Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Carnivora. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Frog-legged Leaf Beetle - Sagra buqueti
Topic Started: May 30 2014, 06:48 AM (3,679 Views)
linnaeus1758
Member Avatar
Omnivore
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Frog-legged Leaf Beetle - Sagra buqueti

Posted Image

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae
Subfamily: Sagrinae
Genus: Sagra
Species: Sagra buqueti (Lesson, 1831)

Size: 25–50 mm.
Range: Southeast Asia.

Sagra is a genus of beetles belonging to the family Chrysomelidae, commonly referred to as frog-legged beetles or kangaroo beetles.
These iridescent, colorful beetles have a striking sexual dimorphism. The males are much larger and have very long and strong hind legs (hence the common name). The basic color is metallic green, with reddish and golden reflections on the elytra. Cocoons of this species can be found in the jungle on climbing vines, specifically kudzu.
Unlike its name, it doesn’t use its hind legs for jumping, instead they’re used to cling onto stems and foliage while it eats, its grip aided by scores of tiny hair follicles that cover the surface of the leg.

Posted Image

If both the males and females move around the trees in much the same way to search for food, there must be a reason why the males ended up with such monstrous hind legs, which has led researchers to suspect that they could be a sexually selected trait that evolved as the result of male-on-male contests over females.
These beetles are hugely popular as art exhibits which is a great shame as many thousands are killed every year before being dried, framed and sold.

Posted Image
Edited by Taipan, May 30 2014, 11:04 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
DealsFor.me - The best sales, coupons, and discounts for you
« Previous Topic · Amphibians, Arthropods, Crustaceans & Molluscs · Next Topic »
Add Reply