Feather Horned Beetle (Rhipicera femorata)
General Description
Body black with white spots. Over-sized fan-like antennae, much larger and more pronounced in males than females. Adults 1-2.5 cm in length
Biology
There are only six species of Rhipiceridae in Australia and all belong to the genus Rhipicera. None have been studied well so little is yet known about their life cycle or habits. In Feather-horned Beetles, the large male antennae are used to locate a female beetle when she is emitting a mating pheromone. Though the larvae have never been found it is thought that they may be parasites of cicadas based on the larvae of another closely related beetle.
Body black with white spots. Over-sized fan-like antennae, much larger and more pronounced in males than females. Adults 1-2.5 cm in length
Biology
There are only six species of Rhipiceridae in Australia and all belong to the genus Rhipicera. None have been studied well so little is yet known about their life cycle or habits. In Feather-horned Beetles, the large male antennae are used to locate a female beetle when she is emitting a mating pheromone. Though the larvae have never been found it is thought that they may be parasites of cicadas based on the larvae of another closely related beetle.
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