#fuzzy beetles

Beetles of the genus Sparrmannia are widely distributed throughout the arid regions of southern Africa. They have very distinctive features, with large, plump bodies and tawny-colored "fur," and some species can measure up to 25mm (nearly 1 inch) long.

These adorable beetles generally hide in underground burrows during the day, and emerge only at night, when the desert is substantially cooler. Their dense layer of "fur" acts as insulation, which allows the beetles to remain active at night, even when the temperatures plummet.

Sources & More Info:

Excerpts from the Book Pollinators, Predators, and Parasites: Temperature Control in Sparrmannia flava and Dung Feeding in Woolly Chafer Beetle Larvae

The Coleopterists Bulletin: Biology of Sparrmannia flava

The Book of Beetles: Sparrmannia

Eyewitness Travel Guide to South Africa: Sparrmannia flava

Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa: Revision of the Genus Sparrmannia

Above: a bumblebee-mimicking beetle, Lasiotrichius succinctus

The beetle families Glaphyridae and Scarabaeidae contain several different species that are capable of mimicking bumblebees. These are day-flying beetles that can often be found hovering around flowers or perched atop their petals, and they feed on the pollen, nectar, and sap that the flowers produce.

Above: more photos of Lasiotrichius succinctus

Many of these beetles have banded markings in their setae or on their elytra (the protective casings that cover their wings) and their bodies are covered in thick, fuzzy bristles. They're also excellent pollinators, just like the bumblebees they mimic.

Above: Lichnanthe rathvoni, commonly known as the bumblebee scarab

Some species are known as bee-mimicking flower chafers, bumblebee scarabs, or bee-beetles, but "bumble-beetle" seems like the most fitting nickname.

Above: the photo at the top shows Trichius fasciatus, the Eurasian bee-beetle, feeding alongside an actual bee, while the photo on the bottom shows a close-up of the beetle

A few months ago, I wrote a post about a very plump, fluffy-looking beetle known as the African woolly chafer, and that post received several comments that jokingly described it as a "bumble-beetle." That species does look kind of like a bumblebee, but I wanted to point out that "bumble-beetles" actually do exist -- and they are truly adorable.

Above: the face of Trichius gallicus, otherwise known as the French flower chafer or French bee-beetle

Sources & More Info:

Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America: Bumble Bee Scarabs

University of Nebraska: Generic Guide to New World Scarab Beetles: Glaphyridae Overview

BioComm: The Eurasian Bee Beetle

iNaturalist: Genus Lasiotrichius, Genus Trichius, and Lichnanthe rathvoni

Insects of the Pacific Northwest: Lichnanthe rathvoni

The Coleopterist: The Bee Beetle Trichius fasciatus in Northern Scotland (PDF)

Journal for Nature Conservation: Beyond Bees and Butterflies: the Role of Beetles in Pollination Systems

Above: Julodis cirrosa and Julodis viridipes

Beetles of the genus Julodis, otherwise known as the brush jewel beetles, are found only in southern Africa. Their bodies are covered in strange little tufts of wax-coated bristles, which are usually a vivid shade of orange, yellow or red, and the underlying shells often have a metallic, bluish-green sheen.

Above: close-ups of the bristles on Julodis viridipes, which also has a metallic blue shell

It's believed that the colorful appearance of these beetles may be aposematic, meaning that it deters predators by signaling that the beetle is chemically defended (i.e. toxic).

Above: the photos on the top and bottom right show Julodis viridipes, while the photo on the bottom left shows Julodis cirrosa

The beetles of this genus generally measure about 20-30mm (roughly 1 inch) long.

Above: Julodis viridipes

Sources & More Info:

Smithsonian Magazine: The World's Most Interesting Insects

Eyewitness Insect: Hairy Jewels

Insects, Spiders, and Other Terrestrial Arthropods: Julodis klugii

The Book of Beetles: Common Brush Jewel Beetle

Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society: Insects Injurious to Forest Trees in South Africa

Insects and Spiders: Brush Beetle (screenshot of page 36)