The tin-foil beetle is most active in the afternoon when individuals congregate to feed on fallen fruit, often mating nearby. It has four color phases: metallic green, blue, bronze, and deep purple. Eggs are laid in the soil and the soft-bodied grubs feed on decomposing vegetation.
Tin-foil Beetle
Pretosia lewisi
Fact File
Where to see them: World of the Insects
Lifespan: 6 months
Ecological Role: Decomposer
Habitat: Subtropical scrubland
Diet: Rotting fruit
90-Second Naturalist 
