Epomis

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Epomis
Epomis dejeani.JPG
Chlaenius dejeanii eating a southern banded newt, Ommatotriton vittatus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Carabidae
Subfamily: Harpalinae
Genus: Chlaenius
Subgenus: Epomis
Bonelli, 1810
Chlaenius circumscriptus preying upon a tree frog, Hyla savignyi

Epomis is a subgenus of ground beetle genus Chlaenius . The larvae of this subgenus are notable for being obligate role-reversal predators. [1] Amphibians such as frogs are normally predators of beetles; however, Epomis larvae feed exclusively on amphibians. [2] [3]

Description

Epomis beetles are often metallic blue- or green-colored, with a striking yellow-orange rim on the elytra and mostly yellow-colored legs and antennae. [4] They are 15–26 mm (0.59–1.02 in) in length. [5] Members of the Epomis subgenus can be distinguished from other species of Chlaenius by the short (less than three times as long as wide) and triangular labial palps. [4]

The larvae reach a body length up to 20 mm (0.79 in), they are white or yellow colored, with black and orange markings. Like many ground beetle larvae, they are elongated with two extensions (urogomphi) at the rear end. They have characteristic double-hooked mandibles. Larvae of the two European species can be distinguished by their color patterns. [6]

Feeding behavior

Epomis larvae hunt in a rare reversal of the usual predator-prey relationship between amphibians and insects. They lure their amphibian predators by making prey-like movements, then evade the predator's attack and disable the predator, often with a bite to the throat or underside. [1] After the attack, the larva stays attached to the amphibian while feeding on it, similarly to external parasites. [1] [7] [8] Adult Epomis beetles are generalist predators but can also feed on amphibians. [9] [10] They sneak up behind their victims, and hold on firmly using their legs. To paralyze the victim, the beetle makes an incision in the pelvic region with its mandibles. The incision apparently cuts leg muscles. [11] The amphibian loses its ability to move and is eaten by the beetle. Scientists speculate that Epomis evolved this behavior as an aggressive evasion tactic in response to predation by amphibians and the success of this tactic led to Epomis becoming an obligate predator, itself. [1]

Chlaenius circumscriptus larva displaying luring movements of antennae and mouthparts


A juvenile toad is attracted and lured to an ambushing Chlaenius dejeani larva

Taxonomic status

The subgenus Epomis belongs to the genus Chlaenius of the tribe Chlaeniini, subfamily Licininae, which consists of species associated with swamps, temporary ponds, and similar types of wetland habitats. [9] It contains about 30 species distributed in the Old World only, with the majority of species occurring in the Afrotropical region. [5] [12] Epomis was formerly considered a genus of the tribe Chlaeniini rather than a subgenus of Chlaenius. [13]

Species

These 28 species belong to the subgenus Epomis:

Related Research Articles

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<i>Loxoncus</i> Genus of beetles

Loxoncus is a genus in the beetle family Carabidae. There are more than 30 described species in Loxoncus.

<i>Parophonus</i> Genus of beetles

Parophonus is a genus in the beetle family Carabidae. There are more than 70 described species in Parophonus.

<i>Progonochaetus</i> Genus of beetles

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<i>Siopelus</i> Genus of beetles

Siopelus is a genus of beetles in the family Carabidae, found mainly in Africa.

<i>Coptodera</i> Genus of beetles

Coptodera is a genus of beetles in the family Carabidae, constituted of 105 species distributed across North and South America, Africa, Oceania and eastern Asia.

<i>Archicolliuris</i> Genus of beetles

Archicolliuris is a genus in the beetle family Carabidae. There are more than 20 described species in Archicolliuris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Licininae</span> Subfamily of beetles

Licininae is a subfamily of in the beetle family Cicindelidae. There are more than 80 genera and 1,800 described species in Licininae.

<i>Brachyodes</i> Genus of beetles

Brachyodes is a genus in the beetle family Carabidae. There are more than 40 described species in Brachyodes.

<i>Craspedophorus</i> Genus of beetles

Craspedophorus is a genus in the beetle family Carabidae. There are more than 160 described species in Craspedophorus.

<i>Anchomenus dorsalis</i> Species of beetle

Anchomenus dorsalis is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Platyninae. It is found in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

<i>Chlaenius circumscriptus</i> Species of beetle

Chlaenius circumscriptus is a species of ground beetle native to the Palearctic, the Near East, and North Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oodini</span> Tribe of beetles

Oodini is a ground beetle tribe in the subfamily Harpalinae. Oodines are found worldwide and are generally associated with standing water. This tribe contains more than 400 species arrayed in 43 genera. Beetles in Oodini are distinguishable from other members of Carabidae by a combination of two characters: a laterally coadunate metepisternum, and an elytral ridge formed by the fusion of intervals 7 and 8.

