Habitats and biology
Habitats are old broad-leaved and coniferous-deciduous forests with the participation of old oaks, the main or only food plant of the larvae [1]. Indications of development in some fruit trees [4-6] in the region have not been confirmed. The larva develops in the rotting cavity of old hollow-leaved deciduous trees, where it overwinters and pupates [6]. The beetles were recorded in June-July (possibly sometimes hatching at the end of summer and overwintering); active during the day, staying along heated forest edges and clearings, found in hollows and on tree trunks [1-3, 5]; According to the literature, they feed on flowing tree sap, less often on ripe fruits of pears and apple trees, as well as on the flowers of shrubs [6].
Offspring
Smooth bronze beetles lay their eggs in wood dust. The hatched larva begins to actively replenish nutrients by eating wood. The larva can reach up to 6 centimeters in length. The limbs of the larvae do not have hooks, so at the moment of danger it turns over on its back. The elytra of the larva are formed with the onset of the pupal phase. The smooth bronze cocoon has two layers:
- an outer layer with many small tubercles formed from wood dust;
- an even and smooth inner layer formed by the secretions of the larva itself.
At the pupal stage, the almost formed adult bronze beetle remains in the cocoon until the shell hardens. Due to the internal texture, the elytra of the smooth bronzer get the desired shape. Most individuals are formed from August to September. These beetles reproduce every three years.
Limiting factors and threats
Moderately stenotopic, but narrowly local and small in number, the species does not realize the apparently favorable opportunities for increasing its numbers, even if there is a potential food supply in the forests of the region. These factors suggest increased isolation of populations from the southern Tula abatis and almost complete isolation from most other areas. The decline in the number of the species is caused, first of all, by cutting down and death of old hollow oaks, suitable for the development of larvae, and, to a lesser extent, by fires and, possibly, anthropogenic pollution. In the long term, the slow self-renewal of oak is also unfavorable.
Nutrition
Bronze wrens feed on different foods, depending on the species. But these are always different parts of plants. For example, the stinking bronze beetle feeds on flower pollen, while its larvae eat roots.
The smooth one loves the juice of overripe fruits, and the green one eats the whole flowers. The flowers of wild and cultivated plants and trees are eaten. Bronzeworts feed on leaves and thin bark, and drink tree sap.
Due to the fact that it happily eats flowers and young shoots of such cultivated trees as apple and pear trees, it is considered a pest among gardeners. People fight any pest, and the bronze beetle - to kill the beetle, various preparations are buried in the soil under fruit trees.
Since the bronze fly spends the night in the ground, the poison will affect it, but will not harm beneficial insects, such as bees. In the wild, bronzes most often eat the flowers of knotweed, mountain ash, sorrel, thorns, peas, thistles, sage and many other plants.
In gardens and vegetable gardens, rose hips, apple trees, pears, beets, carrots, mustard, rye, and corn suffer from them. Bronzovka also loves cultivated flowers - lilacs, irises, roses, dahlias and even home orchids. Beetles suck out plant sap and eat stamens and pistils. On young shoots they like to eat the bark and edges of leaves.
Security measures taken and required
In the Tula region. There is 1 protected area (PP "Skalnye... near the village of Venev-Monastyr") with the habitat of the species, another 1 of them may be located at the PP "Aleksinsky Bor". It is necessary to limit economic activity in the habitats of the species through the creation of protected areas and public areas. It is necessary to create protected areas in the “Dacha Oka Forest” and “Dacha Upa Forest” massifs (Suvorovsky and Belevsky districts). Do not allow the killing of individuals; prohibit the cutting of old hollow oaks (or leaving their trunks to a height of 1.5-2 m) and the lighting of fires outside designated areas; limit cutting of remaining oak trees as much as possible; prohibit chemical treatments within a radius of at least 100 m from habitats; expand oak plantings. Investigate the possibility of introducing the species into suitable forest biogeocenoses.
Appearance
The smooth bronzer has an oval and convex body. A distinctive feature is the wing elytra, which do not rise. The hind wings open through special slits that are located on the side of the body. This structural feature allows bronzebacks to fly well. The head of these representatives is relatively small, very different from the width of the body and slightly tilted. Smooth bronzebacks have antennae that perform the function of searching for individuals for reproduction and food. The front legs are equipped with sharp spines, and the elytra are slightly compressed. The smooth bronzer is famous for its beautiful color, which has a bright green color with a characteristic metallic sheen. Some individuals may have a bluish-copper tint. The limbs are colored green with a blue tint.
