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Gardening in Oz

Flying beetles

9 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

Comments (7)

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

chas
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Im not sure what type of creature it is but if you want to get rid of it do a full water change. Thats really the only way to get rid of unwanted creatures. Take out all the fish, snails shrimp anything you want to keep and thoroughly wash all the gravel/ sand plants and anything you think they could be hiding on or have layed eggs on. Then put it all together again and fill it up. Dont forget to put in your water conditioner to get rid of the harsh chemicals in tap water. If they survive that then ...well i dono :P
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tuppitoo
Original Author
9 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
9 years ago
It's a wasp of some kind, not a beetle.
tropicbreezent
9 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
9 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
9 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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