''Eudicella gralli'', sometimes called the flamboyant flower beetle or striped love beetle, is a brightly coloured member of the
scarab beetle family, in the subfamily known as
flower beetles. Their shells seem to have a
prismatic
An optical prism is a transparent optics, optical element with flat, polished surfaces that are designed to refraction, refract light. At least one surface must be angled—elements with two parallel surfaces are ''not'' prisms. The most fami ...
quality, refracting the ambient light to give the green of their carapace a rainbow tint. This species of flower beetle lives in the rainforests of Africa, where it feeds on the nectar and pollen of flowers, but is popular in the exotic pet trade. The larvae of the flower beetle live in decaying wood, feeding on dead wood and leaf litter. Adults reach lengths of . As in other species of this genus, the males have a Y-shaped horn, used to fight over females. The females have a shovel-like tusk, used for burrowing in wood. During their gestation period they will dig into the wood and lay eggs.
Further reading
#
Vincent Allard, 1985 -
The Beetles of the World
''The Beetles of the World'' is a series of books devoted to Coleopterology. Sciences Nat published the 24 first volumes; the following volumes and the supplements were published by Hillside Books, Canterbury.
The first book authored by Jacques Ri ...
, volume 6. Goliathini 2 (Cetoniidae),
Sciences Nat
Sciences Nat was the academic publisher specialising in entomology of the Societé Sciences Nat. The society was established in 1971 and based in the rue de la Mare in Paris. Three years later it moved to the rue des Alouettes and later to Venet ...
, Venett
#
Vincent Allard, 1985 - Réhabilitation de ''Eudicella gralli pauperata'' Kolbe, bona species, (nec ''trilineata'' Quedf.) (Cetoniidae), ''
Bulletin de la Société Sciences Nat
The ''Bulletin de la Société Sciences Nat'' was a French entomology, entomological scientific journal. It was published by Sciences Nat and established in 1972.
History
Initially, the ''Bulletin'' was sent free of charge to French entomologi ...
'', 46, p. 11.
#
Vincent Allard, 1985 - Réflexions sur la classification des groupes ''gralli'' et ''smithi'' du genre ''Eudicella'' White (Cetoniidae), ''
Bulletin de la Société Sciences Nat
The ''Bulletin de la Société Sciences Nat'' was a French entomology, entomological scientific journal. It was published by Sciences Nat and established in 1972.
History
Initially, the ''Bulletin'' was sent free of charge to French entomologi ...
'', 47, p. 27.
External links
''Eudicella gralli elgonensis''photos at Beetlespace.wz.cz
photos at Beetlespace.wz.cz
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3426445
Cetoniinae
Beetles of Africa
Beetles described in 1836