For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Spotted Maize Beetle (Astylus atromaculatus)

 Family Melyridae
These are small beetles with scattered erect black hairs on their body.



Adults eat pollen and so they are seen clustered on various flowers and maize heads.


The eggs are laid under dry leaves.

 The larvae lives in the ground and feed on decaying vegetable matter sometimes causing damage to germinating maize seeds.



They were introduced here in 1916 from South America and is now a major pest in gardens and agricultural lands.


Ingestion of adult beetles has caused cattle deaths.