Pyronata festiva
These are very beautiful beetles with bright colours that shine like jewels. They also have cultural significance to Māori, both as a food source and for antiseptic properties.
These beetles are shiny and come in different colours. The most common is green but they can be red, pink, yellow, copper or blue. They are typically around 9 mm in length.
As the common name suggests, these beetles are associated with mānuka (Leptospermum) trees. The larval grubs eat mānuka roots while the beetles feed on the foliage. The larvae take about two years to reach the beetle stage. The larvae can feed on roots of pasture grasses, so can be an agricultural pest. They are also known from tussock. The life cycle takes about two years to complete, with beetles most likely to be seen between November and January.
Māori are reported to have gathered and eaten these beetles as a delicacy when they were at their most abundant. Kerewai were also regarded to have antiseptic and other medicinal properties. This may be due to feeding on mānuka, which itself has well-documented medicinal qualities. The beetles are eaten by mice, gulls and house sparrows. They are common throughout much of New Zealand.
Check these links for more info on the Mānuka Chafer Beetle in NZ
Wikipedia: Information on Pyronata festiva
ENDEMIC TO AOTEAROA
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