Whiskers' three-chestnut cattle
Autocrats vitalisi
Trichophyllum Wye, belonging to arthropods, insects, Coleoptera, Trichocephalus family. It often inhabits places with hot climates, high humidity and lush vegetation. At present, there are only two genera and five species in China, and the photo is taken in Dali.
As a large insect, adult males can reach about 8 cm in adults, and females are slightly smaller than males. Their antennae, parts of the foot, and the middle of the elytra of the abdomen are black and the rest of the brass color, which can glow metallicly in the sunlight, like a steam beetle.
At first glance, the insect resembles a hybrid of the small upper jaw species of the Celestial Bull and the Spade, especially the body, compound eyes and tentacles are almost identical to the Celestial Bull, and its jaw is similar to the small upper jaw species of the Spade Nail we introduced. Although the Trichophyllaceae, to which the Three-Chestnut Ox is located, it belongs to the coleoptera family along with the Celestial Bull and the Spade. But there is still reproductive isolation between species, and even if the celestial bull and spade can be crossed, they will not be able to produce the next generation.
In fact, many Coleoptera insects are males who are burly and domineering, and females are closer to a large scarab beetle, which is especially evident in the hood and shovel carapace. However, the Wyeth three-chestnut cow is more special, its male and female have long jaws, the female's jaw is straight, the male's jaw is longer, and the end is upturned like the horn of the cattle, and the photo in this issue shows the male insect of the Three Chestnut cattle.
In nature, most kunming will only be due to the need to reproduce and mate, but in the process of pre-tailing, mid-mating and post-tailing, male and female insects are instinctive behaviors, without any cross-correlation. But species in the family Trichophyllaceae, including the Three-Oak Ox of Wye introduced in this issue, have shattered perception. The study found that species in the family Trichophyllae seem to have some kind of "intelligence", and in the pre-mating, mid-mating and post-mating periods, the male insects actually have wife-guarding behavior, and when other organisms approach the female, they will be frantically attacked and expelled by the male insects.
The Chinese name of the trichophyllaceae has the word "cow" in it, and it is too similar to the tianniu, which makes people feel that it should be as harmful to trees as the tianniu. In fact, the stereotype of "taking insects by appearance" is the biggest misunderstanding of trichocephalus species. Their larvae are omnivorous, eating mainly humus from decaying wood or humus soils, and are natural decomposers like the larvae of the hood and spade beetle. The difference, though, is that sometimes the larvae of the family Trichophyllaceae catch other insects, or even cannibalize.
In the adult stage , the trichophyllaceae , like the hoodeds , feeds on sap , nectar , or rotting fruit secreted by trees. Sometimes it is seen attacking other insects and biting them to pieces, whether to prey or be attacked because other insects have entered its territory there is no scientific answer.
Source: Yunnan Net
Editor-in-charge: Yang Rui
Editor: Zhou Xiaoxue
Final Judge: Qian Hongbing