Trichostetha fascicularis

Trichostetha fascicularis is a large, metallic-green beetle found in South Africa.

Trichostetha fascicularis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Scarabaeiformia
Family:	Scarabaeidae
Genus:	Trichostetha
Species:	T. fascicularis
Binomial name
Trichostetha fascicularis (Donovan, 1805)

Description

The Protea Beetle is about 25mm long. It has metallic-green wing cases with a black head and thorax which has two white vertical stripes. It has orange hairs growing around the bottom of its body.^[1]

Habitat

It is found in South Africa wherever proteas occur. Adults feed on the pollen and nectar. They live in fynbos, mountainous habitats, and residential gardens if its food supply is available.

Subspecies

Trichostetha fascicularis has four subspecies:^[a]

• Trichostetha fascicularis maraisi Stobbia, 1995^[3]
• Trichostetha fascicularis natalis Burmeister, 1842^[2]
• Trichostetha fascicularis nigripennis Allard, 1992^[3]
• Trichostetha fascicularis prunipennis Burmeister, 1842^[2]