Feather-horned beetle of the Rhipiceridae or cedar beetle family is indigenous to different parts of Australia like other members of its genus. Because of its rarity, little details are available about its identification. The beetle’s most striking feature is its feather-like antennae, resulting in its name and making it look increasingly attractive.
Size: 10 – 25 mm (0.39 – 0.98 inches)
Color: They have a grayish-black body with white spots, particularly on their pronotum and elytra formed by hairy patches.
Other Characteristic Features: Their hairy antennae emerge from knob-like structures and have about 20 segments. Males have bigger and more prominent antennae than their female counterparts.
The larvae are grub-like and comprise conical antennae divided into a single segment.
The pupa has blackish-grey coloration with small horns, closely resembling an adult.
The eggs are laid near the host plants, though there is no concrete information about their identification.
| Adult lifespan | About 20 days |
| Duration of larval stage | Not recorded |
| Distribution | South-east Australia (southern Australia – Tasmania); south-west Australia |
| Habitat | Eucalyptus forests, woodlands |
| Common Predators | Birds, wasps, bats |
| Seasons active from | Not recorded |
| Host Plants | Mostly eucalyptus |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Leaves and roots of the host plant |
Since they are an uncommon species, not information is available about the damage they cause to their host plants.
Image Source: featuredcreature.com, live.staticflickr.com, wixmp.com
Feather-horned beetle of the Rhipiceridae or cedar beetle family is indigenous to different parts of Australia like other members of its genus. Because of its rarity, little details are available about its identification. The beetle’s most striking feature is its feather-like antennae, resulting in its name and making it look increasingly attractive.
Size: 10 – 25 mm (0.39 – 0.98 inches)
Color: They have a grayish-black body with white spots, particularly on their pronotum and elytra formed by hairy patches.
Other Characteristic Features: Their hairy antennae emerge from knob-like structures and have about 20 segments. Males have bigger and more prominent antennae than their female counterparts.
The larvae are grub-like and comprise conical antennae divided into a single segment.
The pupa has blackish-grey coloration with small horns, closely resembling an adult.
The eggs are laid near the host plants, though there is no concrete information about their identification.
| Adult lifespan | About 20 days |
| Duration of larval stage | Not recorded |
| Distribution | South-east Australia (southern Australia – Tasmania); south-west Australia |
| Habitat | Eucalyptus forests, woodlands |
| Common Predators | Birds, wasps, bats |
| Seasons active from | Not recorded |
| Host Plants | Mostly eucalyptus |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Leaves and roots of the host plant |
Since they are an uncommon species, not information is available about the damage they cause to their host plants.
Image Source: featuredcreature.com, live.staticflickr.com, wixmp.com
