Don't want to see ads? Sign up...




Rutela lineola

Rutela lineola


Family: Scarabaeidae
Order: Coleoptera
Class: Insecta
Phylum / Division: Arthropoda
Kingdom: Animalia

 Request change



Filters


Records from Santo Tomé


Description


Is a visually striking coleopteran of moderate size that stands out within the subfamily Rutelinae. It is characterized by a robust, oval, and dorsally convex body, with a total length varying between 12 and 18 millimeters. The most distinctive diagnostic feature of this species is its highly contrasting, aposematic color pattern, which consists of a lustrous glossy black base adorned with vibrant yellow or orange longitudinal stripes and symmetrical markings on both the pronotum and elytra. Its head is relatively small, bearing lamellate antennae characteristic of the family Scarabaeidae. The legs are robust, spinose, and equipped with sharp tarsal claws that allow for a secure grip on plant surfaces. Under direct sunlight, the exoskeleton exhibits a subtle metallic sheen, making it easily recognizable in its natural habitat.

Geographical distribution: This taxon is widely distributed throughout the Neotropical region. It is highly prevalent across South America, with documented populations in countries such as Brazil (particularly in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes), Argentina (northern and central provinces), Paraguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas. Its geographic range also extends northward into several areas of Central America.

Habitat: Primarily inhabits forested and transitional ecosystems, including humid tropical forests, seasonal dry forests, savanna woodlands, forest edges, as well as disturbed anthropogenic areas such as suburban gardens and agroforestry plantations. It shows a marked preference for mid-canopy and understory vegetation where host plants are abundant and microclimatic conditions of temperature and humidity remain stable.

Feeding: In the adult stage, this species is a generalist phytophagous insect. Adults feed actively on flower petals, tender foliage, young shoots, and ripe fruits of various botanical families, showing a strong affinity for members of Myrtaceae and Fabaceae. In contrast, the larvae are saproxylophagous or detritivorous, feeding on decaying wood, organic debris in the soil, and occasionally fine roots, playing an essential role in nutrient cycling within forest ecosystems.

Behavior: Exhibits strictly diurnal habits. Its activity peaks during the warmest hours of the day under direct sunlight, during which individuals can be seen flying agilely between trees and shrubs in search of food or potential mates. They are often found aggregating in small numbers on a single host plant. When threatened, they employ a dropping reflex, falling into the dense undergrowth or leaf litter, or they may quickly take flight to evade predators in the surrounding vegetation.

Reproduction: The life cycle of this insect involves complete metamorphosis, known as holometabolism. Mating occurs during the warm, rainy season, after which the female oviposits in suitable substrates such as decaying logs, leaf litter accumulations, or organic-rich soils. The larvae, typical C-shaped white grubs, undergo three instars feeding on decomposing organic matter before constructing a pupal chamber in the soil or wood to undergo their final transformation into adults.

Conservation status: This species has not yet been formally evaluated by the IUCN Red List. However, due to its wide distribution and adaptability to moderately altered environments, it is considered locally common and not threatened with extinction. Its long-term survival is primarily affected by habitat fragmentation due to deforestation and the intensive application of chemical pesticides in agricultural landscapes.



Compilation and publication: EcoRegistros – 20/08/2026




Geographic distribution


Loading map...




Species photographs

Last published photographs

Foto
Photography ID: 428625
♂ ♀
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
01/04/2021
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 427404
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
01/01/2021
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 427403
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
01/02/2021
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 426245
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
12/25/2020
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 391598
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
01/06/2020
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 368474
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
12/15/2019
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 368439
♂ ♀
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
12/09/2019
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 324059
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
12/21/2017
Eduardo Beltrocco



 View all photographs of the species




 Add a photography of this species






Species vocalizations

Last vocalizations published



 Add an audio of this species





Species videos

Last filmings published




 Add a film of this species





Species reports



 Detail of places sorted by number of records








Page 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
134800604/01/2021ArgentinaSanta FeBelgrano y Sarmiento, Santo ToméEduardo Beltrocco
134203602/01/2021ArgentinaSanta FeEsperanza, entre Belgrano y Libertad, Santo ToméEduardo Beltrocco
134206001/01/2021ArgentinaSanta FeSarmiento y Centenario, Santo ToméEduardo Beltrocco
133762325/12/2020ArgentinaSanta FeComplejo Residencial El Paso, Santo ToméEduardo Beltrocco
123654819/01/2020ArgentinaSanta FeSarmiento y Centenario, Santo ToméLeila Lodi
123107106/01/2020ArgentinaSanta FeCostanera (iriondo y skate), Santo ToméEduardo Beltrocco
121494329/12/2019ArgentinaSanta FeArea Natural Protegida Laguna Juan de Garay (ex Bedetti), Santo Tomé3Eduardo Beltrocco
114946015/12/2019ArgentinaSanta FeHumedal lindante al Rio Salado, Santo ToméEduardo Beltrocco
114938909/12/2019ArgentinaSanta FeSarmiento y Centenario, Santo ToméEduardo Beltrocco
89762119/03/2019ArgentinaSanta FeCentenario y Esperanza, Santo Tomé1Eduardo Beltrocco
Page 1

 Add a record of this species

📖
Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Rutela lineola – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 22/09/2026.