Cicada
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Found | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nanai | Raiateana knowlesi | Parts of the Serua and, Nadroga/ Navosa provinces on the main island of Viti Levu | 2 Weeks |
Anatomy of Fiji Cicada (Fijian Name – Nanai)
Lifecycle of a Fiji Cicada
Early on when the eggs are laid deep in tree branches and later on as young nymphs within the first year, before falling and burrowing into the ground for the next 7 long years. In the eighth year, around the beginning of the wet season, it is believed, rising temperatures signals the Nanai to move upwards above ground. Millions of Nanai emerge during this season but only for one to two months at the most It is a brief and noisy invasion of the forests, but an event awaited eagerly by villagers in several provinces of Viti Levu who consider the Nanai a delicacy for gourmets. (Documentary on Nanai Emalu Forest below)
Nanai has only been recorded on Viti Levu. The Nanai is of great significance to a particular clan in the Navosa Province, where all the chiefly daughters of that particular clan are accorded the title -“Rokonai”.The word”Roko” is a chiefly title given to male and female chiefs in some parts of Fiji. The word”nai” is a rare delicacy for this clan.
Butterflies
Butterflies are among nature’s most beautiful gifts to mankind. They have been admired and studied for centuries. Even the most uninterested observer of the natural world can identify a butterfly and will, as likely as not, pause to watch a nearby colourful butterfly. Currently, 46 native and one introduced species of butterfly are known from Fiji, Fiji’s butterflies belong to five families and five of the species are considered as endemic species and so found only in Fiji.
Table: Butterflies of Fiji
| Common Name | Located | Environmental – Colour | Wingspan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Tiger – Danuas hamata | Widespread on the larger islands in Fiji | A distinctly black and white butterfly | 7 cm |
| Great Eggfly – Hypolimnas bolina | Widespread across Fiji | Suburban gardens. Males and females differ considerably with the wings of females being duller and lacking the spots | 10 cm |
| Fijian Emperor – Polyura caphontis | Viti Levu & Taveuni – Endemic | Tree tops usually restricted to forest and the forest margin. | 7 cm |
| Autumn Leaf – Doleschallia bisaltide | Larger islands of Fiji | When its wings are closed over its back resembles an old dried up leaf. When it flies, a rich orange upper surface is revealed | 7 cm |
| Fiji Swallowtail – Papilio schmeltzii | |||
| Long tailed Blue – Lampides boeticus | |||
| Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus | |||
| Meadow Argus – Precis villida |
Beetles
Fiji has several species of Jewel or Buprestid beetles, which are among the most colourful of its beetle population. None of them are common unless one knows where to look for them. In spite of their brilliant colours or perhaps because of it, as their spectacular colours surprisingly only help these beetles blend into their natural surroundings.
Table: Beetles of Fiji
| Common Name | Located | Size | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewel Beetle – Paracupta sulcata | Viti Levu, Taveuni and Vanua Balavu in the Lau Group | Damatic display of metallic green and powder yellow stripes.Whether this beetle is actually poisonous or distasteful to potential predators is not known – Rare | |
| Giant Fijian Long horned Beetle – Xixuthrus heros | Endemic to Viti Levu | 10 cm long excluding the antennae, which are another 7.5 cm. | Chocolate brown colour. |
| Jewel Beetle – Paracupta flaviventris | |||
| Weevil – Rhinoscapha lagopyga | |||
| Jewel Beetle – Agrilus sp | |||
| Jewel Beetle – Paracupta sp | metallic blue and powdery yellow stripes | ||
| Jewel Beetle – Cyphogastra abdominalis |
Anatomy of a Beetle
Dragonflies
Dragonflies are perhaps the most attractive-looking insects after various butterflies and beetles, with their eyes and bodies coming in a veritable rainbow of different colours. They typically have an adult lifespan of between 1-9 months. The dragonflies’ distinctive visual characteristics are their wings typically they are entirely transparent, through all species have at least one coloured window at the front of each wing. An adult dragonfly’s main diet consists of a variety of insects, they hunt their prey in a couple of ways…
- Many sit on a perch territorial and when something passes by they fly up to catch it. Successful or not, they usually then return to the same perch, or perhaps another favourite perch in the same area.
- Other species patrol up and down an area, and catch their prey in mid-flight, dragonflies have evolved amazing powers of flight, with four wings which can be operated independently, enabling them to forward and backwards. they are typically referred to as ‘mosquito hawks’ as they consume a large number of these harmful insects beneficial to humans, another reason for their popularity. flying without break and even eating while on the wing.
| Name | Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Striped Flutterer – Rhyothemis Phylis | Flies rather like a butterfly, often gliding and slowly flapping its wings in a manner unusual for a dragonfly. |
| Grenadier. – Agrionoptera Insignis | Red and Green |
| Green Skimmer – Orthetrum Serapia | Narange Creek in Korayanitu National Park |
| Common Percher – Diplacodes bipunctata | Korayanitu National Park – yellow colouration, and the males starts yellow but change through orange and red, when they are mature |
Anatomy of a Dragonfly
Moths
In Fiji, 10 species of Moths have been described, they are among nature’s most accomplished mimics. Some moths are day fliers and would be easily mistaken for butterflies by the untrained eye. The Sphingid (Hawk) Moths are found all year round (abundant during the warmer and wet months), they are the most interesting group of moths with their thick bodies and long fore wing, making them quite powerful flyers. They feed on blossom nectar through the proboscis that uncurls to reach the bottom of a flower tube.