Rare glimpse of 'spectacular' and elusive Aussie enigma
Among these, few are quite as striking as the feather-horned beetle, a curious little critter with wonderfully flamboyant features. As their name suggests, the species' "horns", which are actually antennae, resemble large, almost peacock-like feathers. Their bodies are covered in white spots.
What makes them especially remarkable is their rarity and mysterious life cycle. While adult males are sometimes seen flying in search of mates, females are rarely observed. Even more elusive are their larvae, which are believed to be parasites of cicadas, but this behaviour remains poorly documented.
Earlier this month, Queensland-based insect enthusiast Tony Vernon was observing the "spectacular" creatures when he came across numerous clusters of 10 to 12 of the insects, in the space of 100 metres near the Gregory River, about 18 kilometres north of Proserpine. An amateur photographer and wildlife documenter, Tony said he'd never seen anything quite like it.
"The curious thing was, they were all on the hot tape of an electric fence. I only saw one or two on weed seed heads, and just one on a Melaleuca leaf," Tony told Yahoo News Australia.
Tony said the problem with feather-horned beetles is that very little is known about their life cycle and ecology. "There are six species in Australia, and all the ones I've seen belong to the same one: rhipicera femorata," he said.
"Interestingly, most of the beetles people see are males. They're the ones following pheromone trails left by the females, which is why you see them actively searching. I haven't seen any females myself. Even more fascinating — no one has ever found the larvae of these beetles."
Tony wondered why, all of a sudden, this apparent boom was taking place near his home. "Has anyone else ... noticed an increase?" he questioned.
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What makes feather-horned beetles so special?
Feather-horned beetles are among Australia's most striking and lesser-known insect species, instantly recognisable by the dramatic, feathery antennae sported by the males. These elaborate, comb-like structures, sometimes longer than the beetle's own body, are used to detect pheromones released by females, allowing them to locate a mate with extraordinary sensitivity.
Belonging to the family rhipiceridae, feather-horned beetles are part of an ancient lineage with very few species found worldwide. Australia is home to several, including the particularly distinctive rhipicera femorata, which emerges in summer and is often spotted in bushland areas.
These beetles are a vivid example of Australia's rich and still-unfolding insect biodiversity, with their unique appearance and life history continuing to fascinate entomologists.
Entomologist says beetle sightings may be linked to surge in cicadas
Speaking to Yahoo News, Nicole Gunter, Scientist and Curator of Entomology at Queensland Museum, revealed a possible reason Tony spotted so many of the little bugs in a relatively short distance.
She said adult feather-horn beetles are relatively short-lived. They undergo synchronous emergence (when multiple individuals start acting together, or in a coordinated way, at the same time) to increase their chances of successfully reproducing.
"Seasonality differs between species ... in Queensland, with peak emergence in late winter," she said.
"These beetles are parasites of cicada, and the warming soil temperatures that are important in cicada life cycles are responsible for the synchronous emergence. The impact of soil temperature may be indirect, though, and it might be that their hosts, the cicada larvae, are moving to the surface, and this triggers the emergence of the beetles.
"The male beetles use their impressive fan-shaped antennae to detect pheromones of the females, so you'll often find them perched somewhere with lots of air circulation where they spread their antennae and wait to detect the pheromones of a potential mate."
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