Predator–prey reversal is a biological interaction where an organism that is typically prey in the predation interaction instead acts as the predator. A variety of interactions are considered a role reversal. One type is where the prey confronts its predator and the interaction ends with no feeding. Two competing predators may interact and the larger predator will prey on the smaller. Smaller organisms may prey on larger organisms. Changing population densities may trigger a role reversal. In addition, adult prey may attack juvenile predators.

<i>Chlaenius dejeanii</i> Species of beetle

Chlaenius dejeanii is a species of ground beetle native to the Palearctic and the Middle East. It is known from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Russia, Syria, Turkey, and Ukraine.

<i>Chlaenius nigricans</i> Species of beetle

Chlaenius nigricans is a species of ground beetle native to the Palearctic. It is known from Borneo, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, North Korea, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harpalini</span> Tribe of beetles

Harpalini is a tribe of a diverse group of ground beetles belonging to the subfamily Harpalinae within the broader family Carabidae. The tribe contains more than 1,900 species.

Chlaenius croesus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, found in Africa. It is a member of the subgenus Epomis, the larvae of which are notable for being obligate role-reversal predators. Amphibians such as frogs are normally predators of beetles; however, Epomis larvae feed exclusively on amphibians.

<i>Microschemus</i> Genus of beetle

Microschemus is a genus of in the beetle family Carabidae. There are more than 20 described species in Microschemus found in Africa and southern Asia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gil Wizen & Avital Gasith (2011). "An unprecedented role reversal: ground beetle larvae (Coleoptera: Carabidae) lure amphibians and prey upon them". PLoS ONE . 6 (9): e25161. Bibcode:2011PLoSO...625161W. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025161 . PMC   3177849 . PMID   21957480.
  2. ↑ Lorenz, Wolfgang (2021). "Carabcat Database". ChecklistBank. doi: 10.48580/dfqf-3dk . Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  3. ↑ "Epomis Bonelli, 1810". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  4. 1 2 Trautner Jürgen, & Geigenmüller Katrin (1987). Tiger beetles, ground beetles. Illustrated key to the Cicindelidae and Carabidae of Europe. TRIOPS Verlag.
  5. 1 2 Basilewsky, P. (1955). Révision des epèces africaines du genre Epomis (Carabidae). Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 107: 95-116.
  6. ↑ Wizen, Gil; Gasith, Avital (2011). "Color variability and body size of larvae of two Epomis species (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Israel". ZooKeys (119): 37–52. Bibcode:2011ZooK..119...37W. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.119.1451 . PMC   3192425 . PMID   21998516.
  7. ↑ Shiina, M., and Tachikawa, S. (1988). The life history of Epomis nigricans and its larval stage feeding on toads. Abstracts of the 48th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of Japan, p. 35. Nishibaru, Okinawa.
  8. ↑ Tachikawa, S. (1994). Predation on anurans by Epomis nigricans larvae. Amazing Life of Insects, Atlas of the 48th Special Exhibition, Otaru Museum, Otaru.
  9. 1 2 Wizen, Gil; Gasith, Avital (2011). "Predation of amphibians by carabid beetles of the genus Epomis found in the central coastal plain of Israel". ZooKeys (100): 181–191. Bibcode:2011ZooK..100..181W. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.100.1526 . PMC   3131015 . PMID   21738411.
  10. ↑ Toshiaki, H. (2006). Predation by a carabid beetle (Epomis nigricans) on a juvenile frog (Rana nigromaculata). Bulletin of the Herpetological Society of Japan 2: 99-100.
  11. ↑ "Absurd Creature of the Week: This Toad Isn't Eating a Bug. The Bug is Eating It". Wired.
  12. ↑ Löbl Ivan, & Aleš Smetana (2010). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Vol.1: Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga. Apollo Books, Stenstrup: 347-356.
  13. ↑ Pietro Brandmayr, Teresa Bonacci, Tullia Zetto Brandmayr (2010): Larval morphology of epomis circumscriptus (Duftschmid 1812) and of first instar E. dejeani, Dejean, 1831 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Chlaeniini), with morphofunctional remarks. Zootaxa 2388: 49-58.
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