Atlas of Dung Beetles in southern Africa.

Record details

   [ Record 20 of 46 ]   
DungBeetleMAP:   1884
Province:   Mpumalanga
Country:   South Africa
Locus:   2431CD
Observer:   Kennedy D.
Date of record:   2017-11-29
Number of photos:   3
Notes:   On this day hundreds of these beetles were flying about. On the grass lay a brightly-coloured child's ball, round which ran a bright blue band. I watched the beetles for some time, during which every second or third beetle swooped down from its flight and tried to land quite specifically on the blue band. The two latter photographs illustrate this. I would be grateful for any explanation of this behaviour.
Id status:   Identification pending
Collector's species id:   Blister Beetle Mylabris oculata
Institution:   ADU-UCT
Record URL:   https://vmus.adu.org.za/?vm=DungBeetleMAP-1884
Links:   • Locus: Summary | Records       • Species: Records | Distribution map
VM-number: 1884 - photo: 1
VM-number: 1884 - photo: 2
VM-number: 1884 - photo: 3

Comments by the Expert Panel on this record:

Comment number:   1
By:   Christian Deschodt
Comment:   Meloidae, they might have confused it with a flower!
Date:   2018-04-18 16:07:23
Species name:  
Species code:   0

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