Mecynorhina passerinii, the orange-spotted fruit chafer, is a species of beetles belonging to the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Cetoniinae.
Subspecies Mecynorhina passerinii dukei (Allard, 1985) Mecynorhina passerinii nigricans (Fairmaire, 1897) Mecynorhina passerinii passerinii (Westwood, 1844)
Description Mecynorhina passerinii can reach a length of about in males, of about in females. Males show large forward-projecting horns. Elytra are black or dark brown with orange spots. The coloration of the thoracic shield (pronotum) may be yellowish, brown or black, usually with a broad brown or black central stripe. Hind tibiae and tarsi are orange-brown. These beetles feed on sap of the Bridelia micrantha.
Distribution This species can be found in South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania.
References
De Palma (M.) & Frantz (S.), 2010. Taxonomic revision of Megalorhina Westwood and subgeneric classification of Mecynorhina Hope, Natura Edizioni Scientifiche Biolib Brian Morris Insects and Human Life Mike Picker, Charles Griffiths, Alan Weaving Field Guide to Insects of South Africa