Large creature in my garden.

maurilady Active member

36POSTS

14 years ago

I wonder if anybody can enlighten me as to what this strange creature is which has been spotted twice in my garden. It is around 7 cm long and 5 cm wide with a black hard shell and huge claws. It has two eyes and is very chunky. Initially I thought it was a giant scorpion, but think it may be a huge stag beetel.Has anybody else in Mauritius seen anything like it?It is very clever and quick and so far I have been unable to take a picture of it.

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islander77 Guest

0POSTS

14 years ago

it could be a....black dinausaur ... :

alisa_ram Serial expat

612POSTS

14 years ago

It might be what is called a 'cameleon' here.Does it have a tail?

maurilady Active member

36POSTS

14 years ago

islander77 wrote:
it could be a....black dinausaur ... :

Ha ha you never know!

islander77 Guest

0POSTS

14 years ago

hi hi hi...

maurilady Active member

36POSTS

14 years ago

alisa_ram wrote:
It might be what is called a 'cameleon' here.Does it have a tail?

No it does not have a tail and definitely not a cameleon. I have googled it and it seems to be a huge scarab beetle. I have lived here for years and never seen anything like it before. It is the size of a toad!

External ViP

2822POSTS

14 years ago

maurilady wrote:
alisa_ram wrote:
It might be what is called a 'cameleon' here.Does it have a tail?

No it does not have a tail and definitely not a cameleon. I have goggled it and it seems to be a huge scarab beetle. I have lived here for years and never seen anything like it before. It is the size of a toad!

May be these pics will help:

maurilady Active member

36POSTS

14 years ago

External wrote:
maurilady wrote:
alisa_ram wrote:
It might be what is called a 'cameleon' here.Does it have a tail?

No it does not have a tail and definitely not a cameleon. I have googled it and it seems to be a huge scarab beetle. I have lived here for years and never seen anything like it before. It is the size of a toad!

May be these pics will help:

Thanks for the link and I think I have spotted it, although the one shown is smaller. Monster beetle!

lukutula Member

13POSTS

14 years ago

Our breadfruit tree is infested with these huge beetles.聽 It has some patten on its back and can fly.聽 They like to lie under the leaves.

External ViP

2822POSTS

14 years ago

#10

maurilady wrote:
Thanks for the link and I think I have spotted it, although the one shown is smaller. Monster聽 Dung beetle!

Looks like two types of these Dung beetles are endemic to the island . There are some research papers on the net .

daisymay2 Serial expat

283POSTS

14 years ago

#11

Seen smaller ones in parts of Africa, particularly on safari and they scared me...though I do wear a little gold one round my neck and hes quite cute!
They gave the ancient Egyptians protection I think?
Maurilady: You can keep him lol!
Daisymay

maurilady Active member

36POSTS

14 years ago

#12

Well apparently some people keep them as pets.Think I will give it a miss. It really was huge and the size of a large frog or toad.

daisymay2 Serial expat

283POSTS

14 years ago

#13

Really? Think I will stick to the dogs and cats thanks! They are frightening to me. In Kenya at Saltlick they were all over the (luxury NB) lodge.......I was shocked and hid behind the mozzie nets all night! They had loads of the things. Strangely not seen them in other parts of Africa.
These were pretty big and flew - ugh!!
Good luck with him!
Daisymay

Beeraj New member

4POSTS

14 years ago

#14

The best thing is to include its foto and we'll be in a better position to identify it.

alisa_ram Serial expat

612POSTS

14 years ago

#15

Beeraj wrote:
The best thing is to include its foto and we'll be in a better position to identify it.

That's a good idea.

maurilady Active member

36POSTS

14 years ago

#16

Yes I will try and take a picture of my little friend, but he is rather elusive and runs away everytime I pick the camera up.
I have to say I can see him vividly in my mind ha ha. According to a neighbour of mine similar creatures have been spotted before.We live opposite land which has very old trees and apparently they live underneath.It must be some kind of a giant beetle (size of a toad).

alisa_ram Serial expat

612POSTS

14 years ago

#17

Maurilady if you have a picture from the net,kindly post it.I have never encountered one before.

maurilady Active member

36POSTS

14 years ago

#18

Hi Alisa
It is very similar to the one on my profile picture, but much bigger. I honestly had no idea what it was initially, but am now convinced it is a giant scarab beetle.

alisa_ram Serial expat

612POSTS

14 years ago

#19

I've never seen one of these in Mauritius.Will look it up.Thank you for the picture.

Julien Founder

53137POSTS

14 years ago

#20

you posted a link ... to a file on your computer ... obviously it doesn't work

jazzy851 ViP

1487POSTS

14 years ago

#21

@maurilady
Wow this is some huge beetle from the dimensions you quoted. If it gets any larger, it will get mistaken for a volkswagen 'Beetle'

@alisa_ram - cameleon - nah, doubt it very much..big difference!聽

I wouldn't want to get stung by one of these thats for sure

External ViP

2822POSTS

14 years ago

#22

Beetles don't sting but they do bite with their mandibles, a good "nip" at the flesh!!!

alisa_ram Serial expat

612POSTS

14 years ago

#23

Jazzy851,when I posted about the cameleon,Maurilady hadnt shared any picture yet.

jazzy851 ViP

1487POSTS

14 years ago

#24

@alisa_ram
Apologies, please dont take it personal. I didnt mean any harm, just a touch of laughter.聽

Are these common in Mauritius then?

J

Julien Founder

53137POSTS

14 years ago

#25

would the creature fight against that horde of snails invading my garden ?

External ViP

2822POSTS

14 years ago

#26

Julien wrote:
would the creature fight against that horde of snails invading my garden ?

Feed them your leftover warm beer - they are alcohol aficionados聽 ( they love yeast聽 I've heard) and seems that beer traps work!.

maurilady Active member

36POSTS

14 years ago

#27

I also have lots of snails so maybe not. Strangely enough we have found three dead birds on our drive within the last month or so. We have cats who could have been the guilty party,but they were sleeping in another part of the house at the time. so we find this quite mysterious.

External wrote:
Julien wrote:
would the creature fight against that horde of snails invading my garden ?

Feed them your leftover warm beer - they are alcohol aficionados聽 ( they love yeast聽 I've heard) and seems that beer traps work!.

alisa_ram Serial expat

612POSTS

14 years ago

#28

Julien wrote:
would the creature fight against that horde of snails invading my garden ?

There are a few ways to get rid of these pests.
1) find out which plants they like to munch on.dig a shallow hole close to it and put a smaller container with water.Once they fall in they cant get out.
2) Put banana peels close to your plants,these attract snails.
3)Do a garden check every morning.In all three cases,find a way to dispose of them when you find them.If you do this regularly it will rid your garden of snails.

Alternate solution is to buy the pink or blue pellets to get rid of them.Instant solution.

External ViP

2822POSTS

14 years ago

#29

maurilady wrote:
I also have lots of snails so maybe not. Strangely enough we have found three dead birds on our drive within the last month or so. We have cats who could have been the guilty party,but they were sleeping in another part of the house at the time. so we find this quite mysterious.

Someone is using or has been using pesticides in your area. Anyway it is easy to know whether it is the travails of your cats or a dead bird with internal bleedings due to poison.