Nature & Environment

Beaches plagued by millions of black beetles

By T.K. Randall
March 1, 2016 ·  7 comments

The beetles arrived in a plague of biblical proportions. Image Credit: CC BY-2.0 xlibber Thought to be black maize beetles - a species commonly found in South Africa - the large insects have descended upon the picturesque beaches of Mar de Ajo in their millions.

Millions of beetles invade beach as plague of 'Biblical' proportions hits Argentina https://t.co/vTkiptJLEJ pic.twitter.com/lp99I7LIZh

— The Sun (@TheSun) March 1, 2016

Several theories have been put forward in an effort to explain the phenomenon however the most likely explanation is that the beetles, which typically live for two years underground before emerging to mate, had been swept out to sea by strong winds before returning to the beaches en masse.[!gad]Thought to be black maize beetles - a species commonly found in South Africa - the large insects have descended upon the picturesque beaches of Mar de Ajo in their millions.

Millions of beetles invade beach as plague of 'Biblical' proportions hits Argentina https://t.co/vTkiptJLEJ pic.twitter.com/lp99I7LIZh

— The Sun (@TheSun) March 1, 2016

Several theories have been put forward in an effort to explain the phenomenon however the most likely explanation is that the beetles, which typically live for two years underground before emerging to mate, had been swept out to sea by strong winds before returning to the beaches en masse.

Source: Mail Online | Comments (7)

Tags: Argentina, Beach, Beetles