Dicronorhina derbyana, or Derby's flower beetle, is a sub-Saharan species of flower chafer.
| Dicronorhina derbyana | |
|---|---|
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| Female D. d. derbyana in South Africa | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Scarabaeidae |
| Genus: | Dicronorhina |
| Species: | D. derbyana
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| Binomial name | |
| Dicronorhina derbyana Westwood, 1843
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| Synonyms | |
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Description
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Dicronorhina derbyana is the smallest within the genus. It reaches about 40–50 millimetres (1.6–2.0 in) of length in the males, while the females are slightly smaller, reaching about 35–38 millimetres (1.4–1.5 in) in length.
In Dicronorhina derbyana layardi the basic body colour is usually metallic green with an ochre sheen and white stripes on the pronotum and elytra. In D. d. conradsi the body is maroon with a blue sheen and tan stripes. It is completely metallic ginger to emerald green in Dicronorhina derbyana oberthueri.[1] The males have a T-shaped, flat horn in the forehead. The larvae live in the soil on decaying vegetable material, while the adults feed primarily on tree sap and fruits. A 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
editThese attractive beetles are mainly present in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Subspecies
edit- Dicronorhina derbyana carnifex Harold, 1878
- Dicronorhina derbyana conradsi (Kolbe, 1909)
- Dicronorhina derbyana derbyana Westwood, 1843
- Dicronorhina derbyana layardi (Péringuey, 1892)
- Dicronorhina derbyana lettowvorbecki Kriesche, 1920
- Dicronorhina derbyana oberthueri Deyrolle, 1876[2]
Gallery
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Mating D. d. layardi at the Montreal Insectarium -
Male D. d. layardi -
Male D. d. layardi in Namibia -
Female D. d. derbyana in central Africa -
Male D. d. derbyana -
D. d. oberthuri male from Muheza, Tanzania -
D. d. oberthuri female from Muheza, Tanzania
References
editExternal links
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Data related to Dicronorhina derbyana at Wikispecies
Media related to Dicronorrhina derbyana at Wikimedia Commons- Photos of D. d. conradsi
- Photos of D. d. layardi
- Photos of D. d. oberthueri
- Flower Beetles
- Phasmids
