Pyronota festiva
| Pyronota festiva | |
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| Pyronota festiva male | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Division: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Family: | Scarabaeidae |
| Genus: | Pyronota |
| Species: | P. festiva |
| Binomial name | |
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Pyronota festiva (Fabricius, 1775) |
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Pyronota festiva, commonly known as manuka beetle, is a member of the Scarabaeidae family of beetles (Coleoptera) in the genus Pyronota. It is a scarab beetle endemic to New Zealand, and as an adult is commonly found amongst the roots of Leptospermum scoparium trees, also known as manuka trees, hence the beetle's name. It is widely recognized as being a being a pasture pest.
The manuka beetle is a shiny bright green, with shades of blue and yellow on areas of its back. Its dark longitudinal stripe down the back of its hard wing case is often brown or yellow. It can vary in length between 3 and 25mm in length, but the most common is 9mm. They are a part of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea and are characterized for their modified prothorax and have a large coxae. Their antennae is a lamellate antennal club and has a head with anterior margins which are either semicircular or emerginate mesocoxae, strongly oblique.
The manuka beetle is a part of the subfamily Melolonthinaes, which is characterized by its stout body and glossy exterior, and the presence of either labrums or mandibles. These appear as segments either elongated or as oval lobes which can be folded together tightly to form compact and asymmetrical clubs. The elbow clubs have between 8 and 10 segments. They have spindly legs covered in light coloured hairs which are strongly modified for digging with their teeth, spines and/or bristles. Their abdomens have 6 ventrites and the hind wing has a spring mechanism which can fold.
As larvae, the grub forms as a C-shape.
The manuka beetle is endemic to New Zealand. There is no compelling evidence to suggest that it is found elsewhere in the world. It is, however, closely related to other beetles in the Scarabaeidae family, like chafers, dung-beetles, and grass grubs, which are found throughout other parts of the world. An old journal article at a museum in London records the presence of manuka beetles in sheep's wool imported from New Zealand.
The manuka chafer has a generally widespread range across New Zealand but little information has been found on the effects it has on the land outside of New Zealand. The endemic species found in New Zealand have been closely related to those of Australia, so it can be assumed that they would present there also.
The manuka beetle is very common, and is found in large numbers throughout New Zealand. It lives in grass and vegetation habitats, which is the majority of the landscape of New Zealand. It is so common that it has become a ‘pasture pest’ to agricultural grasslands.
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Wikipedia