Blaps polychresta

Alice Springs Fauna •

Blaps polychresta is a species of beetles from Africa, in particular said to come from Egypt and Syria. Known as the Egyptian Beetle, other common names include Cellar Beetle and South African Beetle.

It is a member of the family Tenebrionidae (a group known as the Darkling Beetles).

It has been introduced to Australia and America, particularly being a popular pet species that can live up to 4-5 years. The population that exists in Australia is said to have come via European clipper ships carrying grain, in the 1800s. Arriving in South Australia, the species have since spread to Victoria, with observations of the species in Sydney and Alice Springs.

Considered as a herbivore, Blaps polychresta scavenge on residue and organic waste materials such as grain and dead plant matter (in captivity they are often fed on fruti and vegetables such as apple and carrot), as well as bird and rodent droppings. They are often found in chicken coops (this is where this specimen was found by Dorothy Latimer). Some sources say that Blaps polychresta are considered a pest of grain as they are able to spoil a grain crop.

The body of Blaps polychresta are said to be black in colour, although as you can see here, the photograghs depict the colour as green-black in colour.

They have six long legs, prominent eyes, a pair of antenna, and the elytra (the hard cover over the wings) that comes to a point at the end of the body. The size of the beetle measures between 10 to 40 mm in length.

In captivity, mating can take place year round. The eggs are laid in the soil. The eggs hatch in to a larva, that is longin length with a yellowish body. The larva remains in the soil until it pupates, emerging as the adult beetle.