Cape Mountain Rifle Beetle

Spotting a Quiet Mountain Visitor "Cape Mountain Rifle Beetle (Hycleus oculatus)"

I was in a crouch position checking my seedlings in the bean patch, and something long and dark crept slowly through the wet ground. At first, I thought it was just a small twig shifting, but when I leaned in closer, I saw it clearly a Cape Mountain Rifle Beetle (Megalops), its elongated body making quiet, thoughtful movements as if it carried a piece of the mountains with it.

These guys really take their time. They look like they are mentally going through the next steps. They lift a leg at a time very slowly, and their antennae are stretched forward as if they are sensing something in the air. It was a bit strange to me to see an insect from the cold Cape slopes making a warm garden walk in Soshanguve, but there it was, mixing with the earth as if it were one.

Getting to Know the Cape Mountain Rifle Beetle

As I observed its discovery, I was actually listing the characteristics by which this insect differs from other ones:

Origin: It is a natural inhabitant of the mountainous regions of the Western & Eastern Cape but is likely to be found in the gardens of Gauteng during cold, wet periods.

Lifestyle: Slow moving explorers, generally alone but sometimes they may be found in small groups on wet mornings.

Temperature Preference: They would rather live under mild, cool conditions than in harsh heat.

Humidity: They are particularly attracted to wet surfaces, e.g., mornings after rain.

Leg Span: It has long and thin legs, which are ideal for holding onto the stems of plants and for going over rough ground.

Disposition: Quite often, they are calm, shy, and gentle; when approached, they do not move but rather immobilize themselves.

Suitability: They are a clement lot; only minor damage will be done if the plant happens to be tender.

Communication: Their communications are very minor; mostly antennal and chemical cues.

Diet & Setup: They eat soft plant material or rotting matter; made mulched beds and moist leaf litter their home.

I remained longer with my gaze fixed on it, its slow little steps were really admirable. It was when it eventually got on the bean plant that I went with it in my eyes and that's when the story changed.

Watching Its Movements

The insect was going through the leaves one by one, as if it were deciding which leaf to eat. It would stop, feel the leaf with its antennae, and then take a few bites from the softest part of the leaf edge. The destruction was not severe or torn just small arcs where it had taken a few bites.

After several days, I saw four of them on the same bean plant. They weren't fighting for the leaves or rushing to get their share; they were simply sharing the leaf like slow, polite guests at breakfast.

Life Beneath and Above

Pretoria's micro climates, the cool corner, the mulched beds, the moisture trapped under leaves are small worlds that provide the perfect habitats for the travellers like these. For me, they have gradually changed from being pests to peaceful visitors. The harm that they provoke remains to be of a very slight nature even if there are multiple ones. The idea of them as destroyers is wrong; rather, they are slow grazers who are on their way.

Reflections from My Garden

The Rifle Beetles viewing that morning was an experience that made me slow down. During my mad dash to water, prune, and weed, I often overlook how much of a quiet life goes on between the leaves and under the mulch. I was so absorbed in it that I ended up writing in my garden journal everything I saw when they appear, how they feed, how cool mornings attract them.

Without panicking, I move the clusters to another place and let the singles stay. They've become a part of the garden's story mountain visitors taking a short break in my bean patch.

Most of the time, the mountain Cape rifle beetle is slow to walk, and when disturbed, it freezes. It's also noted to do some light nibbling. Its long and dark body is said to have long legs and extended antennae.

The impact on the garden of the creature is very little as the insect is only lightly feeding on plants and rarely becomes an issue unless a massive gathering of them occurs. The bug can be observed most of the time after chilly nights and rain falls when it is most active. According to reports, the insect appears to be concentrated in certain areas where the temperatures are lower and there is some moisture in the air, such as the microclimate of Soshanguve in Gauteng.

If you are a gardener, you should know that the best way to deal with the situation is to move the folds of the beetles that you have found there in peace and without causing them distress. They're slow moving and harmless.

Final Though

The leaves that were damaged served to remind me that harm is not always lurking in every leaf bite and that not every insect should be considered as an enemy. There are some creatures that merely come into our gardens with a certain silent goal and leave very faint traces. The Cape Mountain Rifle Beetle is one of such beings an impassive mountain visitor queuing slowly through a hot Pretoria garden.

The following time you step outside after a rain shower, examine your leaves and soil more closely. Quite possibly you could come across a thin legged adventurer on his slow morning journey, who tells you to stop and recognize the little wanderers in your garden.