Dicronorrhina derbyana
Encyclopedia
Dicronorrhina derbyana, common name Derby's Flower Beetle, is a species of beetle
s belonging to the Scarabaeidae
family, Cetoniinae subfamily.
In Dicronorrhina derbyana layardi the basic colour of the body is usually metallic green with a red sheen and white stripes on pronotum and elytra. In Dicronorrhina derbyana conradsi the body is purple-brown with blue sheen and yellowish stripes . It is completely metallic green in Dicronorrhina derbyana oberthueri. The males have a "T"-shaped, flat horn in the forehead. The larva
e live in the soil on decaying vegetal material, while the adults feed primarily on tree sap and fruits. Female lays up to 200 eggs.The full life cycle will take 8-9 months, and the adult beetles can live 3-4 months.
, Namibia
, Zambia
and Kenya
.
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
s belonging to the Scarabaeidae
Scarabaeidae
The family Scarabaeidae as currently defined consists of over 30,000 species of beetles worldwide. The species in this large family are often called scarabs or scarab beetles. The classification of this family is fairly unstable, with numerous competing theories, and new proposals appearing quite...
family, Cetoniinae subfamily.
Subspecies
- Dicronorrhina derbyana carnifex Harold, 1878
- Dicronorrhina derbyana conradsi (Kolbe, 1909)
- Dicronorrhina derbyana derbyana Westwood, 1843
- Dicronorrhina derbyana layardi (Péringey, 1892)
- Dicronorrhina derbyana lettowvorbecki Kriesche, 1920
- Dicronorrhina derbyana oberthueri Deyrolle, 1876
Description
Dicronorrhina derbyana is the smallest within the genus. It reaches about 40–50 mm (1.6–2 ) of length in the males, while the females are slightly smaller than the males, reaching about 35–38 mm (1.4–1.5 ) of length.In Dicronorrhina derbyana layardi the basic colour of the body is usually metallic green with a red sheen and white stripes on pronotum and elytra. In Dicronorrhina derbyana conradsi the body is purple-brown with blue sheen and yellowish stripes . It is completely metallic green in Dicronorrhina derbyana oberthueri. The males have a "T"-shaped, flat horn in the forehead. The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e live in the soil on decaying vegetal material, while the adults feed primarily on tree sap and fruits. Female lays up to 200 eggs.The full life cycle will take 8-9 months, and the adult beetles can live 3-4 months.
Distribution
These attractive beetles are mainly present in TanzaniaTanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.