-feeder (incl. Pr caffra) from Oct.-Apr. Larvae feed on thatch & dried stems.

Pachnodela impressa: A very common savanna species Nov.-Jan. on fruit, flowers (incl. Pr caffra) & leaves (of vines).

Rhabdotis aulica: Common (except Karoo) Oct.-Jun. on flowers (incl. Pr caffra) & fruit. Larvae on cattle & goat dung.

R. semipunctata: Ubiquitous on flowers (incl. Pr caffra) & fruit, Oct.-Apr.

R. sobrina: From Sudan to Calvinia on flowers (incl. Faura saligna), Nov.-Apr.

Dischista rufa: A pest of fruit, flowers (also on Pr caffra) & beehives from Oct.-May.

D. cincta: A pest of fruit, flowers (also on Pr caffra) & on sap, Nov.-Apr.

Pachnoda sinuata:The Pest Breeds in compost heaps & on plant roots. Feeds Aug.-Jun. on fruit & flowers (& visits Pr caffra).

Tephraea leucomelona: Savannas, feeding on fruit & flowers (incl. Pr caffra) Oct.-Mar. Larvae feed on carcasses?

T. dichroa: Savannas, feeding Oct.-Apr. on fruit, flowers (incl. Pr caffra) & all parts of poisonous Solanum species.

Polystalactica furfurosa: Oct.-May on Pr caffra.

P. perroudi: Nov.-Dec. Flowers, incl. Pr caffra.

Niphetophora carneola: Found on flowers (incl. Pr caffra) & fruit, Nov.-Mar. in savanna. Lesotho-Zimbabwe.

Mausoleopsis amabilis: Tropical & subtropical, visiting sap, fruit, flowers (incl. Pr caffra) & birds' nests. Larvae feed on goat & horse dung.

Cyrtothyrea testaceoguttata: Transvaal-OFS, feeding on pollen (incl. Protea), Sep.-May. A pest of ornamental flowers.

C. marginalis: Oct.-May on variety of flowers (incl. Pr caffra) in non-Karroid SA. Pest of ornamentals.

Leucocelis amethystina: Oct.-May, widespread, on flowers (incl. Pr caffra) & dung traps.

L. haemorrhoidalis: Wide-spread, non-arid, pollen feeder (pest of ornamental & hothouse flowers) on many species (incl. Pr caffra & multibracteata[!]). Breeds in compost heaps & dumps.

L. vitticollis: Sep.-May on flowers of a variety of tropical and subtropical species (incl. Pr caffra).

L. adspersa: Sep.-Feb. on flowers of Cape Flora & Karoo plants - mainly Protea & Acacia.

Clinteroides permutans: Common Oct.-Apr. in savanna on flowers (incl. Pr caffra) & ripe fruit.

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