Melanophila unicolor Gory, 1841 (Buprestidae), the furnace beetle, in southern Africa

Abstract

Recently, large numbers of Melanophila unicolor Gory, 1841 were attracted to furnaces and cooling copper at a smelter at Tsumeb, Namibia, where the beetles are colloquiallyknownas ‘furnace-beetles’. The smelter is surrounded by indigenous savanna woodland. The beetles were alleged by workers to inflict a painful bite. Specimens were sent to us for identification; the results are reported in this communication.