Number and trends of its change
It is a very rare species in the region [1-3, 5, 7]. In the Tula region. 4 system-forming habitats are known in forests with areas ranging from several tens to hundreds of hectares, but coenopopulations and foci are located in individual extremely or very compact areas with groups of fodder trees; the state of all populations requires clarification. In each of them, mainly at the end of the twentieth century. from 1 to several beetles were noted, in one case also 11 larvae (10 beetles bred in the laboratory were released into the wild).
Methods of combating the bronze beetle
Are you afraid of bugs?
Not really
The bronze beetle is relatively harmful to agriculture, so no special methods have been developed to combat it directly.
You can attract a natural enemy - the Scolia wasp. Female wasps are immobilized while laying eggs. Wasp larvae feed on bronze beetle larvae.
One of the most common is the mechanical method. Early in the morning, beetles are collected from flowers by hand. Insects are placed in a jar with kerosene.
Chemicals
Chemicals are used in extreme cases. If the insect multiplies significantly, insecticides can be used carefully.
They use drugs that poison the Colorado potato beetle.
Spray the soil or introduce medications by watering. Treatment is carried out after sunset for the drug to start working. Apply:
- Decis;
- Spark;
- Lightning;
- Kinmiks.
Traditional methods
Among folk remedies, infusions with onions, horseradish, garlic, wormwood, tansy, and dandelion give good results. The following mixtures are particularly effective:
- horse celandine (300 g) is added to 1 liter of hot water. Leave for 2 days and spray, adding a teaspoon of grated soap;
- horse sorrel roots (30 g) are mixed with 1 liter of hot water and left for 4 hours. This solution is treated once every 5 days;
- wood ash is mixed with 5 liters of water and left for 48 hours. Add 1 tbsp. spoon of soap and spray.
Lifestyle Features
Insects of this species live in gardens, forests, orchards and parks. The main places where females lay eggs are manure or compost heaps or rotten stumps. Overwintering of larvae and adults also takes place here. Bronzovkas prefer deciduous trees - they are not interested in coniferous trees.
These beetles have natural enemies. Thus, typhus and scolius wasps and tachina flies parasitize their larvae. Adults very often run the risk of becoming prey to various birds. As for animals, they do not eat bronzes. And the toxin contained in the body of these beetles is destructive for small predators. Bronzers are especially active during the day, in sunny and dry weather.
From larva to adult
Adult hairy deer beetles love sunny days. When it rains, they do not crawl out of the soil, which they use as a shelter from moisture. Adults emerge from the ground only in early spring. The massive flight of these pests begins in late spring and continues until the end of June. The beetles fly from place to place, along the way carrying fruit and berry crops and flowers encountered on their way.
The mating period is highly dependent on weather conditions. Each female beetle lays an average of 15 eggs. The location for laying, as a rule, is located near rodent burrows.
- Egg. It develops and takes the shape of a ball. About a week after the female lays eggs, a larva appears.
- Larva. The food for the larvae is detritus - the remains of animals and their waste products. That is, the hairy deer does not pose any danger to plants in this phase. The future beetle remains in the form of a larva for two months. Towards the end of this period, the nymph glues together a protective cocoon from the earth, and after a couple of days it turns into a pupa.
- Doll. The duration of the third phase of development usually does not exceed two weeks.
- Imago. The beetle emerging from the cocoon uses this armor for hibernation. It is noteworthy that only sexually mature individuals are capable of overwintering. For the previous three phases, wintering is an unaffordable luxury. The period of winter dormancy lasts about 9 months, after which spring comes - and young beetles crawl out of the ground for the first time.
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Genus Goliathus
Or goliath beetles. The largest representatives of the bronze subfamily. The weight of the beetle can reach 100 g, and the body size is 11.6 cm.
Large green beetles of the species Mecynorrhina torquata are not much smaller in size than Goliathus regius. The length of the male can reach 8.5 cm.
The main color of the representatives of the genus is black with white spots. Sometimes there is more white in color than black.
Goliaths are inhabitants of Central and Southeast Africa. They are not found in Russia. If such a beetle is found on Russian territory, it means that it escaped from someone’s terrarium.
Bronzovka beetle
many faces. It is a genus of insects, not a separate species. All bronze beetles are lamellar, that is, they are relatives of cockchafers and belong to the order Coleoptera. The scientific name of the beetle is cetonia. The word is Latin. Translation: “metal beetle.”
