Thursday 16 August 2007

Green Chafer (Anomala albopilosa)

OTHER NAMES: Hawaiian Scarab
Latin Etymology: Anomala ("anomalous") albopilosa ("white hair?")
Adult Green Chafer (subspecies A. a. yashiroi) at Osaka, Japan - July 2013

Featured Subspecies: Anomala albopilosa yashiroi
Length: 15-26mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

During our original visit to Kyoto, this species was by far the most common species of large noticeable beetle - they were seen pretty much anywhere, including on streets with little greenery having landed on the pavement for reasons best known to themselves.  This particular individual had crashed into the fountain outside of Osaka Castle, so I proceeded to rescue it with the stick in the photo before putting it in the grass to dry off.  They are apparently a bit of an agricultural pest I have subsequently found out, but also are a major food source for at least several species of bat.

Related Species:
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Genus: Anomola
SUBSPECIES: A. a.  albopilosa, A. a. gracilis, A. a. sakishimana, A. a. trachypyga, A. a. yashiroi, A. a. yonaguniana

 - Sighting Locations -
JAPAN - Japanese - アオドウガネ  /  Aodougane
A locally common resident.
 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: Common throughout Kyoto and Osaka

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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