Saddle up!

The satisfaction of seeing a complete life cycle is immense! Back in the archived blogs I mention beetles and their grubs - now we have cocoons and shiny new beetles. The Saddle Beetles, Pachnoda marginata peregrina are the first to emerge. A really fantastic little African fruit beetle with striking brown and yellow markings on its elytra (wing cases). They are very active, feeding and mating with the occasional noisy flights up to the top. Great to see them and in huge numbers too - flushed with success!

Beautifully crafted cocoon made from droppings and substrate, wrapped around the beetle pupa.

Newly emerged beetles are very hungry!