Astraeus (beetle)

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Astraeus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Buprestoidea
Family: Buprestidae
Genus:Astraeus
Laporte & Gory, 1837

Astraeus is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species: [1]

Beetle order of insects

Beetles are a group of insects that form the order Coleoptera, in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 species, is the largest of all orders, constituting almost 40% of described insects and 25% of all known animal life-forms; new species are discovered frequently. The largest of all families, the Curculionidae (weevils) with some 70,000 member species, belongs to this order. Found in almost every habitat except the sea and the polar regions, they interact with their ecosystems in several ways: beetles often feed on plants and fungi, break down animal and plant debris, and eat other invertebrates. Some species are serious agricultural pests, such as the Colorado potato beetle, while others such as Coccinellidae eat aphids, scale insects, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects that damage crops.

Buprestidae family of insects

Buprestidae is a family of beetles known as jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles because of their glossy iridescent colors. Larvae of this family are known as flatheaded borers. The family is among the largest of the beetles, with some 15,500 species known in 775 genera. In addition, almost 100 fossil species have been described.

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Bradybaenidae family of molluscs

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<i>Aphaenogaster</i> genus of insects

Aphaenogaster is a genus of myrmicine ants. About 200 species have been described, including 18 fossil species. They occur worldwide except in South America south of Colombia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Antarctica.

<i>Carabus</i> genus of insects

Carabus is a genus of beetle in family Carabidae. The genus is highly diverse with 91 subgenera and more than 1000 recognised species and thus is the largest genus in the subfamily Carabinae. The vast majority are native to the Palearctic, but there are also 11 Nearctic species. Carabus are 12–50 mm (0.47–1.97 in) long, most species are wingless and often very colourful. These are nocturnal, predatory beetles that feed on snails, earthworms and caterpillars.

<i>Drupadia</i> genus of insects

Drupadia is a butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae. They are commonly known as posies. The members (species) of this genus are found in the Indomalaya ecozone.

Jacob Rudolph Hendrik Neervoort van de Poll was a Dutch entomologist who specialised in Coleoptera. He was the vice-president of Artis, the Amsterdam zoo; a member of the Netherlands Entomological Society and the Société entomologique de France. The butterfly Troides vandepolli was named, by Samuel Constantinus Snellen van Vollenhoven, curator of the Leiden Museum, in his honour.

<i>Astraeus hygrometricus</i> Cosmopolitan species of fungus in the family Diplocystaceae.

Astraeus hygrometricus, commonly known as the hygroscopic earthstar, the barometer earthstar, or the false earthstar, is a species of fungus in the family Diplocystaceae. Young specimens resemble a puffball when unopened. In maturity, the mushroom displays the characteristic earthstar shape that is a result of the outer layer of fruit body tissue splitting open in a star-like manner. The false earthstar is an ectomycorrhizal species that grows in association with various trees, especially in sandy soils. A. hygrometricus was previously thought to have a cosmopolitan distribution, though it is now thought to be restricted to Southern Europe, and Astraeus are common in temperate and tropical regions. Its common names refer to the fact that it is hygroscopic (water-absorbing), and can open up its rays to expose the spore sac in response to increased humidity, and close them up again in drier conditions. The rays have an irregularly cracked surface, while the spore case is pale brown and smooth with an irregular slit or tear at the top. The gleba is white initially, but turns brown and powdery when the spores mature. The spores are reddish-brown, roughly spherical with minute warts, measuring 7.5–11 micrometers in diameter.

<i>Astraeus</i> (fungus) genus of fungi

Astraeus is a genus of fungi in the family Diplocystaceae. The genus, which has a cosmopolitan distribution, contains nine species of earthstar mushrooms. They are distinguished by the outer layer of flesh (exoperidium) that at maturity splits open in a star-shape manner to reveal a round spore sac. Additionally, they have a strongly hygroscopic character—the rays will open when moist, but when hot and dry will close to protect the spore sac. Species of Astraeus grow on the ground in ectomycorrhizal associations with trees and shrubs.

<i>Alvania</i> genus of molluscs

Alvania is a genus of minute sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks or micromollusks in the family Rissoidae.

<i>Temognatha</i> genus of insects

Temognatha is a genus of metallic wood-boring beetles. Over 85 species in the genus are native to Australia.

<i>Castiarina</i> genus of insects

Castiarina is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae. This is one of the largest genera of beetles in Australia and emerge in the summertime to coordinate with flowering of native plants including Eucalyptus and tea trees.

<i>Metaxymorpha</i> genus of insects

Metaxymorpha is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:

Pseudotaenia is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:

References

  1. ↑ Bellamy, C. L. (2010). "Genus Astraeus". A Checklist of World Buprestoidea. Retrieved 22 Jun 2011.


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