Surprising Finds in Our Backyard!
Last week's Feelgood Friday update bursts out of the gate with a question: Do you recognise this little creature?
Fynbos Pollinators: Monkey Beetles and Leafcutter Bees
Discover the fascinating world of fynbos pollinators, from clever monkey beetles to industrious leafcutter bees, each playing a vital role in our ecosystem.
Monkey Beetles
Roughly 65% of monkey beetles are found in South Africa, and fynbos is a centre of biodiversity for these important pollinators.
Monkey beetles belong to different pollinator guilds, each with their own behaviours and colour preferences. Lepithrix lineata, part of the daisy guild, prefers yellow, red, and orange flowers. The dark spots at the base of each Gazania petal mimic female beetles, tricking males into visiting. By the time the male realises there’s no mate, he’s already covered in pollen. Clever plant trickery!
Leafcutter Bees
Female leafcutter bees use their strong jaws to snip leaves or petals to build and decorate their nests. Some use resin or plant hairs, while others glue leaves together with resin.
Males are not workers and sleep outside, holding onto stems with their mouthparts. The leafcutter bee pictured is collecting pollen from buchu, a plant with medicinal properties. Leafcutter bees store pollen on their fluffy tummies for the journey home.
