Astylus atromaculatus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Astylus atromaculatus |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Astylus
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| Species: |
atromaculatus
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The Astylus atromaculatus is a type of beetle. It belongs to the Melyridae family. People often call it the spotted maize beetle or the pollen beetle. This beetle originally comes from Argentina and nearby countries. However, it has spread to other places by accident. You can now find it in warmer parts of North America and much of Africa. In these new places, it has become an invasive species.
Contents
What Does the Spotted Maize Beetle Look Like?
Adult Astylus atromaculatus beetles are shaped like a slightly stretched oval. They are somewhat flat and have soft, leathery bodies. They usually grow to about 12 millimeters (half an inch) long and 5 millimeters wide. Their bodies are covered with fine bristles and tiny dots.
Colors and Patterns
The beetle's body is mostly black. However, it has light-colored hairs on its upper back, around two large, black, eye-like spots. The most noticeable part is the color of its wing covers, called elytra. These are yellow or orange. They have a black stripe down the middle where the wing covers meet.
This middle stripe has two black cross-marks. One is near the front, and the other is closer to the back. Each wing cover also has three bigger black spots on its side. The beetle's antennae are thin and have eleven segments.
Larvae Appearance
The young beetles, called larvae, look different. They are brown or reddish in color. Their bodies are covered with long, silky hairs.
Life and Habits of the Pollen Beetle
Adult Astylus atromaculatus beetles are plant-eaters. They especially love flowers and feed on pollen. For some plants, like sunflowers, they can actually be helpful. They act as pollinators, helping the plants make seeds.
What Do They Eat?
These beetles often eat pollen from plants that are pollinated by wind. This includes crops like maize (corn), sorghum, and other grains. They also feed on various types of sedges. During busy times of the year, many beetles might gather on flowers.
Larvae Habits
The larvae of these beetles live in the ground. They feed on decaying plant matter. But they can also eat seeds and young plant shoots. In some places, like South Africa, they have even been seen eating stem borers. Stem borers are pests that harm grain crops.
When They Become a Problem
In places where these beetles are not native, they can become very numerous. This is often because their natural enemies are not there. When there are too many beetles, they can damage crops. For example, they might harm rice harvests by affecting the flowers. This can make it seem like the rice plants are not producing seeds.
Are These Beetles Dangerous to Animals?
Like other beetles in their family, Astylus atromaculatus can be poisonous. Farm animals have gotten sick or even died from eating too many of these beetles. This can happen if the beetles are mixed in with their food or are in the pastures where they graze.
How Poisoning Happens
This problem is not common, but it has been studied. For example, cattle in South Africa became sick after eating grass full of these beetles. The beetle numbers are usually highest in mid-summer and autumn. At these times, they mainly feed on pollen from grain crops. If there aren't enough crops like sunflowers or maize, the beetles might gather on grasses and other flowering plants.
Symptoms and Prevention
Animals that eat many beetles can get severe diarrhea. They also become weak. After an animal dies, many beetles are found inside its stomach. The stomach lining shows signs of irritation and bleeding.
There is no known cure for severely poisoned animals. So, it's important to keep livestock away from pastures when there are many beetles. Beetles are usually less active in the cool mornings and evenings. This is when they are less likely to fly away if disturbed by grazing animals. Yellow trays filled with soapy water can trap the beetles. However, it's not clear if this method can stop a very large infestation.
See also
In Spanish: Astylus atromaculatus para niños
