Manuka Chafer
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Superorder: Coleopterida
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Scarabaeiformia
Superfamlly: Scarabaeoidea
Family: Scarabaeidae ( Scarab beetles)
Scientific name: Pyronota festiva
Common name: Manuka Beetle, kerewai, reporepowa, kekerewai
As its name suggests, this little beetle, Pyronota festiva, about 10mm long, feeds on manuka, which contains a strong oil, so it must be tough! The Maori called it kerewai or reporepowai from its habit of getting stuck in muddy stream banks (repo = mud, wai = water). It's a member of the Scarab family of beetles.
Their habitat ranges from the water to soil, forest litter, timber, flowers, fruit, strored foods, skins and furs, clothing and cloths, in decaying animal and vegetable materials, and on animals. In general, the family Scarab is recognisable by the presence of hard wing-cases.
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