Cromwell chafer

Description

This species was named by Broun in 1904 as Prodontria Lewisii,from "three mutilated individuals found by Mr.J.H.Lewis on the sand-hills of the Molyneaux River." Although its species epithet was lewisii,the modernised genitive of Lewis,it is often referred to as Prodontria lewisi.This large beetle has pale reddish-brown elytra which are strongly convex and with deep groves passing along their length.Females are longer and wider than males,but males have a longer hind foot and tibia.The beetles live underground.They spend at least one year as larvae,living buried in the sand and feeding on plant roots.Adults emerge on humid nights on spring and summer for a few hours to feed on lichens and plants – mostly speedwell (Veronica arvensis),sheep's sorrel (Rumex acetosella),and cushion plant (Raoulia australis) – and to mate.Males emerge slightly earlier in the year than females,on average.