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Gardening in Oz

Flying beetles

11 years ago

For several years we are visited bt black shiny beetlles on the old Camellia and also on our neighbours ornamentals. THey sem to be doing some flying mating rituals I have tried to photograph them but so far not good enough for posting. Any clues please and I'll keep trying for a picture.
chas

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Comments (7)

tuppitoo
Original Author
11 years ago
Got this shot. more ant like. hard body
chas
tuppitoo
Original Author
11 years ago
a slightly better shot of the beastie.

chas
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tuppitoo
Original Author
11 years ago
The abdomon has curled back, Two pairs of wings 1 big pair 1 smaller Cobalt .Blue wings-arrow shaped in flight.
chas
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
11 years ago
It's a wasp of some kind, not a beetle.
tropicbreezent
11 years ago
They are a wasp but there are hundreds of species and I don't know which this one is. Museum Victoria would have an entomology section and someone from there would be able to help if you contact them. Give the museum a ring and ask to be put through to them. I've sent photos to our local museum and got IDs from them.
tuppitoo
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you both for your help. I posted to the Museum and they answered promptly. It is hairy flower wasp, Scolia soror, The actions do not exactly mirror the wasps round our Camellias which fly a lot higher in patterns ,but as Tropica said there are many species. The report said there is no harm to the Camellias,but I'll be watching as the old bush is getting woody and somewhat dry although the new leaves are bright and glossy.
thanks chas
tropicbreezent
11 years ago
I suspected it may have been a male Flower Wasp, but there are many species. As kids we called the females "Blue Bottles", they were flightless so easier to observe. If you trapped a female it wouldn't take long for a few males to show up.

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